Our mission

The mission of the Institute is to raise the level of Turkish scientific research, especially in Physics and Mathematics, to international standards. It is hoped that the Institute will serve as a model of excellence in research for all academic institutions in Turkey.

The Institute aims to serve this goal by providing a haven for top level scientists in physics and mathematics in Turkey. It is intended to be a center where they can pursue their research, interact with each other and colleagues from abroad, and initiate collaborative projects. The Institute hosts scientific activities such as research semesters, advanced courses and workshops through which graduate students and young physicists and mathematicians from Turkey as well as from neighboring countries, are introduced to current problems of interest. The main output expected from both senior and younger researchers is scientiific publications at the international level. With the improvement of library and computer facilities, the Institute intends to join the company of established research institutes the world over (such as the Max Planck Institute in Germany, IHES in France, Abdussalam Institute in Trieste, Italy and the Mittag-Leffler Institute in Sweden) and to serve as a local center of attraction.

In keeping with its mission, the Feza Gürsey Institute has a very small permanent academic staff, and a much larger number of researchers from various universities who either work on a part time basis, or choose to spend extended periods of up to a year, dedicating themselves to research. The activities of the Institute are centered around research semesters based on current research topics, with the aim of providing advanced level seminars and tutorial guidance to graduate students and young Ph.D's in physics and mathematics. The research semesters are typically organized by two or three scientists, at least one of whom is an associate of the Institute, and agrees to spend the semester at the Institute. During the semester, senior as well as relatively younger scientists who have made important recent contributions to a particular field are invited to spend extended periods, usually not less than two weeks at the Institute. They give lectures and interact intensively with the participants from various universities, who spend the full semester at the Institute.

Apart from part time and visiting positions, the Institute provides post-doctoral positions to young Ph.D.'s, to promote independent original research, before they themselves are in a position to guide research and assume teaching responsibilities.