The engineer, who pushes boundaries, in a short, describes the work of Nerma Čaluk. This young and successful Bosnian woman is a construction engineer in a prestige global company Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in San Francisco – founded in 1936, the company is behind some of the most significant architectural and engineering achievements – the first glass and steel business building in New York, Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the former world’s tallest building Willis Tower in Chicago (former Sears Tower) and many others. In addition to her work on visionary solutions within lunar construction (leading SOM’s initiative “Lunar Material as Structure”), Nerma also works on complex infrastructural projects across the world, connecting sustainability, innovations, and advanced technologies. During her studies at Florida International University (FIU), she was given the opportunity, she tells us, to participate in civil engineering research projects, which ultimately led her to a firm in San Francisco. Today, looking back on her journey, she says it was both interesting and unexpected.
“I never imagined it would be possible and that things would unfold quite like this,” Nerma tells Forbes BiH.
Thanks to the support of the Bosnian Community and Studies in America, she learned how the educational and professional system in the US works, and what can be achieved.
How She Landed a Job in a Prestige Global SOM Company
During the first interview in SOM, she felt an interest in joining this team.
She recalled that not only did they ask her the right questions, show a genuine interest in her knowledge, and see her potential, but she was particularly drawn to the company’s philosophy, which encourages innovation, research, and pushing boundaries in the profession.
“Most of the companies do standard projects, but that is not the case here. They explained they intend to integrate our construction and architecture knowledge with innovations and research,” Nerma says.
“At SOM, we try to leverage all the knowledge, experience, and practical approaches we’ve gained through building on Earth and apply them to lunar projects,” Nerma Čaluk tells Forbes BiH.
She is currently working on a couple of projects, one of which is Infinite 131, located in the Bay Area in San Francisco, near her home. Considering it is located in one of the most seismically active zones, they are using advanced technology and very interesting structural systems in the design that can withstand strong earthquakes.
“At SOM, we have constant and direct communication with the architects and clients. Together, we organize programs and plan how life and functionality inside the building will work. At the same time, we as structural engineers must fully understand the forces acting on the structure and design it so that it structurally fits into the overall architectural system. We often say that it’s sometimes a shame to ‘hide’ the structure behind facades, because the structure itself holds great beauty and engineering value,” Čaluk says.
NASA Collaborator on the Project for Constructing Habitable Structures on the Moon
When she is not focused on habitable structures on Earth, she turns her focus to those in space. Nerma earned her PhD in Civil Engineering from Florida International University in 2023, where, in collaboration with NASA, she developed a comprehensive framework for constructing habitable structures on the Moon. Her work encompasses the analysis of lunar seismic activity, modular design for lunar infrastructure, 3D printing, and the development of entirely new materials intended for extreme extraterrestrial conditions.
Nerma has also made a significant contribution to research in advanced bridge construction, particularly regarding Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC), and was actively involved in the academic community at FIU.
“I want to emphasize that we, as structural engineers, must first fully understand how structures are built on Earth. We need to understand the forces acting on structures, how a building develops as a whole, and how it integrates human life. It is also important to assess whether a given space is suitable for living at all and how it behaves under various loads – wind, earthquakes, temperature changes, and other factors present throughout its lifespan. Only then, once we understand this on Earth, can we transfer and apply these principles to other conditions. That is precisely what we are doing now at SOM: we are trying to leverage all the knowledge, experience, and practical approaches we’ve gained through our work and apply them to lunar projects,” Čaluk says, explaining how the entire project began.
“During my master’s studies at FIU, my mentor suggested that I stay at the university and pursue a PhD. At the time, representatives from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center reached out to him, proposing that a PhD student join a project working on lunar habitats, with their guidance and support. My mentor then told me: ‘If you stay for your PhD, this will be your project.’ I was overjoyed, literally ‘over the moon ‘. My childhood dream came true. So I stayed and began working on those extraterrestrial projects,” she says.
When asked whether these are exclusively structures intended for scientific research missions or potentially commercial ones as well, she says:
“As structural engineers, we are trained to design any necessary structure – public spaces, or anything people want to build; from launch and landing pads, habitats, protective shelters for astronauts, vehicles, or robotics that will build all other infrastructure, to potentially commercial structures like hotels or research facilities that other companies, not just NASA, might want to build. We analyze how any structure can be built on the Moon—not just a lunar habitat or a tower for satellites and solar energy, but any piece of infrastructure. We want to be ready and help with our experience,” Čaluk explains.
From Building Construction to Civil Engineering
Currently, in cooperation with NASA, they are working to determine their needs, where to start, and how to apply the work and solutions they have already implemented on Earth.
“We have worked on various types of structures – from building construction to civil engineering, including bridges that I worked on during my Master’s studies,” she said, adding:
“All these practical examples we have done here can be used and adapted for other loads and different operating conditions – from meteorite impacts and moonquakes to radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations. We are trying to leverage these practical examples and apply them to an extraterrestrial environment.”
Just as building codes are used on Earth to design all kinds of structures, it is equally important to have standards for extraterrestrial conditions. Currently, at the company where she works, they are finalizing the first document containing data on minimum forces and loads required for designing lunar structures.
The goal, she emphasized, is for this document to serve not only NASA, but the entire space industry in the United States and worldwide.
As unexpected as her journey might seem, it was also logical. Nerma’s entire family is connected to the construction, architecture, and geodesy sectors, so technical sciences have always been a part of her environment.
“I believe the technical side was always in me in some way and naturally attracted me,” she said, adding that she had also previously developed a strong interest in astronomy.
She Used to Play Tennis
She realized that she wanted to explore and push the limits of what is possible during her Master’s studies.
“I think a Master’s degree is important in engineering. That was when I realized that I didn’t just want to learn and build, but to push the boundaries of the field,” Nerma said.
Interestingly, before entering the field of civil engineering, Nerma played tennis.
“Tennis has always been and will always remain an important part of my life. I am very grateful to this sport, which taught me discipline and perseverance and brought me to the US, where I am now, because I received a full athletic scholarship for tennis that allowed me to study. If I had stayed in Bosnia and Herzegovina after high school, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to study civil engineering and actively play tennis at the same time, because that option didn’t exist back then. That’s how I continued playing tennis in the US while starting my engineering studies, taking my first steps in that field,” she said.
Nerma has lived in America for 11 years, and looking at her journey, the amount she has accomplished in a relatively short period is remarkable. Things naturally built on one another, and each step was a clear sign to stay and keep moving forward. However, returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina is not out of the question.
“I can’t say I’ll stay in the US my whole life. I might return, or I might not. I’m always keeping an eye on opportunities both there and here in Bosnia, because the FLS (Futures LeadersSummit) really helped me see where Bosnia currently stands and how our Bosnian community views the world and these innovative projects,” said Nerma, who traveled to Sarajevo from San Francisco to attend the summit, which brought together leading experts and innovators.
Message for Young Leaders
“My goal in coming to FLS wasn’t just to inspire young people here, but also to be inspired by them. And that’s exactly what happened, because I saw that they want to push boundaries too. Throughout my studies and career—from my first steps in engineering to working on major projects—I realized that pushing boundaries isn’t about the size, location, or type of project. It doesn’t matter whether someone is working on a research project with NASA or National Geographic; the key is the mindset.
It’s about how we present ourselves and how we want to keep building, opening new frontiers and opportunities. I hope my experience can encourage someone to make a choice that might seem out of reach, or spark a new idea. If that happens, then the circle truly comes full circle, and we give something back to Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Nerma concluded.
