Mehtap is developing advanced machine learning tools to empower clinicians with more accurate, interpretable, and personalized approaches to diagnosing and treating conditions in women’s reproductive health. Her research leverages artificial intelligence to predict in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes, enable non-invasive diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) through ultrasound and clinical data, and classify ovarian cancer subtypes from histopathology images using deep learning. By analyzing complex medical datasets and imaging modalities, Mehtap aims to support physicians in making timely, tailored, and evidence-based decisions. Recognizing that women’s health has long been underserved due to delayed diagnoses, misdiagnoses, and chronic underfunding, her efforts focus on addressing these disparities and driving innovations that improve outcomes and promote equitable care.
Mehtap excelled in international and national competitions, leading projects such as a fuel cell stack design for micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems and a membrane electrode assembly for high-temperature PEM fuel cells. For her master’s studies, she focused on solar heat applications for industrial processes, earning second prize in a national competition sponsored by a national university and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. These achievements were part of her academic journey at Middle East Technical University, where she pursued a Mechanical Engineering degree with an emphasis on renewable energy systems.
After graduation, Mehtap joined the R&D division of a multinational industrial company, where she applied her engineering expertise to optimize manufacturing processes, enhance quality control systems, and lead process engineering and project management initiatives across global operations. She created the company’s first comprehensive technical manual for engineers and proposed innovative solutions such as harnessing solar heat from parabolic troughs to dry machine parts. While her role allowed her to improve processes and production creatively, her drive for fundamental research remained unfulfilled, motivating her to return to academia.
Transitioning to health-related research, Mehtap explored the fluid mechanics of speech and characterized respiratory aerosol emissions using a tomographic PIV system and human experiments during her Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at Clarkson University.
One of her most personally rewarding experiences came through the EU-funded RISEWISE project, where she supported women with disabilities in Italy. This opportunity deepened her commitment to designing inclusive technologies that address real human needs. Drawn to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s interdisciplinary focus and culture of innovation, Mehtap joined the MANE department under the mentorship of Professor Oehlschlaeger. Professor Oehlschlaeger provides a rigorous and intellectually stimulating environment that Mehtap refers to as a “wonderful playground to learn, grow, and establish a strong foundation in both engineering and data science, empowering me to pursue meaningful research that bridges technical innovation and human impact.” For his part, Professor Oehlschlaeger is delighted to advise Mehtap, stating, “ Mehtap embodies the spirit of RPI. She is an exceptional researcher, with technical expertise and the ability to think flexibly and creatively. However, beyond the intellectual, Mehtap is perhaps the most positive person I have met. She is deeply motivated to make a difference in the lives of others, as evident in her research addressing women’s health challenges, but also in her daily interactions with fellow students, faculty, and staff.” Looking ahead, Mehtap envisions creating her own academic research group dedicated to designing non-invasive wearable platforms that integrate biochemical and physiological markers to generate personalized fertility profiles.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Mehtap finds balance through scuba diving. Immersed in the calm and ever-changing underwater world, she embraces lessons of observation, patience, and adaptability; qualities she applies daily in her research and engineering work.
