Zeynep Ilkkursun holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Istanbul Şehir University and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Koç University in Türkiye. She is an incoming PhD student in Social Work at WashU, where she will focus on the social determinants of mental health among refugee populations. Zeynep has extensive experience in research and project management, having previously served as a Projects Finance Senior Specialist. Her work has centered on the cultural adaptation, implementation, and scalability of mental health interventions, including involvement with WHO’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) and Self Help Plus (sh+) in Türkiye. Her research interests include the development of culturally sensitive and scalable mental health programs for forcibly displaced populations, with a particular focus on youth and the factors that support the effective implementation of evidence-based interventions to enhance the well-being of displaced communities. Outside of her academic work, Zeynep enjoys writing and is a proud cat person who shares her life with seven beloved feline companions.