Esra holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology (2003) and an MPhil in Development Studies (2006) from the University of Oxford. Her primary focus in her graduate studies was Turkey as a country of transit migration, in particular the case of Iranian asylum-seekers who converted to Christianity. Prior to taking up the position of Research Officer at the Global Migration Governance Project, Esra worked at the Helsinki Citizens Assembly Refugee Advocacy and Support Program (HCA) in Turkey for two years co-ordinating the HCA project on detention and as legal advisor.