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SUNA CINAR, Ph.D.

NOAH Principal Systems Analyst & Modeler

Dr. Suna Cinar’s early experience and familiarity with the limitations of more traditional physics-based modeling, motivated her to transition to the brave new digital world of AI and optimization.

At NOAH, Suna is responsible for data and systems analysis, developing AI and optimization models, and implementing the models for decision-making support. Her publication record demonstrates her dedication and expertise, as evidenced by publications in peer review journals and book chapters that include the application of AI and optimization to a diversity of environmental problems, including water resources and renewable energy.
Her expertise extends far beyond computer modeling. Suna has used other scientific and engineering skills to solve complex water problems, such as her co-development of a patented water treatment system for arsenic removal. Her rare combination of computer modeling and engineering skills make her a formidable asset for analyzing and solving complex problems by drawing from many different perspectives and disciplines.
Suna has a rich combination of consulting and research related experience in water resources that she has practiced both in the United States and abroad, from the local scale to the national scale. In addition to working for several environmental engineering consulting firms in the United States, she served as a Research Engineer at Istanbul Technical University’s Technology Transfer Center in Turkey, where she was part of a major national initiative to develop advanced water resources management models for the country. Her work with NOAH has further enriched her professional experience with challenging water projects in Latin America and Europe.
Suna’s extensive travels and interactions with diverse cultures have shaped her world view; that we are all connected by the same basic human need to provide for our families and that we all share a hope for a better future for ourselves and our children. She believes that if we are to attain these aspirations for as many people as possible, water management will require a dedicated commitment to invention, innovation, and technology adaptation.

Suna is at the very northern tip of Ireland.  This beautiful and mysterious place has a combination of dramatic landscape cliffs, the stormy North Atlantic waters, idyllic soft green pastures, and the volcanic rock of Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage site.  The weather is tempestuous, much like the wonderful Irish novels of some of her favorite authors, including George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, and James Joyce. Suna is also drawn to the sea tradition of the Irish, who were also among the greatest shipbuilders. Just a short distance down the coast is the City of Belfast, where the legendary Titanic was constructed.