Career Case Study - Dr Zeynep Duygu Tekler, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Researcher Career Case Study
Dr Zeynep Duygu Tekler
From Postdoctoral Researcher to Senior Research Associate
Zeynep is a Senior Research Associate in AI for the Built Environment at the ZERO Institute in Oxford. Her work focuses on human-centric smart building technologies—using machine learning to improve energy efficiency and comfort in the spaces we live and work in. Zeynep also holds a Junior Research Fellowship at Kellogg College.
Zeynep’s journey began in Turkey, where she was raised by a “superstar single mum” who really dedicated herself to Zeynep’s education. Her mum’s strength, resilience and belief in Zeynep was her first and most powerful inspiration.
“From a young age, I was naturally curious and self-driven. I loved learning and was always looking for ways to challenge myself. Science and engineering gave me a sense of purpose and excitement that has stayed with me ever since.”
She graduated from high school as a valedictorian and went on to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Industrial Engineering, along with a double major in Economics, once again graduating as a valedictorian.
Her academic path then took her to Singapore, where she received the Singapore International Graduate Award and earned a PhD in Engineering Product Development at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at the National University of Singapore. This was a transformative time for Zeynep – not only exploring a new culture but deepening her expertise as a researcher.
Zeynep says: “My supervisors and mentors – just a few of many – Professor Lucienne Blessing, Professor Adrian Chong, Professor Clayton Miller, Professor Yuen Chau and Professor Bige Tuncer in Singapore were wonderful. They really encouraged me to explore what truly excited me in research. They guided me with friendliness and kindness and continue share their support now that I’ve come to Oxford. It means so much.”
The opportunity at Oxford aligned with her desire to be closer to home, and she joined the Department of Engineering Science as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Familiar with the work of a researcher, Zeynep looked for a way to grow further and was very fortunate when Kellogg College awarded her a Junior Research Fellowship. This led on to her current Senior Research Associate role.
“My role at Kellogg College added another dimension to my experience—advising students, contributing to college life, and earning a fellowship independently. That recognition gave me a real sense of self-esteem and helped me grow into a more confident and independent researcher.”
What has helped her succeed? Certainly, hard work and discipline along with curiosity and enthusiasm. But more than that; it’s been mentors, colleagues, and her emotional support system.
“I've been incredibly lucky to work with Associate Professor Jesus Lizana at Oxford. He asked me what I wanted to achieve and helped me to shape my research with long term career goals. With his support, I further developed my skills in writing successful research proposals and gained more teaching experience. The Zero-Carbon Energy Buildings Teaching and Internship Programme we worked on recently won the CIBSE Award for Learning and Development, and ASHRAE Award for Zero Carbon Education.”
“Then there’s my family, friends and my best friend who is now my husband! We did our PhD together and he stood by me with every challenge, every late night working together and every big decision. Those were really happy experiences which kept me going.”
“Challenges are inevitable but it’s how you respond to them that makes the difference.”
Zeynep’s advice to young researchers is this: “It’s okay not to have all the answers. Research can be overwhelming and uncertain, especially early on. Be patient with yourself. Don’t isolate yourself - talk through your ideas, without thinking that you’ll be judged. Find mentors who genuinely care about your growth, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Academia can be tough, and not everyone will be supportive. But learning to distinguish between constructive feedback and unhelpful criticism is a skill that will serve you well.”
“Trust your instincts, protect your boundaries, and lean on those who uplift you. And when you’re in a position to do so, be that person for someone else.”
Now, with two postdoctoral experiences in two countries behind her, Zeynep feels she has enough ammunition to move on to the next stage of her career, whether that’s an assistant professorship or a lecturer role.
“Leadership?” she says. “Absolutely! I am very excited about building my own research group and mentoring students! I would really like to give back some of the many things I’ve learned along the way, and to create a supportive, inspiring environment where my team can thrive.”
