UD student gains Transatlantic Academy Fellowship
Juliette Tolay conducts an interview in Istanbul in July 2008.
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11:31 a.m., Jan. 9, 2009----Juliette Tolay, a doctoral student studying international relations at the University of Delaware, has been selected to participate in a Transatlantic Academy Fellowship in Washington, D.C., starting on Sept. 1, 2009.

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Tolay, whose research concerns immigration issues in Turkey, is one of two junior fellows who will be working with four senior fellows for a ten-month term. The group will be conducting research, participating in debates, leading seminars and discussions and distributing their work on the topic “Turkey and Its Neighbors.”

The fellowship was created by the Transatlantic Academy -- a partnership established in 2007 between the German Marshall Fund of the United States, The Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius ZEIT Stiftung, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation -- in order to bring accomplished and talented scholars and students from Europe and North America together to study contemporary political, economic and social issues.

Tolay said she was excited to be accepted to such a high level research opportunity and is well aware that the fellowship will be a significant stepping stone in her career.

“I was definitely surprised,” Tolay said. “But it will definitely be an important year at the academy.”

Anna Murphy, program associate at the Transatlantic Academy, said that there were 20 postdoctoral applicants who applied for two highly competitive postdoctoral fellowships. This year marks the second year of the fellowship program.

Tolay said she initially found this fellowship to be appealing because it focused on Turkey, which relates well to her expertise on immigration to Turkey and is an area in which she would like to pursue her career in. She also said she is “looking forward to working with big names in the field next year.”

Originally from Annecy, France, Tolay received master's degrees in Turkish studies at Inalco in Paris and in political studies at IEP of Paris. She said she has been studying Turkey for seven years.

At the Transatlantic Academy, Tolay will be doing research on movements of population related to Turkey and the effects of migration for Turkish foreign policies. She will also work on a collaborative project with the five other fellows on a topic to be determined in a few months, once they all meet.

Tolay said another reason she was drawn to this fellowship was because the program is looking for both European and American students. Based on her educational experience, she thinks she can fit both molds.

Julio Carrión, acting chairperson of the Department of Political Science and International Relations, said he is happy that Tolay will be able to pursue her research with the Transatlantic Academy. He added that the subject matter is not only relevant to Europe but to the United States, as well, as the United States also deals with immigration issues.

Murphy said that because Tolay's work is so relevant and timely, she would be able to contribute significantly to the project.

Carrión said that Tolay's acceptance to the academy helps raise the profile of the department and the University as prestigious entities.

“It shows we're doing a good job in admitting and training students of high caliber,” Carrión said.

Murphy said the Academy is thrilled to have Tolay work with them next fall.

“She came highly recommended,” Murphy said. “The senior fellows were very excited to see that she will be working with them.”

Article by Jon Bleiweis

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