Merve Karamara's career so far has been anything but ordinary. The 29-year-old from Middle Franconia, whose grandmother came to Germany from Turkey in the 1970s, initially attended secondary school. She completed her intermediate school-leaving certificate via the M branch and went to the FOS after graduating. After her vocational baccalaureate in economics, she did not dare to study at first and began training as a draughtswoman. In her first year of training, she was offered a dual study programme, which she completed at the TH Nuremberg. She switched to OTH Regensburg for her Master's degree in Digital Construction. Since October 2022, she has been a research assistant and PhD student in the field of building automation and construction production with a focus on concrete 3D printing with Prof. Linner and Prof. Obergrießer.
As a young Turkish woman, she wants to make her mark in the conservative construction industry. She has now been nominated as ‘Inspiration of the Year’ by ‘Netzwerk Chancen’ for her achievements. The nominees in this category are characterised by the fact that they use the public or (social) media to encourage other social climbers to pursue their dreams and realise their full potential. They use their platform to give others a voice and raise awareness of the issue.
We spoke to Merve Karamara about her path to promotion, her family and everyday hurdles:
Mrs Karamara, was it unusual for you to study or do a doctorate as a working-class child?
Merve Karamara:Yes, it was definitely unusual. In my environment, it was not a matter of course to go to university, let alone do a doctorate. Many of my friends and acquaintances did an apprenticeship after school or started working straight away. For many, studying seemed unattainable or out of reach, and the fact that I decided to do so was a conscious deviation from what was normal in my environment. However, this decision was associated with a lot of uncertainty because there were no role models I could look to for guidance.
How did you grow up and did your family support you in your career decision?
Merve Karamara: I grew up in a traditional Turkish household where education was always seen as something valuable, even if it was not a given. My parents worked hard to provide us with a good life and although they didn't have an academic education themselves, they always encouraged me to follow my own path. Their support was first and foremost emotional - they believed in me and gave me the confidence that I could do anything I set my mind to. Even though they didn't directly understand the academic world, they never questioned or discouraged me.
When and for what reasons did you decide to study and ultimately do a doctorate?
Merve Karamara: I decided to go to university while I was still at school, as I was very interested in technical and scientific subjects. However, a doctorate was an unattainable goal for me for a long time. When I started my bachelor's degree, it was a big challenge for me to even start studying. The academic world seemed far away and unapproachable, especially because I come from a non-academic household. It was only during my Master's degree programme that my view of an academic career changed. A decisive moment was when I met my professors, in particular Prof Obergrießer and Prof Linner, who both encouraged me to think about doing a doctorate. They saw in me the potential to make a difference in research and encouraged me on my path. Thanks to their support and the trust they placed in me, I finally made the decision to go down this path. Looking back, it was a decision that I would never have thought possible before, but thanks to the right support and my own commitment, it became a reality.
What challenges did you have to overcome on your journey, and were there moments when you doubted if this was the right decision?
Merve Karamara: There were many hurdles, both financial and emotional. Coming from a non-academic family background, I often lacked the network or the knowledge of how to navigate the academic world. I had to work out many things on my own and overcome the fear of not belonging or not being good enough. Especially at the beginning of my PhD, I had frequent doubts. The pressure to succeed in such a specialized field can be overwhelming. There were moments when I thought that perhaps I hadn’t made the right decision. But in the end, I always reminded myself of why I was doing this and what I wanted to achieve, which gave me strength.
Have you ever experienced disadvantage or discrimination in your professional life because of your Turkish roots?
Merve Karamara: Unfortunately, yes, it has happened. There are always moments when I feel like I need to prove myself more because of my background or my name. In the construction industry, which is very conservative, I am often doubly challenged, not only as a woman but also as someone with a migrant background. Sometimes, it happens in more subtle ways, in the form of biases or unconscious prejudice. But I’ve learned to deal with it and do not let it discourage me.
What are you currently researching at OTH Regensburg, and what are your future career plans?
Merve Karamara: I am currently focused on selective automation of construction processes with regard to ecological and economic factors, using concrete 3D printing as an example. My goal is to make the construction industry more sustainable and innovative. In the future, I want to establish myself further in research but also work in practice to ensure that scientific insights are actually applied. I see myself at the interface between science and industry, where I can help integrate sustainable solutions into everyday construction practices.
What would need to change for more “working-class children” to follow your example and pursue a scientific career?
Merve Karamara: There needs to be more support on multiple levels. Firstly, schools and universities need to show more explicitly that higher education is accessible to everyone, regardless of social or cultural background. Mentorship programs could play an important role in providing guidance to young people from working-class families. Additionally, financial barriers need to be further reduced, for instance through better scholarship programs. Finally, a societal shift is needed: science and research should not be perceived as elite domains but rather as fields where people from different backgrounds come together to shape the future collectively.
