returning to turkey, he taught mathematics at galatasaray high school. in 1933 he joined the mathematics department of istanbul university. in 1937 he went to göttingen, where he received his phd from the university of göttingen and he worked with helmut hasse and josue cruz de munoz. he returned to istanbul university and worked there until his involvement with the foundation work of scientific and technological research council (tübi̇tak) upon president cemal gursel's appointment in 1962. after serving as the founding director of the council in 1963, he joined the mathematics department of robert college in istanbul. arf spent the period of 1964–1966 working at the institute for advanced study in princeton, new jersey. he later visited university of california, berkeley for one year.