Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin, Trakya University, Turkey
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin is a distinguished academic specializing in Cyberpsychology, Artificial Intelligence, Educational Technology, and Human-Computer Interaction. Born in Kütahya, Turkey, he completed his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 1999, followed by a master’s and PhD from Trakya University. He pursued postdoctoral research at the Middle East Technical University, focusing on nomophobia among university students. Dr. Gezgin has held academic positions in institutions such as Zagreb University, University of Milan, and Prizren University, and currently serves as an Associate Professor in Computer Engineering at Trakya University. His research addresses digital behavior issues such as smartphone addiction, FoMO, and cyberloafing, with over a dozen SSCI-indexed publications. Beyond academia, he actively contributes to addiction prevention through university commissions and youth advisory roles. His interdisciplinary work bridges technology and psychology, making significant contributions to digital well-being and educational innovation.
Publication Profile
Orcid
Educational Background
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin has a strong and diverse academic background rooted in computer engineering and educational technologies. He completed his postdoctoral studies in 2016 at the Middle East Technical University, specializing in Computer and Instructional Technologies Education. His postdoctoral thesis focused on the prevalence of nomophobia among university students in Turkey. Dr. Gezgin earned his PhD in 2011 from Trakya University in Computer Engineering, where he investigated wireless network technologies and encryption systems. He also holds a master’s degree from Trakya University, completed in 2006, with a thesis on e-exam applications using ASP and ASP.NET technologies. His foundational education in computer engineering began with his bachelor’s degree from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University in 1999, where his thesis examined Slackware Linux operating systems and local area network operations. He graduated from İzmir Selçuk High School, specializing in science. This educational journey has laid the groundwork for his impactful interdisciplinary research.
Professional Experience
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin has accumulated extensive academic and teaching experience throughout his career in higher education. Since September 13, 2021, he has been serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering under Article 13b/4. Prior to this, from January 23, 2019, to September 13, 2021, he held the position of Associate Professor at the Faculty of Education. He also served as an Assistant Professor (Yrd. Doç. Dr.) in the same faculty from September 12, 2011, to January 23, 2019. Earlier, from June 15, 2010, to September 6, 2011, he worked as a Lecturer (Öğr. Gör. Dr.) in the Faculty of Education. His academic journey began at the Vocational School of Technical Sciences, where he served as a Lecturer from September 13, 2001, to June 12, 2010. This diverse professional experience highlights his deep commitment to teaching and academic leadership across multiple departments.
Research Focus
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin’s research primarily focuses on digital technology use and its psychological and educational implications, particularly among students. His work extensively examines smartphone addiction, nomophobia (fear of being without a mobile phone), and the fear of missing out (FoMO), often exploring how these phenomena relate to academic performance, self-regulation, and digital behaviors. He has published studies on the integration of mobile learning, artificial intelligence in education, digital literacy, and cyberpsychology, as well as the use of emerging technologies such as virtual reality in special education. His more recent research includes the use of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to predict internet addiction, and the development of psychometric tools like the AIlessphobia scale to assess anxiety related to artificial intelligence in educational settings. Overall, Dr. Gezgin’s work lies at the intersection of educational technology, digital well-being, and behavioral science, making valuable contributions to understanding and improving digital learning environments.
Publication Top Notes
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Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Predict Internet Addiction in Turkish University Students, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 2025 ResearchGate+10Taylor & Francis Online+10Taylor & Francis Online+10
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Developing the AIlessphobia in education scale and examining its psychometric characteristics, Education and Information Technologies, 2025 ResearchGate+8ACM Digital Library+8DergiPark+8
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The role of self‑regulated learning in modelling the relationships between learning approaches, FoMO and smartphone addiction among university students, British Journal of Educational Technology, 2025 Taylor & Francis Online
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Understanding University Students’ Intentions to Use Chatbots in Computer Programming Education: A Quantitative Study, Sakarya University Journal of Education, 2024 ouci.dntb.gov.ua+8Taylor & Francis Online+8Taylor & Francis Online+8
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Undistracted Reading, Not More or Less: The Relationship Between High School Students’ Risk of Smartphone Addiction and Their Reading Habits, Technology, Knowledge and Learning, 2023 Taylor & Francis Online
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Effectiveness of virtual reality technology in teaching pedestrian skills to children with intellectual disabilities, e-Kafkas Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2023 ouci.dntb.gov.ua+2SpringerLink+2SciSpace+2
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The effect of cyberloafing behaviors on smartphone addiction in university students: The mediating role of fear of missing out, Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 2023 SciSpace+15Taylor & Francis Online+15Taylor & Francis Online+15
Conclusion
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deniz Mertkan Gezgin is highly suitable for the Research for Best Researcher Award, owing to his pioneering contributions in cyberpsychology, educational technologies, and AI, backed by a solid publication track, real-world impact, and academic leadership. He bridges technical innovation and human behavior, which aligns strongly with the award’s vision to recognize researchers shaping the future through impactful, interdisciplinary work. With continued global collaboration and practical implementations, his influence is poised to expand further.