Ayça Çıkrıkcı, who holds a BSc degree in Guidance and Psychological Counseling, joined the Dr. Zaim Gokbay's Research Group as a PhD student in 2022. She completed her MSc thesis supervised by Doç. Dr. Erhan Alabay to earn the MSc degree in Child Development, specializing in "An Examination of Preschool Teachers' Views on Physical Contact with Children During the Education Process" at the University of Health Sciences, Türkiye. Her thesis focuses on preschool teachers' views on physical contact with children during the education process, drawing on studies conducted on infants who passed away due to a lack of physical contact despite all the care provided in orphanages, in the context of both increasing anxiety among parents about child sexual abuse and the consequences of social distancing rules required during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Her future aspirations involve ensuring children's well-being is protected from the dangers they may encounter in both real world and cyberspace. In this regard, she works to support adults in gaining knowledge and awareness about children's mental, physical, and cognitive development, parenting styles, children's rights, sharenting, the digital world, and the threats it poses, while also supporting adults' own well-being.