UNIS Hanoi is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Burcu Taspinar (Class of 2010), whose Master’s thesis was shortlisted as one of the top three finalists for the TÜV AUSTRIA Science Award 2025 in the category Universities – Diploma/Master’s Theses. Being recognised among leading international submissions is a remarkable milestone, and the entire UNIS Hanoi community extends its warmest congratulations to Burcu.
From UNIS Hanoi to Cutting-Edge Research
Burcu’s academic journey truly began on our campus. The engineering-focused subjects at UNIS, paired with the guidance of teachers such as Mr Thompson and Mr Bethune, laid the foundation for her interest in scientific inquiry and analytical problem-solving.
As Burcu reflects, “My academic scientific journey started at UNIS Hanoi.”
After graduating in 2010, she moved to Linz, Austria to study Mechatronics Engineering at Johannes Kepler University (JKU), completing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a focus on data analysis and simulation. She later joined ENGEL, a global Austrian company, where she now works as a Data Scientist.
The Award-Nominated Thesis
Her Master’s thesis, “Analysing and Simulating the Fluid Structure Interaction of a Left Ventricle Model,” centres on a virtual simulation of the heart to identify the optimal placement of a pacemaker lead in the left ventricle. Through extensive modelling and analysis, her work aims to improve the effectiveness and safety of pacemaker implantation by determining the position that supports the heart’s pumping efficiency.
This research, rooted in data, simulation, and biomedical engineering, is what earned her a place among the top finalists for the 2025 award.
Values That Endure
Burcu also credits the UNIS environment with shaping her worldview. Growing up in an international community fostered her comfort in global settings and strengthened values that continue to guide her career. She shared how much she appreciated learning alongside classmates from diverse cultures and how experiences like MRISA MUN later paved the way for her to visit the UN Headquarters in New York as part of the NMUN delegation for Myanmar.
The UNIS values of curiosity, community, integrity, courage, and responsibility remain central to her personal and professional life.
A Proud Moment for Our Community
We are incredibly proud to see Burcu carry forward the spirit of UNIS Hanoi: combining scientific excellence, global awareness, and meaningful impact. Her achievement is an inspiration to current students and alumni around the world.
Congratulations, Burcu! Once a Phoenix, Always a Phoenix.
- Alumni News