We welcome Duygu Buyukyazici as the new Early Career Editor for Regional Studies. Duygu is a postdoctoral researcher whose work spans regional development, skills-based industrial diversification, regional capabilities, and the circular economy. Her research delves into the intricate interplay between skills, innovation, and regional economic structures, examining how these factors drive industrial transitions, economic resilience, and sustainability. She is currently affiliated with the UNESCO Bernard Maris Chair at the University of Toulouse Capitole and the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Turin. Holding a PhD in Economics, Management, and Data Science from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, Duygu has built a strong interdisciplinary foundation that integrates economics, data analysis, and regional studies. Her research has been featured in leading journals such as Regional Studies and Research Policy, showcasing her rigorous and innovative approach to addressing complex regional challenges.
As an Early Career Editor for Regional Studies, Duygu’s vision for the journal is rooted in its historic strengths, such as its role in bridging theoretical advancements with real-world applications and fostering a pluralistic approach to regional science. She is dedicated to maintaining these values while increasing the journal’s attention to emerging global challenges, particularly those related to skills adaptation, environmental issues, and digital, green, and circular transitions. While Duygu brings her analytical depth alongside a multidisciplinary and inclusive perspective to support the journal’s longstanding mission of advancing the field of regional science, she sees this role as an opportunity to deepen her understanding of the publishing process, work with the leading regional scientists to shape the future directions of the field, and contribute to fostering high-quality, impactful research that addresses critical global and regional challenges.