İlayda is a Ph.D. candidate in Comparative Studies, also pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Contemporary Art and Curatorial Practice. They hold a BA in Western Languages and Literatures from Bogazici University, and an MA in Comparative Cultural Analysis from the University of Amsterdam. Their research sits at the nexus of gender and sexuality studies, cultural studies, social and political theory, and visual culture and media. Currently, İlayda is interested in questions of embodiment and vulnerability, politics of space and place, and collective acts of resistance.

Selected Awards and Fellowships

The Women's Place, Coca-Cola Critical Difference for Women Research Grant, 2025

WGSS, Dana Greenblatt Feminist Media Award, 2025

FREE Center, Graduate Small Grant for Feminist Scholarship, 2025

Global Arts + Humanities, Discovery Theme Graduate Team Fellowship, 2023-2024 AY

Arts & Humanities, Graduate Small Grant, 2023, 2024, 2025

University Fellowship, 2020-2021 AY

Selected Publications

Ustel, Ilayda. “‘Challenge Accepted’ Movement on Instagram: An Embodied Virtual Protest.” Iowa Journal of Cultural Studies: Justice Framed 21, no. 1 (2021): 27–48. https://doi.org/10.17077/2168-569x.1569. 

Ustel, Ilayda. “Menopoz ya da Kadınlar ve Medikalize Edilen Bedenleri.” 5Harfliler (online), Dec. 28, 2021. https://www.5harfliler.com/menopoz-ya-da-kadinlar-ve-medikalize-edilen-bedenleri/

Ustel, Ilayda. “Spaces of Encounter / Spaces of Contamination.” Soapbox Journal for Cultural Analysis (online), Nov. 12, 2021. https://www.soapboxjournal.net/online-articles/spaces-of-encounter-spaces-of-contamination