In the GradFUTURES Spotlight series, Princeton graduate students share in their own words about their experiences in one of the GradFUTURES Fellowship programs: the Community College Teaching Fellowship Program, the University Administrative Fellowship Program, or the GradFUTURES Social Impact Fellowship Program. 

Duygu Coskuntuna is a Ph.D candidate at Near Eastern Studies, and holds a M.A in History from Boğaziçi University. Her current research focus is the Ottoman and German war experiences during World War I. She was a University Administrative Fellow in Graduate School's Trailblazers Beyond the Tenure Track Series.

"What fascinates me about Ph.D programs at Princeton is how they make room for diverse learning experiences. The ambition is beyond learning and teaching, but gaining insights into how we think, how we connect ideas, and how we theorize about the world. These insights are truly valuable, as our graduates employ those successfully in exploring careers in and beyond academia. GradFUTURES is definitely part of that journey. My contribution will underline the novel ways in which Humanities graduates have re-interpreted their extant skill sets and forged new paths.

Before coming to Princeton, I took up a few academia-adjacent jobs, first in a library and later in an NGO. I quite enjoyed the feeling of stepping outside of my comfort zone, connecting with others and developing my communication skills. Working as a GradFUTURES University Administrative Fellow, I am looking forward to explore other career paths--mine as well as others'!"

I have participated in the following GradFUTURES Programs: University Administrative Fellowship

Apply to a University Administrative Fellowship here!

Read more GradFUTURES Fellowship Spotlights here!