Aslı's doctoral research investigated the intersection of labour informality, formalisation policy and the humanitarian-development nexus through a mixed-methods case study of Syrian refugee livelihoods in Turkey. In tandem with her doctoral work, she has undertaken policy and research consultancies for MENASP, MIrreM, the London School of Economics, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and the International Refugee Rights Association on various projects, thematically ranging from migration management to humanitarian influencing. She has also held teaching positions at the Oxford Department of International Development.

Before joining COMPAS, Aslı worked as a Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy Associate at the International Committee of the Red Cross, specifically on the Eurasia desk. She holds an MSc in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and a dual BA in Economics and International Studies from Northwestern University.