Deniz works as a Research Associate in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, where she contributes to the evaluation of UEFA programmes alongside Professor Paul Downward and Dr Rachel Sanders. Her role involves evaluating programme implementation and outcomes to generate evidence that informs policy and practice.
She completed her PhD in Sport and Exercise Science at London South Bank University in 2026. Supported by the Sport and Exercise Research Centre, her doctoral research focused on the development and evaluation of a cross-cultural training programme to support culturally aware coaching practice. During her PhD, she worked closely with coaches and stakeholders to translate research into practice through coach education and knowledge exchange initiatives.
Prior to her PhD, Deniz completed an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Winchester and a BSc in Psychology at Kadir Has University in Istanbul. Alongside her academic work, she has practical experience as a competitive volleyball player, volleyball coach, and assistant sport psychology practitioner, working across youth sport settings.
Deniz's PhD focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of a cross-cultural training programme to support culturally aware coaching practice across diverse sport settings. She is currently involved in the evaluation of UEFA's Playmakers, Football in Schools, and Equaliser programmes, using mixed-methods research to examine programme implementation and outcomes and generate evidence to inform policy and practice.
Her research interests include programme evaluation, coach learning and development, cultural intelligence, and youth sport participation.
Deniz is an accredited Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Facilitator and a member of the Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Community of Practice UK. She delivers workshops and presentations on cultural intelligence to coaches, practitioners, researchers, and sport organisations. She previously worked as a Talent Pathway Coach with Volleyball England and currently coaches youth volleyball athletes across school, university, and club settings.
Featured publication
Urgun, D., Seidel, J., Borges, M., Vangeli, E., & de Oliveira, R. F. (2025). Exploring the impact of cross-cultural training on cultural competence and cultural intelligence: A systematic narrative literature review. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1511788