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About

I’d like to share a bit more about how I spend my time outside of research and work.

Table Tennis

I am an avid table tennis player with competitive experience. I served as the captain of my college’s table tennis team from 2012 to 2016, during which I organized tournaments and competed in national college championships. I also played for Penn’s table tennis team and continue to stay active by playing at local clubs.

NBA Fantasy Basketball

I’m a big fan of basketball, both the NBA and EuroLeague, but playing fantasy basketball is an entirely different experience. I’ve been playing fantasy basketball with a group of friends since 2017, and it’s surprisingly similar to managing an investment portfolio. You have to track stats, trends, and news, while making decisions about which players are worth investing in for the short or long term. Plus, the friendly banter and trash talk with friends make it even more fun.

Age of Empires 2

Even after 25 years, it’s still the best RTS game ever. I love watching pro-level matches and tournaments, especially when T90 is casting. The way a game unfolds—the macro and micro decision-making, and how strategies evolve throughout—really fascinates me. Although I’m a better-than-average player (around 1200 ELO), I consider myself more of a fan than a player.

Classical Kemençe and Music

The classical kemençe, a traditional instrument from Istanbul, Turkey, captured my attention in high school with its unique sound. While I had always been involved in music, playing guitar and keyboard, I decided to learn the kemençe during my college years. I’ve been playing since 2013 and performed with classical music communities at TOBB ETU and Koç University. I’ve also shared some of my work and covers on Youtube and SoundCloud.