Elif is a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics. Her research explores the economic impacts of labor and development policies. She is also passionate about teaching and mentorship. She has taught undergraduate economics courses, served on student panels for prospective researchers, and participated in mentoring workshops with the American Economic Association. Elif holds a double major in Industrial Engineering and Economics from Koc University. Outside academia, she has competed professionally as a ballroom dancer in her home country, Turkiye, as well as in the United States. With her multidisciplinary background and dedication to educational growth, she is excited to support students through URFM at Penn State.