Margot Winters

Experience

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  KU Leuven

  Aug 2018 - Sept 2018

  Intern at Institute of Astronomy

  • Full-time summer internship in Leuven, Belgium.• Supervised by Prof. Conny Aerts, summarised the scientific results from papers at the Institute of Astronomy for the European Research Council.

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  ESERO Belgium

  Mar 2022 - Aug 2022

  Intern on Science Outreach Project

  • 6-months part-time remote internship in Ghent, Belgium.• Within ESERO, initiated and developed an outreach project teaching youth about Earth’s climate concerns using Sentinel satellite imagery.

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  Delft University of Technology

  Feb 2023 - Jan 2024

  • 6-month part-time project in Kraków, Poland and Delft, The Netherlands.• Organized two stratospheric balloon experiments and led a multidisciplinary student team during its preparation, execution and analysis. The first experiment assessed the resilience of TU Delft’s 3D-printed organ-on-chip devices to mixed-field energetic radiation and environmental stressors. The second experiment, in collaboration with an industry partner, studied seed genetic mutation breeding capabilities for application in space agriculture.• Led communication with external industry partners for the experiments.• Responsible for the acquisition and assembly of payload components.• Participated in field activities, including balloon setup and payload retrieval.• Published findings and presented a poster at the 42nd International Society for Gravitational Physiology conference. Received a conference scholarship from ESA as sole European master student. Show less

  • Teaching Assistant on Space Systems Engineering

    Aug 2023 - Jan 2024

  • Responsible Engineer of Stratospheric Balloon Experiments

    Feb 2023 - Jul 2023
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  Analog Astronaut Training Center

  Mar 2023 - Mar 2023

  Analogue Astronaut at Lunar Mission

  • 7-day isolation experience in Kraków, Poland.• Worked as crew engineer inside Lunar analogue habitat.

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  ISAE-SUPAERO

  Aug 2023 - Nov 2023

  Intern on Space Systems Engineering

  • Full-time internship in Toulouse, France (French working language).• Supervised by Prof. Rob Vingerhoeds, developed needs and requirements engineering guide for human-system integration and design in the Lunar Gateway (ECSS, NTSS standards).

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  MEDES - Institute for Space Medicine and Physiology

  Nov 2023 - Nov 2023

  Intern on ISS Systems Engineering

  • Full-time work placement in Toulouse, France (French working language).• Supervised by Angélique Verrecchia, designed the integration of urine biomarker sensors into the ISS waste system. Presented viable engineering options to the team at MEDES, CNES and Usense.

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  SCK CEN

  Dec 2023 - Feb 2024

  Intern on Cardiac Cell Culture

  • Full-time internship in Mol, Belgium.• Performed laboratory work on cryopreservation of the heart. Within the AstroCardia project, which will send a 3D printed heart into space to study health and ageing of the human heart.• Extracurricular Honours Programme (+20 additional credits) at TU Delft to grow familiar with biological space payloads as a systems engineer.

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  European Space Agency - ESA

  Apr 2024 - Oct 2024

  Master Thesis at European Astronaut Centre (Space System Engineer)

  • System engineer in ESA-EAC for the development of a space radiation shielding vest for astronauts.• Managed the in- and outputs of a small multidisciplinary team.• Liaised with stakeholders and suppliers to enable testing opportunities and material procurement.• Responsible for system experimental campaign in the HollandPTC proton accelerator, astronaut end-user feedback conversations, and the arrangement of a stratospheric balloon flight experiment.• Pulled outreach efforts for the Spaceship EAC team (blog articles, flight video release, outreach-kit)• Presented the project directly to King Filip of Belgium and ESA’s Director General. Show less