Bushra Alimerdan is a PhD student in Political Science at the University of Guelph, supervised by Dr. Edward Koning. Her doctoral research examines strategic migration and the ways in which states utilize refugee hosting as a tool of diplomatic leverage in international negotiations, with a particular focus on how proximity to the European Union shapes these dynamics.
She previously completed her MA and BA(H) at McMaster University, specializing in Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Public Law. During her graduate studies at McMaster, she actively contributed to the Political Science Graduate Students Association (MPSGSA), helping organize the annual Mapping the Global Dimensions Policy Conference. She has also presented original research on Neo-Ottomanism as a foreign policy tool at national academic forums, including Queen’s University’s Navigating New Realities in a Changing Global Landscape conference.
Beyond academia, Bushra has demonstrated strong leadership and organizational skills as the Founder and President of the McMaster Turkish Students Association (MTSA), where she built community, organized cultural initiatives, and coordinated a high-impact fundraiser that raised over $8,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Türkiye.