Yasemin Savas Yildiz
I am a PhD Candidate in Sociology at Princeton University. My research examines how climate and environmental change shape migration, household decision-making, urbanization, and inequality. I primarily employ quantitative and computational social science methods.
Research Interests
Climate change, Migration, Immigrant integration, Economic sociology, Urban sociology
Education
- M.A. Sociology (2025), Princeton University
- B.Sc. Industrial Engineering (2020), Koc University
- B.A. Sociology (2020), Koc University
Dissertation Committee
Filiz Garip (chair), Benjamin Bradlow, Viviana Zelizer.
Publications
Savas, Y. (2026). Severe droughts in Senegal are linked to increased family reunification at migration destinations in Europe. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74655-z
Liu, N.*, Hu, X. E.*, Savas, Y.*, Baum, M. A., Berinsky, A. J., Chaney, A. J., … & Stewart, B. M. (2025). Short-term exposure to filter-bubble recommendation systems has limited polarization effects: Naturalistic experiments on YouTube. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 122(8), e2318127122.
* Co-first authors (equal contribution).
Working papers
Savas, Yasemin, Yildiz, Mehmet, and Garip, Filiz. “Predictability of Human Mobility Across Borders.”
Savas, Yasemin and Garip, Filiz. “Divergent Migration Pathways among Mexican Children.”
Savas, Yasemin and Garip, Filiz. “Origin Weather Shocks and Migrant Children at Destination.”
Savas, Yasemin, Sugimoto, Haruki, Ordorica, Marcela, Howerton, Emily, Garip, Filiz, and Grenfell, Bryan T. “Household Health and Migration Decisions in Mexico.”
Savas, Yasemin, Cottier, Fabien, Benveniste, Hélène, Leblang, David, and Garip, Filiz. Measuring Mexico-U.S. Migration: A Validation and Comparison of Survey and Administrative Data Sources.”
Savas, Yasemin. “Weather and Urbanization across the Global South.”
Presentations
“Weather Shocks in Mexico and Migrant Children’s Labor in the United States.” With F. Garip. Poster, Population Association of America Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, 2026.
“Predictability of Human Mobility Across Borders.” With M. Yildiz and F. Garip. Population Association of America Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO, 2026.
“Climate-Driven Migration: Evidence from Senegal on Permanent Settlement Shifts.” MR2025: Mobility, Adaptation, and Wellbeing in a Changing Climate, Columbia University, New York, 2025.
“Climate-Driven Migration in Vulnerable Contexts: A Shift Towards Permanent Migration.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Washington DC, 2025.
“Predictability of Human Mobility Across Borders.” With M. Yildiz and F. Garip. Center for Statistics and Machine Learning, Princeton University, 2024.
Teaching
Introduction to Sociology (SOC 101) — Teaching Assistant, Princeton University, Fall 2025
Social Networks (SOC 204) — Teaching Assistant, Princeton University, Spring 2025
Claims and Evidence in Sociology (SOC 300) — Teaching Assistant, Princeton University, Fall 2024