Turkish student inspired by Nobel laureate’s research
The work of Carolina’s Dr. Aziz Sancar led Ahmet Dericioglu from Istanbul to Chapel Hill, determined to make a difference.
When Ahmet Dericioglu lost his best friend to leukemia at the age of 12, the immediate grief was soon replaced by a need for action. The Istanbul native felt inspired to find solutions for those struggling with cancer.
“It was heartbreaking,” Dericioglu said. “But by the time I got to high school, that grief evolved into curiosity. I wanted to understand the disease step by step.”
Dericioglu began learning about both medicine and coding by robotics, skills he hopes to keep developing and researching when he comes to Carolina as an undergraduate student this month.
Dericioglu has attended boarding school in Istanbul since age 12. While there, he prided himself on his self-resilience and strong work ethic.
“My time in boarding school instilled in me time management skills that became invaluable, not just in my academic pursuits, but in my life,” he said. “I was really lucky that the experience taught me the importance of structure and perseverance when it came to achieving my goals.”
Dericioglu has achieved a lot already. He began taking calculus at age 15 and attended the Science Olympiad exams, eventually applying those skills to more intensive areas of academic study.
Dericioglu’s fascination with robotics really took hold that same year, when he built a flying drone as part of a research project. In just 30 seconds, the drone could detect Wi-Fi signals from up in the air. While Dericioglu believes it was a relatively simple project in retrospect, he loved the feeling of making something that complex on his own, and it opened his eyes to what else could be done in that field.
He drew inspiration from the work of fellow Turkey native Dr. Aziz Sancar, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the UNC School of Medicine and one of Carolina’s two Nobel laureates. Seeing Sancar’s work emphasized the importance of developing a holistic approach to sciences and led him to consider coming to Chapel Hill.
“Growing up in Istanbul, you quickly realize that you’re in a place where ancient history intertwines with cutting-edge technology,” Dericioglu said. “Living in that environment shaped my worldview. And it made me realize that working in the inter-disciplinary sciences I love, such as robotics, medicine, neuroscience, can lead to revolutionary solutions.”
Research isn’t the only part of Carolina that excites Dericioglu. His passion for playing basketball, sailing and rowing earned him a high school scholarship, and he is looking forward to attending as many athletic events as possible.
“I know Carolina has a vibrant sports community, and I couldn’t be more excited to join in that unique sense of camaraderie,” Dericioglu said.
Whether it’s in the research lab, as a career associate or at a sporting event, Dericioglu is ready to immerse himself in all Carolina has to offer.
