Summary of the Article: duygu Kizildemir – Engineer Focused on Infrastructure Safety
This article profiles Duygu Kizildemir, a project engineer at Thornton Tomasetti, and her journey in civil and mechanical engineering, with a strong focus on infrastructure safety and resilience. Hear’s a breakdown of the key points:
* Early Passion: Kizildemir’s interest in engineering began with building with Legos as a child,demonstrating an early aptitude for spatial reasoning and problem-solving.
* Education: She excelled in STEM, attending a specialized high school and earning a full scholarship to Işık University in Turkey. She then secured another full scholarship to Lehigh University in the US for her Master’s and PhD.
* Railroad Safety Research: Her Master’s thesis and subsequent PhD research, in collaboration with the U.S.Federal Railroad Administration,focused on detecting and preventing rail cracks,contributing to revised rail-building guidelines and inspection protocols.
* Current Work at Thornton Tomasetti: As a project engineer, she develops finite element models to simulate how structures respond to extreme events (like vehicle impacts or attacks) and recommends improvements to building standards and construction practices.
* Commitment to Innovation: She thrives on challenging problems and seeks to improve existing standards, embodying Thornton Tomasetti’s motto: “When others say no, we say ‘Here’s how.’”
* IEEE Involvement: Kizildemir recently joined IEEE in 2024, becoming a Senior Member and actively volunteering with the Technology and Engineering Management Society, including chairing conference tracks and participating in member elevation reviews. She is also involved with ASME.
* Mentorship & Advocacy: She mentors junior engineers and actively encourages girls to pursue engineering, emphasizing that it’s a field open to all who are curious and enjoy problem-solving.
* Key Advice: Kizildemir stresses the importance of curiosity, discipline, and a deep understanding of how things work for success in engineering.
In essence, the article highlights Kizildemir’s dedication to using her engineering skills to make a tangible, positive impact on the world, particularly in the realm of infrastructure safety and resilience. she is a rising star in the field, actively contributing to research, practical applications, and the broader engineering community.