Arda Akgül is an Economics and Business Administration student and researcher at TED University in Ankara, Türkiye. This official website collects his research, publications, writing, and institutional work. He currently serves as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the TED University Sustainable Trade Research Center (TEDUsTRC) and is the founder of Monarch Castle Technologies. His published writing covers international economics, energy policy, NATO, European politics, sustainability, and related public-policy questions through outlets and organizations including UDİAD, EUROPolitika, and the TEDU Economics Research Union.
Education
-
TED University
Bachelor of Science in Economics, 2022-2027 (GPA: 3.83) -
TED University
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, 2024-2027
Certifications
- McKinsey Forward Program
- Economics of Money and Banking
- Introduction to Data Science
- Microsoft Excel Temelleri
- Birey ve Aileler için Afet Bilinci Eğitimi Programı
- Basic Concepts and Major Advantages of Web Conferences
Selected Affiliations
-
TED University Sustainable Trade Research Center (TEDUsTRC)
Undergraduate Research Assistant in economics and sustainable trade research. -
UDİAD (International Association for Diplomatic Relations)
Assistant Researcher focused on energy, diplomacy, and geopolitics. -
DASAM (Diplomasi ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Merkezi)
Researcher focused on international relations, energy diplomacy, and geopolitical risk. -
EUROPolitika
Contributing author on European politics, international relations, and foreign policy. -
TEDU Economics Research Union
Vice President (February 2026 - Present); formerly Board Member and member of the Supervisory Board and Academic Committee; contributor to ERUMAG. -
SDCofA (Strategic Data Company of Ankara)
Co-Founder and Geopolitical Data Strategist working on data-driven geopolitical risk assessment.
Research and Writing Focus
- Published 35+ articles on international economics, energy policy, NATO, European politics, and sustainability.
- Economics thesis on EU exposure, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and sustainability reporting in the aluminum sector.
- Interested in international economics, cryptography, blockchain, digital identity, urban mobility, battery technology, electric vehicles, radio technology, fast-moving consumer goods and fast food investment, sustainable finance, and geopolitical risk.
Experience
TED University Sustainable Trade Research Center (TEDUsTRC)
Undergraduate Research Assistant | October 2024 - Present
- Analyzing qualitative and quantitative corporate ESG data on sustainability practices, disclosure quality, and stakeholder relevance.
- Synthesizing academic literature and empirical findings into research reports supporting institutional sustainability initiatives.
Intern | June 2026 - July 2026
- Supported research on corporate sustainability, sustainable trade, and company-level sustainability assessment through data collection and literature review.
DASAM (Diplomasi ve Stratejik Araştırmalar Merkezi)
Researcher | February 2026 - Present | Ankara, Türkiye
- Conducting literature reviews and policy analysis on international relations, regional security, energy diplomacy, and geopolitical risk.
- Contributing to research papers, policy briefs, seminars, and workshops with an emphasis on evidence quality and practical relevance.
Monarch Castle Technologies
Founder and Lead Architect | July 2025 - Present
- Leading quantitative macro-financial intelligence, automated market sentiment analysis, and international trade network modeling.
- Building Cloudy-Shiny, a real-time macro-financial sentiment barometer and composite risk index for global financial instruments.
- Building macrointel, an interactive graph network visualizer for cross-country macroeconomic outlooks and policy rate trajectories.
- Building supplychain, dependency mapping and supply chain graph architecture for the world’s top 100 enterprises by market capitalization.
SDCofA (Strategic Data Company of Ankara)
Co-Founder and Geopolitical Data Strategist
- Building data-driven geopolitical risk assessment, conflict intensity quantification, and regional security modeling.
- Developing BNTI (Border Neighbor Threat Index), an algorithmic index tracking conflict dynamics and cross-border security across Türkiye’s immediate regional neighbors.
- Maintaining quantitative regional security indices covering the Black Sea, the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and MENA.
TEDU Economics Research Union
Vice President | February 2026 - Present | Ankara, Türkiye
- Leading media and communications strategy for ERUMAG and the union’s digital channels, connecting economic research with a student audience.
- Previously served as Board Member (September 2025 - February 2026) and on the Supervisory Board (March 2025 - October 2025) while contributing to the Academic Committee.
- Serves in student publication and academic work connected to the Economic Research Union, where Prof. Dr. Erdem Başçı is the advisor.
- Authored and edited articles on economics, sustainability, and policy topics for ERUMAG.
- Ensured academic compliance through careful sourcing and citation standards.
- Contributed to editorial coordination, design support, and student-facing podcast work around economic discussion.
RadioTEDU
Editor, Broadcast Coordinator, and former Radio Show Host | October 2022 - Present | Ankara, Türkiye
- Oversees editorial processes and production schedules for radio broadcasts and podcasts.
- Helped publish podcasts in RadioTEDU’s active span for the first time since 2012.
- Coordinates with hosts, editors, and technical teams across thematic podcast and university media projects.
- Co-hosts segments on the FieldTalks x TEDU ERU podcast, including interviews with economists such as Dr. Günnur Ege Bilgin and Prof. Altuğ Yalçıntaş.
- Facilitates discussions on topics including game theory, decision-making, market design, and the economics of artificial intelligence.
- Supports the production of programs including Geçmişin Güncesi, In&Out with Professor Yalman, GreenTalks, FieldTalks, and Voice of Culture.
- Contributing to the RadioTEDU software ecosystem as project co-manager and technical lead, including the cross-platform RadioTEDU Mobile app with multi-station Icecast streaming, an AI-assisted jingle production suite, and a terminal radio client.
- Co-managing the RadioTEDU OnAir broadcast automation engine for continuous 24/7 streams, scheduling, and station syndication.
- Building interactive listener services including real-time song voting rounds, a multiplayer Study World campus, and dedicated Lo-Fi and Classical focus stream pipelines.
- Previously co-hosted the weekly radio program Young Voices of Literature and helped shape each episode’s content and planning.
Uluslararası Diplomatik İlişkiler ve Akademik Araştırmalar Derneği (UDİAD)
Assistant Researcher | July 2024 - November 2025
- Conducts research and analysis on international relations, diplomacy, and security.
- Authored published pieces on energy policy, cybersecurity, regional alliances, and diplomacy.
DenizBank
Intern | July 2025 | Etimesgut, Ankara, Türkiye
Anadolu Tarih ve Kültür Birliği Derneği
Vice President, Board Member, and former Chairman of the Supervisory Board | March 2023 - July 2025 | Ankara, Türkiye
- Worked on board responsibilities, oversight, and social media content during the association’s early institutional development.
- Served during the association’s transition into a more independent structure while it continued working with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
BLUESENSE
Business Development Intern | March 2025 - June 2025 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Developed a five-year cash flow strategy aligned with the startup’s R&D-intensive roadmap, including revenue projections, cost structure, and growth scenarios.
- Supported early-stage investment planning and capital allocation.
- Drafted and negotiated supplier agreements in line with Canadian trade law and the Turkish Commercial Code.
- Led legal structuring for bilingual supplier agreements and onboarding processes covering KYC, data privacy, and quality assurance.
- Worked with the Canadian team to align financial planning with North American regulatory requirements and supplier logistics.
UnlimiTED Student Society
Board Member and former Chairman of the Supervisory Board | April 2023 - June 2025 | Ankara, Türkiye
- Contributed to student-society work focused on challenges faced by disabled people.
- Used leadership responsibilities to support practical accessibility improvements.
- Collaborated with team members on projects promoting accessibility.
- Co-founded the UnlimiTED Student Society to address the needs of disabled people.
- Organized a campus-wide conference with Ali Ulusoy, President of the Association of a Happy Life Without Disability, to raise awareness.
- Helped build partnerships with external organizations to strengthen accessibility efforts at the university.
- Oversaw whether society activities remained aligned with the goal of promoting a barrier-free environment.
TED University International Students’ Society
Board Member | September 2025 - May 2026 | Ankara, Türkiye
- Represented international-student interests across inclusion, academic life, and campus integration initiatives.
- Coordinated cultural-exchange and community-building events with students and university stakeholders.
EUROPolitika
Author | September 2023 - October 2024
- Wrote and translated analysis on European politics, international relations, and global economic issues.
- Contributed public-facing essays designed to give readers a clearer view of foreign-policy developments.
AIESEC Türkiye
Alumni; former Outgoing Global Teacher Consideration Manager, Outgoing Global Talent Team Member, and Outgoing Global Volunteer Team Member | March 2023 - Present | Ankara, Türkiye
- Continues to participate in alumni activities, elections, and community events connected to AIESEC in Ankara.
- Worked with candidates interested in teaching, talent, and volunteer exchange opportunities abroad.
- Supported process review, start-date coordination, partner communication, and contract preparation for exchange participants.
- Used CRM tools and spreadsheets to support records, operations, and candidate follow-up.
Technical Toolkit
- Data and intelligence: Python, R, Stata, NetworkX, Pandas, NumPy, time-series econometrics, OSINT pipelines.
- Mobile and web engineering: React Native, TypeScript, JavaScript, Android Jetpack Media3, Kotlin, Swift, Node.js, Vite, TailwindCSS.
- Broadcast and audio: Icecast2, Liquidsoap, FFmpeg, automated playout, digital audio workstations, audio DSP.
Contact
- Location: Ankara, Türkiye
- Email: ardakgul4@gmail.com
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ardakgul
- Medium: medium.com/@ardakgul
- X: @ardakgul
- GitHub: github.com/akgularda
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arda Akgül?
Arda Akgül is an Economics and Business Administration student and researcher at TED University in Ankara, Türkiye, an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the TED University Sustainable Trade Research Center (TEDUsTRC), and the founder of Monarch Castle Technologies.
What does Arda Akgül study and research?
He studies economics and business administration, with a focus on international trade, sustainability, energy policy, and the role of institutions in public life, and has published 35+ articles across ERUMAG, UDİAD, and EUROPolitika.
Where is Arda Akgül based?
Arda Akgül is based in Ankara, Türkiye.
What is Monarch Castle Technologies?
Monarch Castle Technologies is a venture founded by Arda Akgül in 2025 that works on data analysis and prediction projects.
How can I contact Arda Akgül?
You can reach Arda Akgül by email at ardakgul4@gmail.com or via LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/ardakgul.