OUR TEAM
Assoc. Prof. Elif Sürer
The Director of the Center and The assistant of the President
Assoc. Prof. Elif Sürer received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in 2005 and 2007 from the Department of Computer Engineering at Boğaziçi University, and her Ph.D. degree in 2011 from the Department of Bioengineering at Bologna University. After conducting postdoctoral research at University of Sassari and University of Milan, she worked between 2015-2017 at the Multimedia Informatics program of the METU Graduate School of Informatics and she was supported by the TÜBİTAK 2232 Career Integration Fellowship. Since 2017, Assoc. Prof. Elif Sürer has been a faculty member in the same program. She has also been serving as the Advisor to the METU President and the Director of Career Planning Application and Research Center as of August 2024.
Ülkü UNGAN ÖNDER
Psychological Counsellor Specialist
After completing her undergraduate and master’s degree in the Department of Psychology, METU, she worked in the field of Human Resources in the private sector for 20 years. In 2013, she came back “home” bringing all the experiences she gained in the private sector with her. Starting to work at METU Career Planning Center for our students, Mrs. Önder shares her experiences in Human Resources by having one-to-one counselling sessions with the students as well as coordinating all the activities of the center. She tries to transfer her experiences on any topic that would be helpful to students in starting professional business life.
Güllühan ORHAN
Computer Operator
Güllühan Orhan is a computer operator at the Career Planning Application and Research Center. She received her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Dumlupınar University and later on her master’s degree in Algebra and Numbers Theory from the same university. Starting her career as a teacher in private educational institutions, Mrs. Orhan has been carrying out feasibility, innovation and application activities of the effective organizations in the career planning processes of METU students before their graduation since 2014. She is still taking an active role in student affairs and industrial cooperations. Her areas of interest include early career planning and children’s university.
Yunus BIYIK
Instructor
Yunus Bıyık is an instructor at the Career Planning Application and Research Center. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Gazi University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences; and his master’s degree in Management Organization from Gazi University, Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Business Administration, and continues his PhD studies in the same department. His research interests include organizational behavior, strategic management and human resources management.
Uzm. Psikolog Deniz DÖNMEZ
Instructor
Deniz Dönmez graduated from the Middle East Technical University (METU) Department of Psychology in 2014 and completed her master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at the same university in 2019. She has gained five years of professional experience, working as an Industrial and Organizational Psychologist in the energy and mining sector and as a Human Resources Specialist in the defense industry.
Focusing on career planning, mentoring, and coaching, Dönmez has completed Professional Coaching Training at the Behavioral Sciences Institute and received various mentorship training from different institutions. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Human Resources Management and Career Counseling at Ankara University. In addition, she continues her professional work as a Lecturer at the METU Career Planning Application and Research Center.