Üsküdar Üniversitesi Biomedical Engineering and Molecular Biology and Genetics graduate Rümeysa Cebecioğlu is achieving significant successes. Cebecioğlu, who completed her internship in Italy and is currently continuing her doctoral studies at Koç Üniversitesi, has a greatest dream as a Turkish youth to make the country's name known to the entire world and leave a lasting mark. To announce a Turkish-made product to the world…
“The desire to move into a new field led me to Biomedical Engineering”
In an interview conducted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Career Center Alumni Office, Rümeysa Cebecioğlu stated that she was very happy to have graduated from the Bioengineering department; “Throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies, I attended my classes with pleasure and truly enjoyed them. Even in my social life, studying in such a multidisciplinary field brought countless benefits. Since childhood, I was both interested in medicine and biology and successful in those subjects. With the confidence and desire this gave me, I chose bioengineering. However, because it is still a developing profession in our country, and with the desire that grew within me over time to move into a different, more effective, and brand-new field, it directed me towards Biomedical Engineering. Of course, at this point, both the institution where I am doing my doctorate and my doctoral advisor had a significant influence.” she stated.
Her work competes with universal studies!
Rümeysa Cebecioğlu stated that knowing she can touch people's lives is a huge source of motivation. Cebecioğlu; “The studies I am currently involved in compete with works carried out in laboratories conducting universal-scale research. It offers countless opportunities for me to improve myself. But most importantly, knowing that the projects we produce can touch the lives of all people is a motivation and decision factor in itself for me,” she said.
“I decided to make my country's name known to the entire world”
Rümeysa Cebecioğlu noted that her greatest inner motivation as a Turkish youth is to make her country's name known to the entire world and leave a lasting mark. Cebecioğlu; “I started working at PROMER Laboratory from the first year of my undergraduate education. During this period, I met many different people. I attended various seminars and congresses. I gained many different skills such as publication writing processes, project creation and execution processes, teamwork, and innovative thinking. When the processes of producing things, reading, and continuous learning started to make me happier and happier, I decided to stay in academia and, as a truly good and well-equipped academician, make my country's name known to the entire world. Honestly, I faced many difficulties during this process and am still experiencing them. But my biggest inner motivation is to make my country's name known to the entire world as a Turkish youth and leave a lasting mark. I hope to achieve this as soon as possible. Of course, having inner motivation and wanting it is not enough on its own. Besides that, you need to constantly read and improve yourself, regardless of holidays, summer, or winter. For master's and doctoral education, getting sufficient scores in exams like ALES, YÖKDİL, etc., are some of the first requirements. In addition to these, during your undergraduate and graduate studies, you should attend seminars related to your field, follow leading figures and journals, and participate in articles and projects,” she said.
“I can say that I am both a student and an instructor seasonally”
Rümeysa Cebecioğlu, who is currently a TÜBİTAK scholar and also a teaching assistant doing her doctorate at Koç Üniversitesi, also talked about this process. Cebecioğlu; “So, I can say that I am both a student and an instructor seasonally. If we look at the outcome, I can say I'm glad my path crossed with this place. However, the initial processes were not very easy. During the application process, it was a period when I was going abroad for an internship, so there was also a possibility for me to continue my doctoral education in Italy. The opportunities offered to doctoral students there were quite good. However, I still wanted to apply in my own country and applied to 3 universities in my field for this. Before going abroad, I had received acceptance from both Koç Üniversitesi and İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi. But I still hadn't made a final decision. I made my final decision after going to Italy and chose to continue in my own country, at Koç Üniversitesi. As I said before, both the field of study, the professor's approach, and the university's facilities were very influential in my decision.” she stated.
She provided information about the doctoral admission process
Cebecioğlu noted that every experience and skill asked in interviews inevitably comes up in one's path; “In the admission process, I can say that reference letters are important first and foremost. At the same time, the letter in which you express yourself and your academic experiences has a very high impact. During interviews, it is very important to be self-confident and to convey to the other party that you believe you can develop yourself when you have the necessary background. We should not forget that even your attire, hand gestures, and the words you use during the interview contribute to this communication. However, just to get accepted, we should not appear competent in areas that do not suit us or where we would struggle. Because based on my experiences, I can say that every experience and skill asked in an interview will inevitably come up. It can make doctoral education, which is already a somewhat difficult process, even harder. Therefore, before applying to a department or school, one should know their own limits and abilities and be sure of what they want. After knowing these, they will surely achieve what they want. Also, while school names are often presented as very important, what truly matters is the team and field you work in. Let's not forget this,” she said.
“Idea exchange forms the most important part of academic development”
Rümeysa Cebecioğlu stated that having an original idea and conveying it to the other person is important. Cebecioğlu; “As far as I've observed, it might sound cliché, but first and foremost, knowing English well enough to express yourself in the academic field is very important. Because, just like in my current team, many teams abroad hold weekly meetings, and you need to present your weekly progress to your advisor and teammates. Idea exchange forms the most important part of academic development, and at its core lies your ability to express yourself correctly. Beyond this, as far as I know, many universities ask for your potential project during admission. This means you need to have an original idea and convey this idea to the person in front of you. Additionally, your proficiency in software programs, device usage, and current scientific developments is particularly important for education abroad,” she said.
“Academic success alone means nothing unless one is happy and peaceful”
Cebecioğlu, mentioning that academia is a long-term and actually never-ending process; “In fact, throughout your career, you constantly have to be both a student and an educator. You need to work with people from various cultures. You are also often involved in multiple projects simultaneously. All of this brings with it a high amount of stress and workload. Most of the time you lose sleep, and sometimes you may need to live isolated from your social life. Unfortunately, your holidays can never truly remain holidays. But if you have chosen this path willingly, you get used to all of this over time and find your own work-life balance. After that, everything becomes much easier. You can allocate time for yourself, and this supports your productivity. You only need to be resilient to stress and fatigue on a seasonal basis. And you need to love reading, i.e., being a student. Otherwise, you might not find what you envisioned in academia. But this should not be perceived as a bad thing either. Unfortunately, academic success alone means nothing unless one is happy and peaceful. However, as I said, if you cross that threshold and find your balance, I cannot describe the pleasure you experience the moment your creations come back to you in the form of articles, projects, posters, and awards. Especially that moment when you produce a product and realize you've touched people's lives…” she stated.
She aims to announce a Turkish-made product to the entire world!
Cebecioğlu, discussing her goals about where she sees herself in 5 years; “In 5 years, I see myself as a young doctor preparing her associate professorship file. Of course, within these 5 years, I see myself as a proud and happy doctor who has realized one of her biggest dreams by completing her project and announcing a Turkish-made product to the entire world. Being an academician with a large team, teaching and supporting enthusiastic young scientists, is another dream of mine,” she said.
“Üsküdar Üniversitesi is truly the place where I grew and matured”
Rümeysa Cebecioğlu, recording her thoughts on being an Üsküdar Üniversitesi graduate, mentioned that it was a place that was life itself for her, rather than just a school. Cebecioğlu; “I can say that Üsküdar Üniversitesi is truly the place where I grew and matured. It's a place where many of my bitter, sweet, funny, and sad stories took place, a place that was life itself for me rather than just a school. An institution where I fully experienced the sense of belonging with the confidence of being one of its first students. An adventure where everyone I met and whose path crossed mine serves as a lesson when I look back now… I hope our paths cross again with Üsküdar Üniversitesi one day. All my professors whom I met and had the chance to take classes from here are very valuable. Each of them holds a special place in my heart. I know that we also hold a special place in each of theirs. Even now, I know they are proud when they see us. I hope to continue making them proud. I say this both on my own behalf and on behalf of my fellow alumni,” she said.