On September 20, 2026, I joined the Love of Languages 5K Run/Walk at Ohio State. The event brought together students, faculty, and the Columbus community to celebrate languages and multilingualism.

It was my first 5K, and I finished the race in 44 minutes (I could do it better though! 😅). I really enjoyed the experience and the atmosphere throughout the event. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday morning on campus and definitely something I would like to do again!

In September 2026, I had the opportunity to share my story through Ohio State’s “Your America in 250 Words” series.

I wrote about my first year in the U.S., from moving to Columbus for my PhD to research, teaching, and adjusting to a new life. Writing it gave me a chance to look back at my first year and how much had changed since I arrived.

Read my “Your America in 250 Words” story

A study I contributed to, “Assessment and Mapping of Liquefaction Hazard in Yalova City Center under Scenario Earthquakes in the Marmara Sea,” was presented by my former advisor, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Toprak, at ESC2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The study focused on evaluating liquefaction hazard in Yalova using geotechnical data and different earthquake scenarios for the Marmara Sea, and mapping the results using LPI, LSI, and LSN.

Although I could not be there in person, I followed the presentation from the U.S. It was really nice to see a study I had worked on being presented at ESC2026, especially after being involved in the analyses and preparation of the work.

On July 13-17, 2026, I had the opportunity to attend the 13th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering (13NCEE), organized by the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) in Portland, Oregon.

As my first conference in the United States, it was a great opportunity to learn from presentations, discover the latest research in earthquake engineering, and connect with researchers from different universities and organizations. The discussions during and after the sessions were just as valuable as the presentations themselves.

I especially enjoyed listening to talks related to my research interests and seeing how different researchers approach similar engineering problems. It was a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and gain new ideas for my own research.

Attending 13NCEE was a memorable experience in my PhD journey. I'm grateful to everyone who made the conference such a valuable experience, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

On February 28, 2026, I took part in the Central Ohio STEM Expo in Columbus, Ohio. The goal was simple: show kids what can happen to soil during an earthquake. 

I used a small liquefaction demo setup with sand, water, clear container and a tiny house. When I shook it, the soil quickly lost its strength and started behaving more like a liquid. It’s something we deal with in geotechnical engineering, but seeing it physically makes a big difference. 

The reactions were the best part. At first, most of them didn’t expect anything to happen. Then the soil suddenly “collapsed,” and it clicked. Some kids connected it to buildings and earthquakes right away, others just wanted to try it themselves. A few of them even asked why this doesn’t happen everywhere, which was nice to hear 🙂.

Overall, it was a fun experience. Nice change from research work, and a good reminder that even a basic demo can explain a lot.

In January 2026, I completed my master's degree in Civil Engineering at Gebze Technical University after successfully defending my master's thesis.

I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Toprak, for his guidance, patience, and continuous support throughout this journey. I am also grateful for the opportunity to participate in field investigations following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, which had a significant impact on both my thesis and my research interests.

I would also like to thank Assist. Prof. Dr. Engin Nacaroğlu for his support and guidance, Prof. Dr. Ferit Çakır for providing a strong academic foundation, and my department for the opportunities and academic environment it provided throughout both my undergraduate and graduate studies.

I am thankful to everyone who supported me along the way and look forward to the next stage of my academic journey.