Dr.in Deniz Coşan Eke, BSc MA MSc

Academic Position:

University Assistant and Post doc Researcher for Alevi Theological Studies, University of Vienna

Key Areas of Research:

  • Alevism
  • Sociology of Religion
  • Migration, Identity and Diaspora
  • Interreligious Dialogue
  • Religious Diversity
  • Social Mouvements
  • Media and Religion
  • Anthropology of Emotions
  • Gender
  • Anthropology of Religion

CV (short):

  • 2020-2025: University Assistant (Post Doc Researcher): Alevi Theological Studies, University of Vienna, Vienna.
  • 2019 Doctorate at the Department for Ethnology, Ludwig Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich (LMU), Germany (Dr.)
  • 2003-2007: Studies at the University of Ankara (MA)
  • 2005-2006: Studies at the University Roskilde (RUC), Roskilde/Denmark
  • 2003-2006: Studies at the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara /Turkey (MSc)
  • 2000: Summer course at the European Humanities University (EHU), Minsk/Belarus
  • 1996-2002: Studies at the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara – Turkey (BA) 

Employments: 

  • 2021-2025: Member of the Management Committee, COST Project “Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity” (COREnet)
  • 2022-2025: Head - Working group 4: "Migration and Religious Diversity through the Lenses of Gender and Age", COST Action 2017
  • 2022-2025: Project lead, „Alevitischer Religionsunterricht und Digitalisierung in Europa: Grenzen, Chancen und Erwartungen"(aru-digital@univie.ac.at)“
  • 2021-2023: Member of the scientific staff at the project: „Bestandsaufnahme und Systematisierung von Erfahrungen, Erwartungen und Empfehlungen für die Qualifizierung von Geistlichen in alevitischen Gemeinden in Deutschland"
  • 2016-2020: Migration counsellor, AWO (Arbeitswohlfahrt), Migration und Integration Fachdienst, Munich, Germany 

Other Activities:

  • Since 2022: Scientific Advisory Board, the Biennial International Conference of Alevism Studies.  University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom 
  • Since 2021: Scientific Advisory Board, Migration, Religion und Religiöse Gruppen, The Migration Conference. London, United Kingdom
  • Since 2021: Member of the scientific committee, The Migration Conference, London, United Kingdom
  • Since 2021: Member of the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) network: “Zeitgeschichte der Türkei”, University Duisburg-Essen, Germany

Selected Bibliography:

  • 2024 (prospectively). Gender Dynamics and Religious Transnationalism: Alevi Women in Diaspora. Maryland: Lexington Books (English).
  • 2023. Religion, Religious Groups and Migration. London: Transnational Press. (eds.: Deniz Cosan Eke & Eric M. Trinka). (English). 
  • 2021. The Changing Leadership Roles of Dedes in the Alevi Movement Ethnographic Studies on Alevi Associations in Turkey and Germany from the 1990s to the Present. Bielefeld: Transcript Verlag (English).
  • 2024 (in process). “Europeanization of Alevis in the Course of Emigration from Turkey to Western Europe since the 1960s”. Cosan Eke D, Zirh BC, Cetin Ü. in Regina Polak (eds). Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity: Religious and non-religious Narratives on Migration. RaT Series: Brill. (English).
  • 2024 (in process).  “Comparative Perspectives on the Role of Religious Leaders in Interfaith Dialogue”. Cosan Eke D, Djuric Milovanovic A, Zrinščak S.  in Regina Polak (eds). Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity: Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration. RaT Series: Brill. (English).
  • (To be published). “Alevitische Identitätsdiskurse. Die Verbindungen zwischen Struktur des alevitischen Glaubenssystems und Organisation der alevitischen Verbände „Alevi-Theologische Studien: Mit der Zeit gehen“. Edited Volume. (German).
  • 2023. “Avrupa´daki Alevilerin Dünü ve Bugünü”. in Sükrü Erbas, Cigdem Boz, Cemal Salman (eds), Sosyal Bilimler Perspektifinden Aleviler ve Alevilik. Ankara: Ütopya Yayinevi.  (Turkish).

Link to her website: Deniz Coşan Eke (univie.ac.at)