She teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the areas of Family and Consumer Sciences, Individual and Community Health, Housing and Health. Dr. Erkal’s research interests include Hygiene in home and institutions, home accidents, housing and health, housekeeping. She has published in a variety of social science journals, including The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics, Social Behavior and Personality an International Journal, Journal of Safety Research, Sağlık ve Toplum Dergisi, Sağlık Dergisi, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sosyolojik Araştırmalar e-dergi, Sağlık İdaresi Dergisi, Egitim ve Bilim Dergisi, Yeni Tıp Dergisi. She worked as a Visiting Associate Professor at Minnesota University (ABD), School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences on 9th August-19th December 2006.