Assist. Prof. Dr Sevda Demiröz Yıldırım, Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey
Dr. Sevda Demiröz Yıldırım is an Assistant Professor at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, serving in the Department of Disaster Management and Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Disaster Management from Dokuz Eylül University and has significant academic experience in emergency aid and disaster response education. Dr. Yıldırım began her career as a lecturer at Amasya University, where she later rose to Assistant Professor. Her work focuses on disaster resilience, emergency preparedness, and improving aid protocols for vulnerable populations, including individuals with disabilities. She has contributed to both national and international research projects, exploring topics from trauma among disaster workers to digital transformations in disaster management. Her dedication to disaster education is evident in her teaching roles, publications, and administrative positions. With a strong commitment to public service, Dr. Yıldırım also coordinates training and development programs aimed at strengthening field-level emergency response.
Publication Profile
Gooogle Scholar
Education
Dr. Sevda Demiröz Yıldırım completed her Ph.D. in Disaster Management at Dokuz Eylül University in 2022, where her dissertation focused on the disaster experiences of orthopedically disabled individuals and the lessons learned within integrated disaster management. She also earned a Master’s degree in Disaster Management from the same university in 2018, with a thesis assessing the knowledge levels of emergency health workers in mass casualty incidents using the START protocol. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Aid and Disaster Management from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 2014. Throughout her academic training, she focused on improving the operational and psychological preparedness of healthcare and disaster response teams. Her interdisciplinary education has laid a strong foundation for her research and teaching, bridging theory and real-world application in the field of disaster risk reduction, emergency medical response, and public health resilience.
Experience
Dr. Yıldırım began her academic career at Amasya University, where she served as a lecturer from February 2017 to February 2022 in the Department of Medical Services and Techniques. She was later promoted to Assistant Professor and continued there until November 2024. Currently, she holds the position of Assistant Professor at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, in the Department of Disaster Management and Education. Her administrative experience includes serving as the UZEM Program Coordinator during the 2019–2020 academic year. Dr. Yıldırım has taught various undergraduate courses such as First Aid, Disaster Awareness, and Emergency Response Studies. She has also supervised student thesis projects and practical training. Her instructional efforts aim to strengthen both theoretical understanding and practical competencies in disaster intervention. Additionally, she actively participates in collaborative research projects supported by TÜBİTAK and the EU, contributing to both national and international academic progress in her field.
Awards and Honors
Although there are no explicitly listed formal awards in the provided record, Dr. Sevda Demiröz Yıldırım’s contributions have been recognized through her leadership roles in national and international research projects. She has served as a principal investigator and researcher on projects funded by the Higher Education Council (YÖK), TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), and the European Union. Her research has focused on psychological well-being, trauma management, and digital disaster management systems. Leading these prestigious projects reflects her reputation and trust in the academic community. Her consistent presence in refereed international journals also highlights her scholarly impact. Further, her appointments to multiple academic and administrative roles, such as program coordinator and project director, are significant honors recognizing her leadership and expertise in disaster management education and research.
Research Focus
Dr. Yıldırım’s research centers around disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, with an emphasis on psychosocial well-being, trauma-informed care, and community resilience. Her doctoral work addressed the experiences of individuals with orthopedic disabilities in disaster contexts, emphasizing inclusive and integrated disaster response strategies. She also investigates the mental health of disaster workers, particularly focusing on PTSD and coping mechanisms following high-impact events like earthquakes. Another prominent area of her work is enhancing educational models and protocols for emergency aid workers, especially during mass casualty events. Recently, she has contributed to digital transformation in disaster management, promoting the use of modern technologies and simulation tools in disaster education. Through her active participation in national (TÜBİTAK-funded) and international (EU-funded) projects, she explores current and emerging challenges in the field, striving to inform policy and training frameworks with data-driven, field-tested practices.
Publication Top Notes
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📘 An Examination of Temporary Shelter Units in Terms of Minimum Standards: The Case of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake – Sustainability, 2025
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🔥 Disaster Experiences of Spontaneous Volunteers: An Evaluation on Fires in the Mediterranean Region – ODÜ SOBİAD, 2025
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🥗 Factors Affecting Nutrition Habits Among Women Aged 18-60 and Their Relationship with Physical Activity – Tıp Fakültesi Klinikleri Dergisi, 2025