Bas Stijnen
PhD candidate at UCD Mechanics and Materials Engineering
I am involved in UCD’s EIRSAT-1 project which is Ireland’s first satellite, this project is conducted with the help of ESA Fly Your Satellite, Science Foundation Ireland and the Schools of Physics and Engineering in UCD.
A typical day for Bas:
A typical day would start at around 8:30, I turn the lights on in my office or the lab and setup whatever I’m doing for the day – this can be conducting an experiment, making or creating items for an experiment (like starting a 3d print) etc. At around 9 I have a coffee with whatever people from the EIRSAT team that are in that day. Then I continue working until lunch. In the afternoons, I regularly teach, give a demonstration to students or I take a course (in for instance the Irish language) myself.
Top tip from Bas for those interested in a similar career:
First of all, every type of experience is good is some way. Whether you have a summer job in a restaurant or in a garage, the first thing you have to learn is how to work in a team. In terms of working in space it’s difficult to get relevant experience (apart from college education), but you can do things to boost your profile like become a radio amateur, join one of Ireland’s Observatories, or go abroad for a few years find a relevant job there and come back.