Duru Doğan has loved math since high school. “It just makes sense. I like how math is a universal language.”
But math isn’t the only subject she excels in. She’s a triple major studying statistics, political science, and French.
Itching to put her classroom learning to work, Doğan joined a research project to determine whether increased drone strikes in Pakistan would increase anti-American sentiment.
“I measured that through Pakistani visa applications to study higher education in the US,” she said. “Previous studies had synthesized drone strike data.”
Not satisfied with just one research project and wanting to do something in statistics that was “more applied,” she found another focused on the correlation between high-flavonoid foods and cancer. No class credit — it was just for fun.
She performed statistical analysis and looked at correlations.
“In the classroom, it’s so easy to get bogged down in theory or prove statistical rules and not see how statistics can be used in the real world,” she said. “So this research was something I wanted to do.”
Something else she wanted to do was to study abroad. So, she did, twice: in Turkey and Belgium. She was always interested in studying abroad in Turkey and spent four months in Istanbul.
But it was the unexpected opportunity to study in Belgium that brings a beaming smile to her face. I decided to go on a whim, and I absolutely loved it,” she said. Starting college during the COVID pandemic, Doğan barely had time to acclimate to K-State before heading to Belgium. “I grew up a lot there, and it still has a special place in my heart.”
While in Belgium, Doğan took five political science classes, experiencing a different approach to the subject.
“It’s a lot more theoretical than at K-State. Here it’s more modeling and quantifying conflict or political concepts,” she said. “As a stats major, I like K-State’s approach. Both are valuable, and I’m thankful I saw the European perspective. It also helps me paint a fuller picture of politics to have that lens.”
How did research and studying abroad change Doğan’s view of her K-State experience?
“If you don’t step past the classroom,” she said, “you’re not getting the most out of your college experience. Right?”
Lasting impact
Favorite memory from Belgium – Celebrating the 4th of July — Euro style. “We grilled bratwurst and burgers. I tried to make s’mores — unsuccessfully because I couldn’t find graham crackers. We played some country music. My friends thought it would be special for me, but I think they really wanted to celebrate it themselves!”
Plans for the future – Work in migration policymaking or advise on policy creation. “I can see the potential of math as a tool to solve complicated questions.”
