Meet Process Engineer Gamze Keser

Process engineers play a crucial role in driving innovation and efficiency across industries like petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, and more. In this series, we spotlight the dedicated professionals who solve complex challenges and shape the future of these vital sectors. With over 800 members, The Community of Process Engineers is AIChE’s most active discussion group, connecting experts who make a real impact. Interested in being featured? Learn more and join the conversation at aiche.org/CPE.

This month, we introduce you to Gamze Keser, Process Design Engineer at ENKA Construction Inc. She discusses the path that led to her career in process engineering, overcoming challenges, and the importance of her work. 

Tell us a bit about your work as a process engineer.

I completed my undergraduate studies in Chemical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University and went on to obtain my MS in chemical engineering from Boğaziçi University. I now work as a process design engineer at ENKA, a well-known EPC company with diverse operations. I am currently working on a Combined Cycle Heat and Power Plant (CCHP) project in Hamburg, Germany, where we are finalizing the detailed design and preparing for commissioning. Once operational, the plant will supply district heating for the city. It is exciting to be involved in such a significant project early in my career. Every day brings something new to learn.

Process engineering encompasses a wide range of work. As a process design engineer, I’m responsible for preparing HMBs, PFDs, P&IDs, and other process deliverables such as line lists, equipment and line sizing, and process and system descriptions. One of the most important aspects of the job is maintaining coordination with other disciplines, including mechanical, instrumentation and control, electrical, plant design, and civil, to ensure that the process remains consistent and everything aligns as intended. Our work doesn’t end when we draw a pipe on a diagram. We also follow up in 3D models and, when necessary, on site to make sure everything functions as it should.

While most of my time is spent in the office, I have also had the opportunity to visit both the Hamburg site and several of the power plants operated by ENKA in Turkey. Seeing these systems in action has been a valuable experience. Talking to engineers and operators, getting close to the equipment, and walking through the sites helped me better understand how design decisions play out in real conditions. You begin to approach design with a more practical mindset. It is not just about what works in simulation but also about what works on site. And yes, there is definitely a lot of steam— both in the pipes and in the pace of the work we do.

To me, being a good engineer also means being a responsible human being. In a world shaped by rapid technology and individual ambition, it is essential to remember our duty to one another and to the environment.

Why did you become a process engineer?

I’ve always been a curious person. Even as a kid, I asked a lot of questions — probably too many, if you ask my parents or teachers. I had a constant urge to understand how things work. In high school, I developed a love for chemistry and biology, so choosing chemical engineering wasn’t a huge surprise. What did surprise me, though, was realizing that chemical engineering isn’t about mixing colorful liquids in beakers all day. It’s a rigorous field focused on systems, calculations, and problem-solving. Fortunately, I ended up enjoying this version of it even more.

In my final year at Istanbul Technical University, we were tasked with a year-long chemical plant design project that covered everything from raw material sourcing and site selection to detailed process design and economic analysis. It was the first time I saw how all the theory could come together in a real-world application. That experience sparked my interest in design engineering, and when I later had the opportunity to join ENKA as a process design engineer, I didn’t hesitate.

Looking back, I think I’ve always had this mindset — even in my personal life. I like creating systems that work well and fixing them when they don’t. My job just happens to be the perfect outlet for that.

Here, Gamze is pictured during a site visit at Dradenau Combined Heat and Power Plant, Hamburg, Germany.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your role as a process engineer?

One of the biggest challenges is working right at the crossroads of multiple disciplines and finding solutions that satisfy everyone involved. As process engineers, we have to stay flexible and open-minded, while also strictly adhering to standards, safety protocols, and technical integrity. With time and experience, you learn how much you can push the limits before things break. For those just starting out, though, striking that balance can be difficult. The key is to thoroughly understand the requirements, ask insightful questions, and ensure that everything aligns with technical and regulatory guidelines.

Because of the global nature of our work, the projects we take on are truly multinational. Customers, vendors, contractors, and consultants often come from a variety of countries, meaning that collaboration happens across many languages, cultures, and perspectives. While this diversity adds tremendous value, it also brings communication and coordination challenges. Fortunately, I was well-prepared. As a co-founder of my university’s AIChE Student Chapter, I connected with chemical engineering students and professionals from places like the U.S., Ecuador, Colombia, India, Germany, and Oman. That experience helped me develop the cultural awareness and communication skills I depend on today, making it easier to adapt and thrive in international teams.

On a more personal note, being a woman in a male-dominated field has its own set of challenges. During my undergraduate and graduate studies, I was surrounded by many female classmates, so I genuinely thought the idea of engineering as a “boy’s major” was outdated. But stepping into the professional world revealed a different reality — women are still underrepresented, especially in industrial settings. It was a bit of a wake-up call. The encouraging part is that progress is happening. More women are joining the workforce, taking on leadership roles, and making their impact felt — not just in my company but throughout the industry. Hopefully, one day soon, having equal representation of women and men will be the norm. For now, though, it’s important to recognize and celebrate the progress being made.

How is your work as a process engineer critical to your particular job assignment?

In large-scale projects like combined cycle or cogeneration plants, process engineering serves as the backbone that connects all disciplines. From defining how the plant operates by specifying flow rates, temperatures, pressures, and control logic to ensuring efficiency, emissions control, and proper equipment sizing, process decisions shape the overall performance of the plant. If the process design is not sound, no amount of quality equipment or construction can fix it later. We determine how fluids move, how energy is transferred, and how systems respond to changing conditions. These choices directly affect safety, reliability, efficiency, and environmental compliance.

Our role may not be the most visible from the outside. There is no Netflix documentary about heat and mass balances yet, but our work is deeply embedded in how everything functions. We ask the critical "what if" questions, simulate real-world scenarios, and make sure that what looks good on paper actually works in the field. That level of technical foresight is what makes process design engineering essential to the power and energy industry.

 What do you think is most important about what you do as a process engineer?

For me, the most important part of being a process engineer is the responsibility we carry toward people. When you design something like a power plant, you are not just working with systems and numbers. You are thinking about the individuals and industries that will depend on what you create. It must be efficient, reliable, and above all, safe. That responsibility becomes even more tangible during something like a HAZOP session. In discussions with experienced colleagues, I came to understand that safety and risk awareness are not just aspects of the job — they are at the core of it.

I still remember learning AIChE’s definition of chemical engineering in my first ChE 101 class. It described the field as applying chemistry, physics, biology, and math to solve real-world problems, with a strong focus on safety and environmental responsibility. That part stuck with me. I often watch case studies and incident reports to better understand how and why things go wrong, not out of fear, but out of a desire to learn. To me, being a good engineer also means being a responsible human being. In a world shaped by rapid technology and individual ambition, it is essential to remember our duty to one another and to the environment.

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