Curriculum Vitae
Zeynep Sena Karkas is an architect and PhD candidate in Architecture and Design Cultures at the University of Bologna. Her research focuses on cultural heritage conservation, historic construction materials, and the application of digital technologies in heritage documentation and analysis. She is particularly interested in the conservation of historic masonry materials, durability assessment of natural stone, and the integration of data-driven and digital approaches in heritage research.
Education
She is currently pursuing her PhD in Architecture and Design Cultures at the University of Bologna (since 2026), where her research explores the intersection of cultural heritage conservation, historic building materials, and digital technologies.
She received her Master’s degree in Environmental Control and Construction Technology from Istanbul Technical University in 2020, graduating with High Honours. Her master’s thesis, “Investigation of Conservation Studies in Masonry Building Materials Used on the Facades of Historical Buildings and a Systematic Method Proposal,” examined conservation treatments applied to historic masonry materials and proposed a methodological framework for evaluating their effectiveness.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University in 2016 with a full scholarship and graduated with Honours.
Academic and Research Activities
Her research interests include the conservation and protection of cultural heritage, historic construction materials and traditional techniques, building materials science, and sustainable materials for restoration. In recent years, her research has also expanded to include the use of digital technologies and data-driven approaches in heritage documentation and conservation studies.
She has authored several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters related to conservation treatments for historic building materials, natural stone durability, and the performance of materials used in historic structures.
Scientific Contributions
Karkas has presented her research at several international conferences related to architecture, conservation, and building materials science. Her presentations include studies on innovative approaches in stone conservation and experimental investigations on geopolymer-based materials developed for conservation applications.
Professional and Institutional Activities
Between 2017 and 2026, she worked as an architect at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. During this period, she contributed to architectural project development, urban transformation initiatives, and heritage-related interventions in Istanbul.
She worked in several units including the Architectural Project Construction Supervision Department (2017–2019) and the Architectural and Construction Legislation Department (2019–2020). From 2020 to 2026, she worked in the Architectural Project Preparation Department, where she participated in the development and coordination of large-scale urban transformation projects, public facilities, and restoration-related works.
In addition to her professional work, she participated as a volunteer architect in post-earthquake damage assessment activities following the İzmir earthquake in 2020, contributing to structural safety evaluations and field assessments.
