Hosting Information
- Offer Deadline: Thu, 30 Sep 2027 - 12:00
- EU Research Framework Programme: Not funded by a EU programme
- Country: Türkiye
- City: Kırklareli
Organisation/Institute
- Organisation / Company: Kırklareli University
- Department: Food Supply Security and Digitalization Joint Application and Research Center (GADOM)
- Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Contact Information
- Organisation / Company Type: Higher Education Institution
- Website: https://gadom.klu.edu.tr
- Email: international@klu.edu.tr, gadom@klu.edu.tr, bora.aslan@klu.edu.tr
- State/Province: Kırklareli
- Postal Code: 39100
- Street: Kayalı Campus, Rectorate Building, D-123
Description
About the host unit
The Food Supply Security and Digitalization Joint Application and Research Center (GADOM – Gıda Arzı Güvenliği ve Dijitalleşme Ortak Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi, https://gadom.klu.edu.tr) is a joint research centre coordinated by Kırklareli University (KLU), in partnership with Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University and Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University. Its research focuses on food supply security and the digital transformation of agriculture and food systems.
Academic host
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bora Aslan
Director, Food Supply Security and Digitalization Joint Application and Research Center (GADOM)
Department of Software Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kırklareli University, Türkiye
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bora Aslan is a researcher in software engineering and digital technologies, with interdisciplinary research interests spanning artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), data management, digital twins, and information security. His research focuses particularly on applying emerging digital technologies to agricultural and food systems, including smart agriculture, food traceability, digital transformation, and data-driven decision support.
He is actively involved in national and international collaborative research initiatives connecting engineering and computer science with agriculture, food systems, and sustainability. Visiting researchers will have opportunities to collaborate with the academic host and other relevant researchers through interdisciplinary research activities, joint publications, and collaborative project development.
Research areas open to visiting researchers
GADOM welcomes visiting researchers whose expertise and proposed research activities contribute to food supply security, digital transformation, and the sustainable development of agricultural and food systems.
Priority research areas include, but are not limited to:
1. Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for Agri-Food Systems
- Machine learning and deep learning applications in agriculture and food systems
- Computer vision and intelligent image analysis
- Predictive analytics and intelligent decision-support systems
- Generative AI and emerging artificial intelligence applications
- Data-driven monitoring, forecasting, and optimization
2. Digital Twins, IoT and Smart Agriculture
- Digital twins for agricultural production systems
- Internet of Things and intelligent sensor networks
- Precision agriculture and smart farming technologies
- Remote sensing and agricultural monitoring
- Data-driven water, energy, and resource optimization
- Intelligent agricultural automation and monitoring systems
3. Blockchain, Food Traceability and Digital Supply Chains
- Blockchain-based food traceability systems
- Distributed ledger technologies in agriculture
- Farm-to-fork traceability and food provenance
- Digital supply chain transparency and resilience
- Interoperability and information-sharing standards
- Digital product passports and secure data exchange
4. Data Management and Digital Infrastructure
- Agricultural data platforms and big data analytics
- Database systems and data integration architectures
- Cloud and edge computing for agri-food applications
- Data interoperability and digital ecosystems
- Cybersecurity and information security in food systems
- Digital platforms and intelligent information systems
5. Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems
- Climate-smart and sustainable agriculture
- Food supply security and supply chain resilience
- Environmental monitoring and resource efficiency
- Sustainable agricultural production systems
- Data-driven approaches to food security challenges
- Digital solutions for climate adaptation and sustainability
6. Food Systems Innovation and Interdisciplinary Research
- Food safety, quality, and technological innovation
- Agricultural economics and food policy
- Digital transformation and technology adoption
- Consumer behavior and sustainable food consumption
- Digital literacy and education in food systems
- Interdisciplinary approaches to emerging challenges in agriculture and food systems
Researchers working in related disciplines are also encouraged to apply if their proposed activities demonstrate a clear connection to GADOM's research objectives.
Who can apply
Applications are welcome from researchers at different career stages and from all countries.
Eligible researcher profiles include:
- R1 – First Stage Researchers: Researchers at the initial stage of their careers, including doctoral candidates, whose research is carried out under supervision.
- R2 – Recognised Researchers: Researchers with a doctorate, or comparable research expertise and experience, who are still developing the ability to conduct research independently.
- R3 – Established Researchers: Independent researchers with an established research profile.
- R4 – Leading Researchers: Senior researchers with recognized leadership and expertise in their respective fields.
Applicants should have relevant academic or research experience in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Computer Science and Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Science
- Agricultural Sciences and Engineering
- Food Science and Technology
- Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
- Information Systems and Digital Technologies
- Economics and Food Policy
- Other disciplines relevant to food systems and digital transformation
Applicants are expected to demonstrate a clear connection between their proposed research activities and GADOM's scientific priorities.
Candidates should have secured, or be in the process of applying for, sufficient funding to support their proposed research stay.
What Kırklareli University offers
- An academic host (supervisor / collaborating professor) at GADOM.
- A workspace and access to library resources, e-resources, IT services, the campus network and a university e-mail account may be arranged, subject to availability and institutional procedures.
- Access to facilities, datasets and relevant software will be agreed with the academic host before the visit, subject to availability and applicable access permissions. Visiting researchers may also participate in relevant workshops and stakeholder meetings organised by GADOM.
- An official invitation letter for visa and residence-permit procedures, and practical guidance from the International Relations Office before and during the stay.
- Opportunities for joint publications, seminars and joint project proposals (Horizon Europe, TÜBİTAK, Erasmus+, bilateral schemes).
- An English-speaking academic environment — knowledge of Turkish is not required.
Please note: this hosting offer does not include funding from Kırklareli University’s own budget. Applicants must secure sufficient funding to cover their living expenses, accommodation, travel and health insurance valid for the entire stay. Potential sources include TÜBİTAK 2221, Fulbright, national scholarship schemes and support from the applicant’s home institution, subject to the relevant eligibility criteria and application periods. TÜBİTAK 2221 is generally intended for researchers holding a doctorate, and applications are submitted by the inviting researcher in Türkiye. MSCA fellowships and Erasmus+ mobility may be considered where their activity, duration and institutional requirements are met. Any employment or payment arrangements required by an external funding programme will be subject to that programme’s rules and institutional approval. Applicants seeking funding may request a preliminary acceptance letter, subject to academic assessment and institutional approval.
Expected outcomes
Visiting researchers are expected to actively contribute to the academic and research activities of GADOM and collaborate with the academic host on mutually agreed research objectives.
Depending on the duration, research topic, and scope of the visit, anticipated outcomes may include:
- Joint scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
- Collaborative national or international research proposals
- Conference papers and academic presentations
- Research reports, datasets, methodologies, or technical prototypes
- Seminars, workshops, and scientific knowledge exchange
- Development of longer-term institutional research partnerships
Specific research objectives, planned activities, and anticipated outputs will be defined in an individual research plan agreed upon before the visit.
The emphasis will be on meaningful scientific collaboration, research quality, and the development of sustainable international academic partnerships.
Duration
Research visits are normally expected to last between 1 and 12 months. Visits supported by funding programmes with different duration requirements may be considered separately, subject to agreement with the academic host and institutional approval.
Starting dates are flexible and will be determined through mutual agreement between the visiting researcher and the academic host.
The duration of each visit will depend on the proposed research activities, available funding, institutional approvals, and applicable programme requirements.
Extensions may be considered where academically justified and administratively feasible, subject to funding availability and institutional regulations.
How to apply
Please send the following documents in a single e-mail to international@klu.edu.tr with the subject line “Visiting Researcher – GADOM”:
- Curriculum vitae (including publication list).
- A 1–2 page research plan for the stay, indicating the proposed topic and how it relates to the academic host’s research.
- Proof of funding, or a statement of the funding scheme you are applying to, with its timeline.
- Preferred start date and duration.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the academic host. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by e-mail. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an online meeting with the academic host. Please send applications only to international@klu.edu.tr; informal enquiries about research topics may be addressed to the academic host at bora.aslan@klu.edu.tr. Personal data submitted with applications will be processed solely for the purpose of evaluating the application, in accordance with Türkiye’s Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK, No. 6698).
Contact: International Relations Office
Kırklareli University Kayalı Campus, Rectorate Building, D-123 Kırklareli, Türkiye
