Nerma Caluk 🇺🇸

Nerma Caluk is a Structural Engineer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in San Francisco, where she combines terrestrial structural engineering expertise with pioneering research in lunar infrastructure. With a passion for pushing the boundaries of engineering, Nerma leads SOM’s Lunar Material as Structure initiative while contributing to complex structural projects around the world, bringing innovative design solutions to global engineering challenges both on Earth and beyond.

Nerma earned her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Florida International University (FIU) in 2023, where she developed a comprehensive framework for building habitable infrastructure on the Moon. Her research, conducted in collaboration with NASA, involved preliminary seismic analysis of lunar data, the design of modular lunar structures, additive manufacturing, and the development of novel materials suitable for extreme extraterrestrial conditions.

Before joining SOM, Nerma worked extensively in both research and academics at FIU, contributing to experimental and computational studies on bridge construction, particularly using Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) for Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC). Today, she combines that strong foundation in research with the technical and practical knowledge she continues to develop at SOM, merging innovation with real-world engineering practice across both terrestrial and extraterrestrial projects.

An accomplished author, Nerma has presented and published her work in leading engineering forums, including the Transportation Research Board, the Earth and Space Conference, and Space Resources Roundtable. Her insights into lunar seismic behavior, 3D-printed construction, and modular infrastructure have made significant contributions to the emerging field of lunar engineering. She also serves on the ASCE Aerospace Division’s Space Engineering and Construction Committee, helping to shape the initial design guidelines for lunar structures.

Outside of engineering, Nerma is a former Division I student-athlete and the recipient of multiple academic and athletic honors. Her background in athletics reinforces the discipline, teamwork, and resilience that define her professional approach.

Nerma Caluk continues to explore new intersections of structural engineering, sustainability, and space innovation, building not just for Earth but also for the Moon and beyond. And while she has traded tennis courts for construction sites, she still believes every great structure, like every great serve, starts with the perfect foundation.