My Background
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, I developed a deep interest in the human mind early on. This interest led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Middle East Technical University. Continuing my studies in the Netherlands, I completed my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University. Later, I started my PhD studies at Erasmus University Medical Center where I completed my Master’s degree in Epidemiology. Currently, I am finishing my PhD focusing on the causes and consequences of migraine in the general population.
A non-exhaustive timeline of my story so far…
2011
📖 Started University
Later, I re-discovered a passion for knowing and science.
I believe that deviation from reason and science is one of the foremost calamities that humanity faces today.
My curiosity for human behaviour and mind led me to pursue psychology. In pursuit of this passion, I moved to Ankara to study at Middle East Technical University (METU), one of the best psychology departments in the country.
The ability to learn to read and write is the first and most important skill that humans must acquire, as it opens the door to learning almost everything else.
Scientific literacy, in this sense, is the second millennium. Scientific literacy gives people the ability to distinguish between correct and incorrect information, and I learned this skill at METU.
2014
✍️ My first book
I have always been interested in aviation and planes. It started with me purchasing a game called Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. I discovered that it is possible to experience my passion for aviation in the virtual world!
My studies in this hobby led me to write a virtual aviation textbook in Turkish, Sanal Pilot (Virtual Pilot) which was published in 2014. The book has been updated multiple times since then, and the 6th edition is now available.
I also teach a 5-hour course named Introduction to Virtual Aviation on Udemy.com. The course covers topics such as aviation history, physics, meteorology, aerodynamics, air traffic control, and simulation software for beginners.
2014
🎥 Created YouTube Channel
I have been conducting science communication activities since 2014.
I founded the PsikoSeyir (PsychWatch) project, a YouTube channel featuring animated explainer videos on psychology subfields and interviews with experts, aimed at informing the Turkish public about psychological science and debunking myths. Now this channel is renamed into Psychologist Cevdet Acarsoy.
2015
🇳🇱 Erasmus Exchange
I went to Groningen University as an exchange student for a semester in 2015. The Netherlands’ culture of science and free thinking impressed me greatly.
2016
🎓 B.Sc. in Psychology
I graduated from college summa cum laude!
METU’s Psychology Department, founded in 1959, has a rich tradition of science, a research-based educational environment, competent faculty members, and research opportunities, which greatly contributed to achieving my academic and scientific goals.
2017
🧳 Moved to Leiden, Netherlands
After completing my undergraduate degree, I moved to the beautiful Dutch city of Leiden.
There, I applied for the Leiden Excellence Scholarship and was fortunate enough to be among the 50 selected candidates.
I was admitted to the Clinical Psychology master’s programme at Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands.
2018
🎓 M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology
I finished my master’s degree cum laude!
During my master’s programme, I was able to combine my passion for research with my interest in clinical practice.
I participated in various research projects, where we used Electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to understand the neuroscientific mechanisms underlying psychological disorders. I also received extensive training in therapeutic skills, clinical assessment, and cognitive behavioural interventions.
I was particularly interested in fMRI scanning and showed a great deal of success in this area. So much so that I was able to obtain my own scan certificate, which allowed me to scan independently in the fMRI scanner of Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC).
2018
🙌 Co-founded Science Communication Platform
I co-founded the Gelecek Bilimde (Future is Science) science communication platform.
This platform works as a community of volunteers collectively producing popular science articles, social media content (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok), e-mail newsletters, social responsibility projects, YouTube videos, and Twitch live streams.
With these efforts, we hope to bridge the gap between academia and society, increase trust in science, and promote critical thinking.
2018
👨🏫 Researcher & Lecturer
In 2018, I started working at the psychology department of Leiden University.
I was a researcher in the Brain and Development Lab, where I worked on multiple fMRI studies. In addition, I lectured various courses at the Department of Psychology as a workgroup instructor.
2020
👨🔬 Started PhD
In 2020, I started my PhD in epidemiology at Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC). I have been working on several projects with Prof. Kamran Ikram and Dr. Daniel Bos, which aim to unravel the causes and consequences of migraine in the general population.
During my PhD, I designed studies, formed collaborations, analyzed vast amounts of pre-collected data, and wrote research papers to communicate findings.
2021
🛋️ Started working as therapist
In addition to my academic work, I have been working as a psychotherapist since 2021.
I completed International Society of Schema Therapy (ISST) approved Schema Therapy training and I am currently an ISST-certified schema therapist.
I also completed EMDR Europe-accredited EMDR Therapy Level 2 training. I continue conducting therapy sessions with my clients in my practice called Sanus Psychology in Leiden and in Better Minds GGZ in Oegstgeest.
2021
🙌 Co-founded Science Communication Committee
In 2021, I co-founded the Science Communication Committee in the Department of Epidemiology at Erasmus Medical Center to raise awareness of the importance of science communication.
The committee organizes workshops and seminars on diverse topics and offers assistance in presentation and communication activities.
2022
🎓 M.Sc. in Epidemiology
During the first two years of my PhD, I also completed another master’s degree, this time in epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES). The program included extensive courses on medical decision-making, research methods, biostatistics, biases in scientific practice, and causal inference.
2022 – 2023
👨🏫 Science Communication Lecturer
In 2022, I lectured several science communication courses in Minor: From Science to Society offered in the Medicine Faculty of Erasmus University Rotterdam, where I covered graphic design, website creation, and improvisational theatre methods in presenting YouTube for science. In 2023, I taught videography in the NIHES MSc elective LLS12: Science Communication.
2023
✍️ My second book
I wrote a psychology book with AI!
For a long time, I wanted to write a book on psychological well-being to create a handy guide that can help people struggling with hardships. However, due to my other responsibilities, I was postponing this project to a later time. After the advent of Chat GPT by OpenAI, I became fascinated by its ability to human-like writing and decided to use it for creating a psychological well-being guide…
I hope this book inspires others to use the latest technology for the benefit of humankind, incites new discussions and most importantly I hope this book helps the readers in improving and maintaining their psychological well-being.
2024
👨🏫 Started working as a university lecturer
I’m thrilled to be part of the teaching team at Leiden University’s Developmental & Educational and Clinical Psychology departments simultaneously.
I’m involved in supervising master’s students and leading bachelor projects based on my research on childhood traumas, Early Maladaptive Schemas and transdiagnostic symptoms.
My courses include Perspectives on Career Planning and Clinical Interviewing and Assessment.
Professional Expertise
My work in clinical psychology includes therapeutic techniques such as Schema Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in which I completed internationally accredited training programmes. My approach to therapy emphasizes creating a safe, non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings. I aim to provide care that is tailored to each individual’s needs.
Teaching and Training
I have taught courses at Leiden University and Erasmus MC, covering clinical psychology, biopsychology, and science communication. Teaching allows me to share knowledge and support the development of future psychologists and researchers.
I enjoy delivering talks and seminars on psychology, workplace mental well-being, and science communication, aiming to support both researchers and the general public in improving their mental health and well-being.
Science Communication
I actively share insights on psychology and mental well-being through my YouTube channel and Instagram account. My content includes videos on psychology subfields, mental health tips, and expert interviews, thereby making psychological knowledge accessible to all.
Additionally, I authored “The AI’s Guide to Psychological Well-Being”, a practical guide to mental health, which demonstrates my commitment to using AI in science communication. Furthermore, as a lecturer at Erasmus MC, I taught science communication and co-founded the Science Communication Committee, promoting effective science communication through workshops and seminars.
Personal Interests
Outside of work, I enjoy Tolkien literature, flight simulators, and music. These interests help me maintain balance and bring a diverse perspective to my professional activities.
Explore my favorite movies, books, and music on these platforms:
Let’s Connect
I welcome opportunities for collaboration and discussion, please feel free to reach out. More information and contact details can be found on my various profiles below.