Marine life has influenced Begüm greatly since her childhood, and she has been very inquisitive about marine biology from the beginning of her intellectual awareness. She successfully completed her PhD in the Department of Marine Biology within the Faculty of Aquatic Sciences at Istanbul University. The title of her thesis was: "Genetic Investigation on the Population Structure of the Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758) Living in Turkish Waters". Throughout her studies, she actively participated in both fieldwork and laboratory research, gaining comprehensive knowledge in the genetics and conservation of cetaceans. Her expertise includes various genetic approaches, such as DNA sequencing, mtDNA and nuclear DNA analysis, and next-generation sequencing. Additionally, she is well-versed in statistical methods and software essential for analyzing biological data. Her main focus is on cetacean population genetics, integrating both ecological and genetic approaches in marine biology. She will conduct her postdoctoral research at MARE-Madeira, concentrating on the genetic diversity and population structure of false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens Owen, 1846) in the Atlantic.