Vahit ÇALIŞIR

Field(s): Maritime Studies / Port & Logistics Management / Sustainable Maritime Transportation / Data-Driven Decision Making

He serves as an Assistant Professor with a research and teaching focus on low-carbon shipping, port and terminal operations, and data-driven maritime decision support. His work bridges academic research and industry relevance through applied methods such as time-series forecasting, efficiency and performance analysis (DEA), simulation, and digital analytics, contributing to sustainable and resilient maritime systems.

Teaching & Curriculum Development

• Deliver undergraduate and graduate courses in areas such as:
  Port & terminal operations management
  Maritime logistics and shipping economics
  Maritime sustainability and decarbonisation strategies
  Quantitative methods, time-series forecasting, and operational analytics
• Design course materials, assessments, and practical case-based learning aligned with industry needs.

Research & Publication

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on:
  Alternative-fuel bunkering infrastructure and port decarbonisation
  Container terminal performance, productivity, and capacity planning
  Environmental impacts (emissions) and sustainability in maritime transport
  Digitalisation of ports and shipping (data analytics, AI, monitoring)
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at conferences, and contribute to edited volumes and academic projects.

Project Development & Funding

• Develop research proposals and seek external funding (national/international grants).
• Lead or contribute to interdisciplinary projects with measurable outputs (papers, datasets, prototypes, policy briefs).

Academic Service & Leadership

• Supervise theses and student research projects.
• Serve on departmental committees; support accreditation and quality processes.
• Participate in peer review, editorial activities, and academic community engagement.

Industry Collaboration & Impact

• Collaborate with ports, shipping companies, and public stakeholders on applied studies (efficiency benchmarking, forecasting, sustainability roadmaps).
• Translate research into actionable insights for operations, policy, and strategic planning.
• Strong background in quantitative research methods (econometrics, time-series, DEA, simulation).
• Familiarity with maritime decarbonisation topics (LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol; shore power; green corridors).
• Ability to integrate digital tools into maritime research (data analytics, AI/ML concepts, monitoring systems).
• Academic writing and supervision capabilities; effective communication in English (and Turkish).
• Peer-reviewed publications and conference contributions
• Funded research projects and industry partnerships
• High-quality teaching evaluations and curriculum contributions
• Successful student supervision and academic mentoringy.

Position Title: Advisor to the Deputy Minister (Ministry of Energy)
Focus Areas: Energy Transportation • Energy & Climate Change • International Relations
Reports to: Deputy Minister

• Provide strategic advice to the Deputy Minister on energy transportation and security (oil, gas, LNG, electricity inter-connectors, hydrogen/ammonia corridors, critical infrastructure).
• Monitor global developments on energy transition and climate policy (de-carbonisation pathways, carbon pricing, IMO/EU-related measures, methane rules, CCUS) and translate them into actionable briefings.
• Support the Deputy Minister in international engagements by preparing concise briefing notes, talking points, and meeting dossiers for bilateral and multilateral forums.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external stakeholders (public agencies, regulators, operators, industry associations, embassies, IFIs) to ensure policy alignment and execution.
• Draft and review high-level documents: policy memos, strategic roadmaps, concept notes, correspondence, and decision summaries.
• Contribute to negotiations and cooperation frameworks on cross-border energy projects, regional connectivity, and climate-energy diplomacy.
• Track key performance indicators and risks for priority initiatives; provide early-warning analysis and mitigation options.
• Represent the Deputy Minister when assigned in technical meetings and inter-agency working groups.
• Strong understanding of energy transport systems and climate-energy policy.
• Ability to synthesize complex issues into clear, decision-ready outputs.
• Excellent stakeholder management and international diplomacy communication.
• High proficiency in written and spoken English (Turkish is an asset).