Doruk Üstay

Tell us a bit about you. 

Hi, I’m Doruk, a Civil Engineering graduate from the University of Manchester, now pursuing my MSc in Computer Science at UCL.  

Outside my studies, I’ve spent the past few years working in venture capital and accelerator programmes, sourcing and investing in early-stage startups. I really enjoy working closely with technical founders and have learned a lot from both founders and investors I’ve collaborated with.  

Outside of work, I’ve raced professionally in alpine skiing as part of Turkey’s National Team, representing my country in European competitions. I’ve also been kitesurfing for over ten years, and I’m passionate about running. I founded a run club sponsored by Turkey’s largest beer brand and recently completed the Stockholm Marathon in May 2025.  

What was your educational journey before joining UCL?  

I completed my high school education in Turkey before studying Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester. I’ve always been drawn to understanding how things work on a technical level, and during my undergraduate studies I developed a strong interest in engineering software and computational tools used in design and analysis.  

Why did you choose to study Computer Science MSc?  

I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how technology actually works behind the scenes, from the software architecture to the algorithms driving innovation. Combining Computer Science with my engineering background gives me a strong technical foundation and the flexibility to explore a wide range of fields, including deep tech, AI, and product development. 

What have been your highlights of the course?  

My biggest highlight has been my dissertation project through the IXN programme, where I developed a fully functional medical imaging and data collection application for anaesthesiologists.  

The project was both technically and personally rewarding. I worked directly with real clients, gathered requirements, and built an end-to-end solution that met their needs. It was an intense but highly educational experience, and I’m really proud of what we accomplished together with my supervisor and the partner organization.  

Have you had the opportunity to work with industry?  

Yes, in addition to my IXN project, I worked at a biometric authentication and payments company over the summer as a Product Owner and Founder’s Associate. I was involved in a variety of areas, including customer onboarding, growth, business development, product and UX management, and A/B testing. It was an incredible hands-on experience that helped me understand how products evolve from concept to market.  

What’s the best thing about living in London?  

The diversity, there are so many people from different cultures and backgrounds to learn from. There’s always something new to do or explore, whether it’s a new exhibition, café, or park. And as a runner, I’d say London has one of the most vibrant running communities in the world. Also, it’s super easy to travel around Europe from London, which has been quite convenient when it comes to exploring new places.  

What are your favourite moments of your UCL experience?  

One of my favourite moments was when I officially became the fastest person to run around the UCL campus on Strava, a small but fun achievement that makes me smile every time I pass by the route. Will be back soon to break the record again for good.  

What’s next for you?  

Data is the area I’ve been most excited to dive deeper into, and I’m now joining an insanely fast, pretty mind-blowing graph database engine startup called TuringDB. Beyond that, we’ll see what life brings, probably more marathons and more milestones. Basically: running, running, running.

The information on this page reflects the graduate’s status at the time of publication (November 2025).