Hello, I’m Çağla.

I’m currently a PhD candidate in London at the Francis Crick Institute, where I study how our DNA, about 2 metres long in each cell if stretched out, is compacted to fit inside the tiny cells that make up our bodies.

Before this, I studied neuroscience for my Master’s at the University of Cambridge and completed my undergraduate degree at University College London. Along the way, I’ve developed a deep curiosity about the many layers of human biology and the mind, both within and beyond my academic work.

While I’m technically “becoming an expert” in my field, this journey has also been a process of discovering myself, how I think, what I value, and how I want to live. I feel incredibly lucky for that.

Through this space, I hope to reflect on those experiences and connect with others who are navigating their own paths.

A small fun fact about me:
My name is Turkish and carries two very different meanings. One is the sound of rushing water, like a waterfall. The other is a green, unripe almond, which is a delicacy in Turkey.

I love both meanings. The first reflects my energy and excitement for life, while the second captures something I deeply value: a childlike openness and the idea of being “unripe”, meaning there is always room to grow, learn, and evolve.