Assoc. Prof Selda Coskuner Aktas: Faculty member at Hacettepe University, Turkey
Dr. Selda Coşkuner Aktaş is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Hacettepe University, Turkey. She is a respected scholar in interdisciplinary fields combining sociology, consumer sciences, and family studies. Her research spans over 20 years and addresses key issues such as gender dynamics, work-family balance, financial literacy, and sustainable consumption. Known for her collaborative and evidence-based approach, Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has contributed to national and international academic communities through research, teaching, and editorial roles. She continues to mentor young researchers while actively participating in policy-related projects and scholarly publishing.
Online Profiles
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş maintains active academic profiles across major scholarly platforms to share her research and engage with the academic community. Her institutional affiliation is with Hacettepe University (Email: seldac@hacettepe.edu.tr), and she can also be reached via her personal academic email (seldacoskuner@gmail.com). Her published works are accessible through her Google Scholar profile and ResearchGate, where she connects with researchers globally. Her ORCID iD and other identifiers are used for transparent tracking of her academic output across various databases.
Her Google Scholar profile is available here, with 438 total citations, an h-index of 10, and an i10-index of 10. In the past five years alone, she has accumulated 279 citations, with an h-index of 8 and an i10-index of 6—reflecting her growing influence in the fields of family and consumer sciences, work-family dynamics, and financial behavior.
Education
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has a rich and diverse academic background. She earned her Ph.D. in Family and Consumer Sciences from Hacettepe University in 2013, where her doctoral research explored the mediating role of work-family conflict in faculty life satisfaction. Prior to that, she completed an M.Sc. in the same department in 2007. She holds two undergraduate degrees from Hacettepe University (B.Sc. in Home Economics, 2004) and Anadolu University (B.Sc. in Business Administration, 2005). She later complemented her social science expertise with a second B.Sc. in Sociology from Anadolu University in 2020, demonstrating a strong interdisciplinary foundation.
Research Focus
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş’s research integrates family science, organizational behavior, and consumer studies to examine how social systems and economic pressures shape individual and family well-being. Her major interests include work-family conflict and facilitation, gender-based role expectations, financial satisfaction, consumer behaviors, and sustainability. She often uses mixed-methods and comparative generational perspectives to explore emerging social dynamics. A significant portion of her recent work has focused on how crises such as COVID-19 have impacted family roles, parental stress, and remote work adaptation, with a strong emphasis on gendered experiences and policy implications.
Experience
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has been part of Hacettepe University’s academic staff since 2004, starting as a Research Assistant in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. She was awarded a prestigious international research scholarship in 2011–2012, which enabled her to work at North Carolina State University in the USA as a Doctoral Research Scholar. She was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2015 and later to Associate Professor in 2017. Over the years, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, supervised theses, participated in numerous academic projects, and engaged in community outreach and academic service at both national and international levels.
Research Timeline
Her early research (2004–2010) focused on organizational behavior, workplace ergonomics, and employee commitment, especially among service staff like housekeeping personnel. Between 2010 and 2015, her doctoral studies redirected her work toward work-family dynamics and satisfaction in academic settings. From 2016 onward, her research scope widened to include financial literacy, gender equity, and sustainable consumption. The COVID-19 pandemic brought a new dimension to her research, emphasizing digital work-life transitions, parental stress, and resilience in family structures. Her research trajectory shows a clear evolution from organizational behavior to family systems within broader social contexts.
Awards & Honors
Throughout her academic career, Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has been recognized for her scholarly impact and professional service. She has been invited to serve on editorial boards, including her current role with the Turkish Journal of Earthquake Research (2024–present), and previously as Associate Editor of The International Journal of the Humanities. Her work has received attention in both academic and practitioner circles, especially her publications on work-family conflict and financial behavior. She has also received institutional recognition and support for international research collaboration and continues to be sought after for speaking engagements and peer review activities.
Top-Noted Publication
One of her most widely cited and discussed studies is her 2025 article, “Was COVID-19-related working from home (WFH) a chance for change? Gender-based experiences of parents,” published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications. This publication explores how the pandemic-induced shift to remote work affected parental roles, household responsibilities, and gender equity within Turkish families. By applying a gender lens, she highlighted the uneven burden of care work and the limited structural support for women, sparking important policy and academic conversations about work-life integration in post-pandemic societies.
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Coşkuner, S., & Yertutan, C. (2006). A Study on the Organizational Commitment of Housekeeping Employees. Turkish Public Administration Annual, 32, 71-88.
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Coşkuner Aktaş, S., & Çiçek, B. (2021). Aile-İş Kolaylaştırması, Cinsiyet ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet: Üniversite Çalışanları Örneği. Journal of Economy Culture & Society, 63(1).
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Coşkuner, S. (2016). Exploring the Links between Work and Family Conflict or Facilitation. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR), 2(4).
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Coşkuner, S. (2010). Tüketici Bilgilendirme Aracı olarak Gıda Ambalajları. TÜPADEM TÜKÇEV.
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Coşkuner Aktaş, S. (2025). Was COVID-19-related working from home (WFH) a chance for change? Gender-based experiences of parents. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1-15.
Statement of Strength and Eligibility for Best Researcher Award
Assoc. Prof. Selda Coşkuner Aktaş
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Hacettepe University, Turkey
Assoc. Prof. Selda Coşkuner Aktaş stands out as an exemplary scholar whose interdisciplinary research has significantly advanced understanding in the fields of family science, consumer behavior, and gender studies over the past two decades. Her distinguished academic career is marked by rigorous scholarship, innovative methodologies, and impactful contributions that bridge sociology, organizational behavior, and financial literacy.
Research Excellence and Impact:
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has produced a robust body of work addressing critical social issues such as work-family conflict, gender dynamics, financial satisfaction, and sustainable consumption. Her research is characterized by methodological rigor, employing mixed methods and comparative generational analysis that enrich the empirical understanding of evolving family roles and consumer behaviors. Notably, her recent, highly cited publication on COVID-19-induced work-from-home experiences with a gender lens has sparked international dialogue and policy reflection on work-life integration and gender equity. This work alone has garnered substantial citations and demonstrates her ability to respond innovatively to emerging global challenges.
Academic Leadership and Collaboration:
Her long-standing engagement at Hacettepe University, including mentoring graduate students and junior researchers, showcases her commitment to cultivating future generations of scholars. She has been recognized internationally through a prestigious research scholarship at North Carolina State University, reinforcing her global academic footprint. Additionally, Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş actively contributes to scholarly communities by serving on editorial boards and peer review panels, thereby shaping research standards and directions in her field.
Interdisciplinary and Societal Relevance:
Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş’s work is particularly valued for its interdisciplinary approach and practical implications. By integrating insights from family sciences, sociology, and consumer sciences, she addresses complex societal issues that resonate beyond academia, informing policy debates related to gender equity, family welfare, and sustainable consumption. Her research during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies her ability to generate timely knowledge that supports evidence-based policy-making.
Sustained Academic Productivity and Recognition:
With over 400 citations and a consistent record of impactful publications, Dr. Coşkuner Aktaş has demonstrated sustained scholarly productivity and influence. Her evolving research trajectory—from organizational behavior to family and consumer studies—reflects her adaptability and intellectual breadth.
Conclusion:
Given her extensive scholarly achievements, interdisciplinary research contributions, mentorship, and active service to the academic community, Assoc. Prof. Selda Coşkuner Aktaş is eminently qualified for the Best Researcher Award. Her work not only advances theoretical knowledge but also addresses urgent societal challenges, making her an inspiring role model and a deserving recipient of this prestigious recognition.