Asuman Suenbuel first heard about ICSI when she was a computer science master’s student at the Technical University Berlin researching artificial intelligence and software engineering. “A professor told me that ICSI/UC Berkeley was a wonderful place for me doing research in this area, so I applied and received a grant to spend time there during my master’s program,” she said. “This proved to be a transformative experience that sparked my passion for pioneering technology and innovation.”
Suenbuel, who would go on to be the first Turkish woman to earn a doctoral degree in computer science from a Berlin university, found that the environment at ICSI was ideal for writing her master’s thesis on combining object-oriented development with distributed computing. ICSI’s unique culture of curiosity and continuous learning allowed her to draw ideas and approaches from disparate fields such as object-oriented technologies, language design, and networking. She says she also benefited greatly from the support of the institute’s faculty and research groups, whom she found to be approachable and encouraging.
“It was my first time in the U.S., and everyone was very inviting and caring,” said Suenbuel. “The multicultural environment in ICSI/UC Berkeley combined with the strong emphasis on cutting-edge research provided a unique opportunity to grow both academically and personally. As a student, interacting with people with such diverse backgrounds allowed me to gain new perspectives and foster innovative thinking.”
Suenbuel particularly appreciated the institute’s focus on practical, hands-on projects, which helped her bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world applications while also enhancing her problem-solving skills. She also took advantage of opportunities to attend seminars and workshops, which she found instrumental in staying at the forefront of technology and computer science advancements.
“One of the most significant takeaways from my experience was learning that many of the most exciting and impactful advancements occur at the intersection of different fields,” she said. “This has influenced my approach to research and innovation, making me more open to exploring and integrating ideas from various disciplines.”
After spending just over a year at ICSI, Suenbuel returned to Germany to pursue a doctorate in computer science. She collaborated with Prof. Oliver Günther from ICSI on her doctoral research, which focused on distributed information systems. Following this, she was offered a position at the Kestrel Institute, an AI institute and research center in Palo Alto. This role brought her back to California, where she spent four years working on research projects related to AI and IoT, including the DARPA NEST project, which involved a collaboration with UC Berkeley again.
Suenbuel spent 20 years at SAP Palo Alto, spearheading the modernization and digital transformation of complex legacy enterprise systems. As an executive at SAP, she drove transformative change through innovation, collaborating with SRI, Stanford, German universities, and startups. She also fostered community engagement and led the creation of cutting-edge products, platforms, and data warehouses.
“My experience at ICSI was a pivotal chapter in my academic journey, providing me with valuable skills and knowledge and the global network that I continue to rely on,” she said. “It opened my eyes and connected different dots, such as the international community and the research field, ultimately laying the foundation for my career.”
This story was published in January 2026 as part of a retrospective series highlighting ICSI’s accomplishments and impacts over the years. To learn about our ongoing work, explore our Core Research Themes.