Prof. Dr. Ali Rıza Öztürkmen completed his associate degree at the Construction Department of Dicle University Şanlıurfa Vocational College and graduated from the Soil Department of Ankara University, Faculty of Agriculture in 1994. He completed his master's degree at the Ankara University, Institute of Science, Soil Department and his doctorate at Harran University, Institute of Science, Soil Department in 1998.
Prof. Dr. Öztürkmen started his academic career at Harran University in 1993 and has been a faculty member at the Harran University, Faculty of Agriculture since then. He acted as the Head of the Department of Physical Education Teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences between 1998 and 2007, and as the Director of the School of Tourism and Hotel Management between 2019 and 2020. He became an Associate Professor in 2015 and a Professor in 2021 and continues his academic studies at the Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation at the Faculty of Agriculture.
His studies focus on environment and sustainable agriculture. His main areas of expertise include soil physics, soil-water conservation, soil-plant-water relations, modern irrigation methods, digital agriculture practices and the agricultural potential of the GAP (Southeast Anatolia Project) region. He has conducted various research and projects on agricultural problems, environmental protection and efficient use of water resources in Şanlıurfa.
Prof. Dr. Öztürkmen has also taken on active roles in civil society and professional organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TMMOB Chamber of Agricultural Engineers (ZMO) Şanlıurfa Branch between 2010 and 2015 and has been a member of the Turkish Soil Science Association and ZMO since 1991. Since 2005, he has continued his work as a Member of the Executive Boards of the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality City Council and as the Chair of the Agriculture-Livestock Group in different periods. He is also the Chair of the Urfa Working Group Association, which implements social responsibility projects.
Prof. Dr. Öztürkmen has been acting as the TEMA Foundation Şanlıurfa Provincial Representative since 2022. He is married with two children.
