Welcome to My Personal Website

I’m Habib Zreik — a mechanical engineer specializing in mechatronics. I’m into building, coding, and figuring out how complex systems fit together. Beyond engineering, I’ve always been drawn to community, culture, and volunteering.

Education

⏳ M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (specialization in Mechatronics) — University of Duisburg-Essen, 2023 – present (thesis in progress)
🎓 Associate Degree in Computer Science — University of the People, 2023
⏳ MBA in Business Administration — Syrian Virtual University, 2021 – present (thesis pending)
🎓 B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering — Damascus University, 2020

Recent Work

Lately, at DST e.V., I have been working on the CoboTank project, which focuses on partially automating the liquid transshipment process from inland ports to tanker vessels. As part of this effort, I contributed to the development of the fully automated RoboTank system and co-authored a research paper presented at the IEEE International Conference on Mechatronic and Embedded Systems and Applications (MESA) 2025 in Macau, China. The paper](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11278877)The paper is available via IEEE Xplore. Alongside work, I am continuing my master’s studies in Mechatronics at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

What Drives My Work

🔧 Research & Robotics
I spent my days at DST contributing to maritime robotics and automation projects, developing software, and ensuring robotic systems are both reliable and intuitive.

📚 Sharing Knowledge
Since 2019, I’ve been part of Bayt Al-Hikma 2.0 (Ideas Beyond Borders), translating and adapting technical and cultural content into Arabic. From mechanical engineering and sustainability to methodology and the history of ideas, I help make knowledge accessible to millions across the Middle East.

✍️ Writing & Documentation
Clear communication is key to everything I do. Whether I’m creating Git workflows for engineering teams, writing guides for robotics projects, or contributing to research publications, I aim to make complex ideas understandable and useful.

Areas of Expertise

Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering: from classical mechanics to robotics and automation
Programming: C++, Python, ROS2
Translation: English ↔ Arabic technical, academic, and cultural works
Research & Documentation: scientific methodology, project development, technical writing

Beyond Engineering

Alongside my technical and academic journey, I’ve been deeply involved in cultural initiatives that shaped how I think about knowledge and community.

I helped found Hamak’s Reading Club, where I served as head coordinator. Despite many restrictions, we created a space to openly discuss books, ideas, and films — conversations that pushed boundaries and encouraged critical thought. Later, with Cham’s Cultural Club, I contributed as an organizer and eventually coordinated their reciprocal library initiative, which grew into seven locations across three Syrian governorates and was supported by a team of about 50 volunteers. I also joined discussions at ALTC Cineclub, adding film to the mix of cultural exchange. In parallel, I was contracted by the Syrian Trust for Development to establish a book club at their premises — a project I successfully launched.

Books have always been central to my life. I’m especially drawn to series that open up entire worlds, such as Abdelrahman Munif’s Cities of Salt, Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, and Harry Potter, each of which shaped my imagination in different ways. But no matter how much I read, as we say in Arabic, “love belongs to the first Habib” — for me, that first Habib was Le Petit Prince, my very first novel in first grade and the one I’ve returned to in every language I’ve learned, even French, which I never quite mastered.

Photography and the arts are another personal passion. While I am far from being an artist myself, I’ve attended art workshops by major Syrian artist, the late Ayman Aldakr, which gave me a lasting respect for visual expression and creativity. I also worked as an events photographer during my student days in Damascus.

Feel free to explore my site: projects, translations, publication(s), and my multilingual CV are all here — snapshots of a journey fueled by curiosity, engineering, and social engagement.