Profile

I live in Dublin with my partner, he to is a space engineer. My favourite food is definitely chocolate!!!! Currently I am working from home, and also recovering from a broken ankle which I broke 6 weeks ago, so I am currently doing a lot of physio.

When I was 14 years old I sent a letter to NASA saying that I wanted to work in the Space Industry when I grow up, and I received a letter back from NASA telling me about there careers, and the application process of becoming an Astronaut. So I highly recommend contacting space agencies, especially the European Space Agency and NASA.

Some of my favorite shows are “The Universe” documentaries which use to be on the History channel.  Another show I loved is the BBC show “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes”, and was very fortunate to have meet the winner and a runner up at a “Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) at Oxford University in March 2018. But the one live stream you most watch is “SpaceX” rocket launches, which are AMAZING!!!!!!! I have been watching SpaceX since Elon Musk announced the company back in 2002 when I was 7 years old, and I have been watching them ever since.

For my leaving certificate I studied physics, chemistry, geography, and applied maths.

I attended the Technological University of Dublin (TUDublin) where I studied BSc (Hons) Physics with Energy and Environment.

At third level education I have been fortunate to take part in several internships, in the area of physics education, plasma physics at TUD, particle physics at the University of Glasgow, to work with CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) detectors. I then got the opportunity work in the area of solar physics at Trinity College Dublin where I had the opportunity to work on I-LOFAR (Irish Low Frequency Array) radio telescope on the grounds of Birr Castle in Birr Co.Offaly, which I then got to operate I-LOFAR for my thesis, where I observe a supernova remanent (Cas A) which is 11,000 light years away, Radio Galaxy (Cygnus A) which is 3200 light years away, and a Black Hole (Cygnus X-3) which is 3200 light years away. During my final year I got offered an internship at InnaLabs as an engineer, which was my first experience in the Irish space industry.

While at TUDublin I got to carry out an Erasmus to the University of Glasgow. I attended a Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP UK) at Oxford University. During my final year I was chosen to go to Belgium to attend training at the European Space Agency (ESA). This involved spacecraft operations, which was an amazing experience and a really big learning curve.

At TUDublin I decided to keep up my leadership role by being a student ambassador which I enjoyed as I got to help out at events and give talks. I also started to volunteer with the Institute of Physics (IOP) at the BT Young Scientist, Coolest Projects, and inspire fest.

After my undergraduate degree I decided to do a masters in science in the area of space science and technology at University College Dublin (UCD). It was such a cool masters as I got to design missions in Tenerife, and building a small satellite called a tuppersat.

While at UCD I decided to keep up my leadership roles as student ambassador and science leader. I also did a lot more volunteering with the IOP (BT Young Scientist, and Irish Times Higher Options). I also volunteered with the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) funded “I’m and Engineer Get Me Out Of Here” in there Space Zone.

I have kept up my volunteering with IOP, and have been a judge for Intel Science Competition, ESB Science Blast, and Scifest Online. Below I have a comic I received from a wonderful 5th class from Canal Way Educate Together National School while judging at ESB Science Blast!!!

I am responsible for creating tests, carryout the tests and making their reports as a space research and development engineer. But I am also a reliability engineer and this means I am responsible for the maths model of the success of a instrument during a mission. So my day can be full of maths, electronics, and at the same time creating experiments and also carry out these experiments. All is reported to the my colleagues and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) .  Each day I have meetings in relation to new products, and on current missions with European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus space. In the image below is of my laptop at a meeting and the other is of me at the reception of InnaLabs. My desk has NDA material which means its top secret so I can’t show you a picture of it!

I am currently working on three space projects within InnaLabs, so each day starts
with me checking my emails and organizing my actions. Each day I usually layout a
to do list, for example I am responsible for creating tests, carryout the tests and
making their reports. I also attend a lot of team meetings and meetings with ESA
and Airbus Space. Sometimes HR have treats waiting for us in the canteen which is
great. Overall each day is very busy and very exciting, and you are always
contributing to the Irish space industry. In space there is a lot of NDA and you can’t
talk about all the exciting activities you are involved in.

You are constantly learning in the space industry, so you have to be ready to learn
new skills along the way, take responsibility for your parts of the projects and writing
reports. It means you can grow fast within the Irish space industry.