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Doğa Gülhan

BIO

I am a researcher in psychology and empirical aesthetics with a focus on visual attention, eye-tracking, and virtual reality. My work has involved applying visual psychophysics, gaze analysis, and judgment tasks in real-world environments, virtual reality, laboratory, and online settings. Previously, I worked as a VR technician, designing, coding, and piloting VR experiments to support academic research. During my master’s, I studied time and motion perception, while my undergraduate work in architecture centred on spatial theory, representations, and public space design.

EDUCATION

PhD in Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London (2017 – 2021)

Thesis: Aesthetic experience and judgment: Exploring three-dimensional arts in laboratory, real-world, online, and virtual reality settingsSupervisors: Prof Johannes Zanker & Dr Szonya Durant
MA in Cognitive Science, Bogazici University (2013 – 2017)Thesis: A psychophysical investigation and a philosophical discussion on event-time perceptionAdvisors: Dr Inci Ayhan & Dr Lucas Thorpe
BArch in Architecture, Istanbul Technical University (2009 – 2013)Graduation project: Defining public spaces for the buffer zone in Nicosia, Cyprus
Secondary Education, Istanbul High School (2004 – 2009)Graduated with both Turkish and German Abitur Diplomas

EXPERIENCE

Post-doctoral Researcher, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Jan '24 – Dec '24)

UK-based, remote researcher for the project: Empirical aesthetics and science communication using mobile and VR eye-trackingPrincipal Investigator: Prof Bahador Bahrami
Post-doctoral Researcher, Royal Holloway, University of London (Sep '22 – Dec '23)Researcher for the project: Aesthetic cognitivism for groups: collective ways of looking and sense-makingPrincipal Investigators: Prof Bahador Bahrami, Prof Manos Tsakiris, Prof Ophelia Deroy
Virtual Reality Lab Technician, Royal Holloway, University of London (Oct '19 – Sep '22)Designed, coded, and conducted VR experiments to support departmental research
Teaching Assistant & Course Demonstrator, Royal Holloway, University of London (Sep '17 – Feb '20)Bachelor’s level course: Psychological research methods and analysis (Sep '18 – Feb '19 & Sep '19 – Feb '20)Master’s level courses: Statistics for research, Advanced and applied research techniques (Sep '17 – Feb '18)
Research Project Assistant & Lab Manager, Bogazici University (Jan '15 – Sept '17)Researcher for the project: A psychophysical investigation of time perceptionPrincipal Investigator: Dr Inci AyhanResponsibilities: Experiment design, data collection and analysis, lab setup and management, presentations, and supervision of undergraduates and interns
Architect, Tamirhane Architectural Office (Jun '13 – Sep '14)Worked on various projects from museums and public spaces to interior and urban design guidelines, using various design software

TECHNICAL SKILLS
While I currently use a specific set of tools, I have experience with a variety of platforms and remain open to learning and adopting new methods as needed.

Programming and Data Analysis: Using Python and jamovi for data analysis and experimental work; previously used MATLAB and R (working knowledge); experienced in C# and Processing from earlier projects; familiar with JASP and SPSS.

Experimental Software and Hardware: Using PsychoPy; experienced in Psychtoolbox (MATLAB) and Tobii Pro Lab; familiar with online platforms like Gorilla and Labvanced. Working with mobile eye-tracking systems, with previous experience in VR, desktop-based, and online eye-tracking solutions.

2D and 3D Design: Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects) and Affinity Suite. Competent in SketchUp and Unity, with working knowledge of Blender, Lumion, Twinmotion, and photogrammetry tools; previous experience in Rhinoceros, Maya, Mudbox, and AutoCAD.

PUBLICATIONS

Published

Gulhan, D., Bahrami, B., & Deroy, O. (2025). Studying attention to IPCC climate change maps with mobile eye-tracking. PLoS ONE 20(1): e0316909. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316909.
Gulhan, D., Durant, S., & Zanker, J. (2022). Aesthetic judgments of three-dimensional arts in virtual reality and online settings. Virtual Reality, 27, 573–589. doi: 10.1007/s10055-022-00671-1.
Gulhan, D., Durant, S., & Zanker, J. (2021). Similarity of gaze patterns across physical and virtual versions of an installation artwork. Scientific Reports, 11, 18913. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-91904-x.
Gulhan, D., & Ayhan, I. (2019). Short-term global motion adaptation induces a compression in the subjective duration of dynamic visual events. Journal of Vision, 19(5):19, 1–22. doi: 10.1167/19.5.19.

In Submission

Gulhan, D., Suri, H., & Durant, S. (accepted, in press). The effect of particle turbulence on guiding attention in a 360-degree VR art piece. Data & preprint link: osf.io/n3r85 & osf.io/7ejza
Gulhan, D.*, Aliyeva, A.*, Bolouki, S.*, Aslani, A., Deroy, O., & Bahrami, B. (submitted, under revision). Gaze scanpath similarity in mobile eye tracking using dynamic time warping (DTW). [*Co-authors contributed equally.] Data & preprint link: osf.io/9b4cr & osf.io/tws8y
Gear, E., Ellett, L., Durant, S., Rydzkowska, A., Gulhan, D., & Kingston, J. (submitted) The effects of mindfulness training on state paranoia in virtual reality: A randomised control trial.

In Preparation

Gulhan, D., & Bahrami, B. (in preparation). Ways of looking: Gaze towards representational Western paintings in a gallery-like lab space using mobile eye-trackers. Preprint & Materials: osf.io/w5aue/
Gulhan, D., Zanker, J., & Bahrami, B. (in preparation). Exploring gaze behaviour in an art gallery: A pilot research with mobile eye-tracking and development of a VR digital twin. Materials: osf.io/96u3y/
Gulhan, D., Durant, S., & Zanker, J. (in preparation). Visual experience of installation art in the gallery and aesthetic preference towards artwork variations.
Gulhan, D., & Durant, S. (in preparation). User visual attention guidance in virtual environments.

PRESENTATIONS

Durant, S., Gulhan, D., Harsimran, S., Haider-Smith, J. & Vekaria, K. (2023, August) The effects of depth of field on attention in whilst exploring a virtual environment. Talk session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Paphos, Cyprus. Presented by Szonya Durant.
Zanker, J., Gulhan, D. & O'Neill, H. (2023, August) Painting, Architecture, Space – Eye and body movements in VR disambiguate illusions. Talk session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Paphos, Cyprus. Presented by by Johannes Zanker.
Gulhan, D. & Durant, S. (2022, August). Use cases of eye-tracking in virtual reality (VR) for basic research. Talk session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Presented by Szonya Durant.
Oztok, G. & Gulhan, D. (2021, October). Potential restorative effects of virtual parks. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Environmental Psychology (ICEP), Siracusa, Italy. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Durant, S. & Zanker, J. (2021, September). The relation between liking and monetary value of abstract watercolour paintings – an online experiment. Poster session presented at the Conference of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics (IAEA), Online. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Durant, S. & Gulhan, D. (2021, September). Visual attention guidance in virtual environments. Poster session presented at the Conference of the International Association of Empirical Aesthetics (IAEA), Online. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Oztok, G. & Gulhan, D. (2021, September) Effects of complexity and naturalness of pocket park designs on user preference. Poster session presented at the International Conference on Spatial Cognition (ICSC), Rome, Italy. doi:10.1007/s10339-021-01058-x [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Durant, S. & Zanker, J. (2021, August). Visual experience of installation art in the gallery and aesthetic preference towards artwork variations. Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Online. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Zanker, J., Gulhan, D., Durant, S., Holmes, T., & Stevanov, J. (2021, August). Mondrian’s travel into space: grand aesthetic vision or artistic imagination? Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Online. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Durant, S. & Zanker, J. (2019, December). Experimental aesthetics in virtual reality: Mondrians, unicorns, and squared circles. Poster session presented at the Applied Vision Association (AVA) Christmas Meeting, Cardiff, Wales. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Durant, S. & Zanker, J. (2019, August). A methodological evaluation on simultaneous use of wearable and VR eye tracking in museum: A comparative case study on Piet Mondrian’s room design. Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Leuven, Belgium. doi: 10.1177/0301006619863862. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]Zanker, J., Gulhan, D., Stevanov, J. & Holmes, T. (2019, August). Constructing Piet Mondrian’s design of a ‘Salon for Ida Bienert’ in VR. Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Leuven, Belgium. doi: 10.1177/0301006619863862. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Durant, S. & Zanker, J. (2019, August). Aesthetic judgments of physical and digital three-dimensional arts in virtual reality and online settings. Poster session presented at the Visual Science of Art Conference (VSAC), Leuven, Belgium. doi: 10.1163/22134913-20190704. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Zanker, J., Gulhan, D., Stevanov, J., Holmes, T., & Durant, S. (2019, August). Mondrian’s ideas in space explored as a physical and VR reconstruction: ‘Zukunftsräume’ in Dresden. Talk session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Leuven, Belgium. [PDF: Abstract]
Gulhan, D., & Zanker, J. (2018, December). Exploring three-dimensional arts in laboratory, real world, and virtual reality settings. Poster session presented at the Applied Vision Association (AVA) Christmas Meeting, London, UK. doi: 10.1177/0301006619828106. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., & Zanker, J. (2018, August). Exploring artwork in situ: Empirical aesthetics making use of mobile eye tracking. Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Trieste, Italy. doi: 10.1177/0301006618824879. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., & Ayhan, I. (2017, August). The perceived duration of global motion in random dot kinematograms (RDKs). Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Berlin, Germany. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., Alashan, D., & Ayhan, I. (2017, August). The contextual effect of colour preference on the perception of emotionally ambiguous faces. Poster session presented at the European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Berlin, Germany. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Alashan, D., Gulhan, D., & Ayhan, I. (2017, May). The effect of colour preference on the perception of emotionally ambiguous faces. Poster session presented at 4th International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science (ISBCS), Istanbul, Turkey. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D., & Ayhan, I. (2016, May). The perceived duration of global motion in random dot kinematograms (RDKs). Poster session presented at the Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society (VSS), Florida, USA. doi: 10.1167/16.12.1083. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Ergin, K. & Gulhan, D. (2016, May). The cheerleader effect on faces and watches. Poster session presented at 3rd International Symposium on Brain and Cognitive Science (ISBCS), Istanbul, Turkey. [PDF: Abstract] [PDF: Poster]
Gulhan, D. (2014). Mimarlık ve tasarım öğrenci yarışmalarında uygulama [Practice in student architectural and design competitions]. Yarışmalar ve Mimarlık Sempozyumu. Ankara: ODTU Press.
Gulhan, D. & Oztok, G. (2014). Yer/mekan tartışmalarında ikna [Persuasion in place/space discourses]. Mimarlıkta Eleştirel Okumalar V. Ankara: Mimarlar Derneği 1927 Press.

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