Merko scholarships awarded to Martin Thalfeldt and Karro Haav
We awarded two scholarships at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Development Fund’s 2021 scholarship competition. The young teacher scholarship went to Martin Thalfeldt and the student scholarship, to Karro Haav.
A tenured assistant professor with the School of Engineering’s Institute of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Martin Thalfeldt’sresearch is related to energy performance and indoor climate, aspects seen as increasingly important in practice. Besides his research, he is a valued member of the teaching staff in the civil engineering field; his lectures command great popularity and interest. He has supervised dozens of master’s theses and is now taking up the new challenge of supervising doctorates.
Martin is a young researcher who is dedicated to his chosen field – he recently landed a research grant from the Estonian Research Council. He takes active part in the work of Centre of Excellence for Zero Energy and Resource Efficient Smart Buildings, and often appears at conferences and training events to ensure that the results of research in this field reach a wider audience. Martin’s pursuits make him a great role model in academic sustainability in the civil engineering field. It isn’t exactly common for someone in their 30s to become tenured as an assistant processor and have as diverse a range of activities as Martin.
Our engineering studies scholarship this year went to third-year student in construction management and building design Karro Haav, who is also working as a technician on Merko’s Tallinn Ballet and Music School job site, currently in progress.
When he started working for Merko this summer as an intern, it quickly became clear that he is an avid aspiring young civil engineer and has made the only right choice when it came to his studies. STEM subjects, logic, situation and data analysis and discerning patterns are areas that Karro finds fascinating.
Karro has a quick mind, he is conscientious, takes an interest in his work and relishes it. He has one of the most important skills a civil engineer can have – he isn’t afraid of embracing challenges and responsibility. We’re very glad that Karro interned with us and even happier that he’s now a Merko employee.
Congratulations to this year’s Merko scholarship recipients!
Director of Merko Ehitus Eesti Ivo Volkov, scholarship recipient Martin Thalfeldt and TalTech Development Council member Ergo Metsla 
Director of Merko Ehitus Eesti Ivo Volkov, scholarship recipient Karro Haav and TalTech Development Council member Ergo Metsla
Merko has been supporting students and young researchers with its eponymous scholarship since 2007. The School of Engineering’s engineering studies scholarship is awarded to a successful third-, fourth- or fifth-year student. The young researcher and teacher scholarship can be awarded to TalTech researchers or teaching staff who are 40 or under and hold a doctorate in a civil engineering field.