Binnur Ozkececi-Taner completed her Ph.D. in Political Science at the Maxwell School, Syracuse University and holds an MA in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies from the Kroc Institute for Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame. She received her BA in International Relations from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, in 1998. Last year, she completed her post-doctoral studies at the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs of the Maxwell School. Binnur was also an AFS exchange student in Tempe, Arizona in 1993-1994.

In her research, Binnur focuses on the role of ideas in International Relations and Comparative Politics, coalition government policymaking, foreign policy decision-making, European integration, and politics of the Middle East. Her dissertation, titled, The Role of Ideas in Coalition Government Foreign Policymaking: Turkey as an Example, 1991-2002, examined the role of institutionalized ideas in coalition foreign policymaking. Specifically, her dissertation revealed the importance of 'battle of ideas' in foreign policymaking where the authority to decide was within the collective leadership of autonomous actors. Binnur's dissertation received one of Syracuse University Best Dissertation Awards for 2004-2005 academic year. Her dissertation was also nominated for APSA's 2005 Gabriel A. Almond Award.

At Syracuse University, Binnur taught undergraduate courses, including European Integration, Introduction to International Relations and Political Conflict, and led dicussion sections in Political Theory, Negotiation, and Introduction to Peace Studies. She is currently teaching "Politics of the Middle East" at Macalester College, and will teach "Regional Security" in the spring of 2006.

In addition to her research and teaching activities, Binnur also served as the assistant editor of International Studies Review, a publication of the International Studies Association, from August 2002 until December 2004.