Zenith Fellow Mentee, Class of 2023
University of Toronto, Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering
Mentor: Minda Suchan

Christine is an Engineering Science student at the University of Toronto specializing in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Robotics.

From a young age, she had a natural tendency to question the world around her. This curiosity grew into a passion for understanding the world and solving difficult problems. The combination of family health issues and a high school robotics course ignited her interest in biomedical engineering. But through the variety of courses offered by the Engineering Science curriculum, she discovered her passion better aligns with the space industry. She decided to change paths when she had the realization that while biomedical engineering has the potential to improve individual lives, the aerospace field is pushing the frontier of engineering in an attempt to make global change. Though this was a less traditional path to the aerospace sector, her wide range of backgrounds allow her to tackle challenges through a multifaceted approach.

Before making her decision to enter the aerospace field, she had the pleasure of spending the summer working at the KITE Institute’s Motion and Adaptation Laboratory. This wonderful experience taught her how to independently explore new topics without predetermined solutions and to use data analytics to push creativity; all crucial skills in the constantly innovative field of aerospace. She is currently a member of the University of Toronto Aerospace Team under the Space System division. Christine’s experience working on the attitude determination and control system for the satellite has deepened her passion for aerospace and spacecraft design. It has also highlighted the positive impact satellites can play in the fight against climate change, motivating her goal to combine space with sustainability.

Beyond academia, Christine recognizes the importance of community by dedicating herself to fostering school spirit. She has been an executive on the Blue and Gold Committee for the past two years, helping run workshops and interactive builds. Last summer, she was also a subcommittee chair for Engineering Frosh Week, giving her the opportunity to run an event for first-years to create lifetime memories and meet upper years.

With the endless possibilities in aerospace, Christine hopes to harness her passion for the field by working on satellite projects to combat climate change and robotics for space exploration. Christine is honoured to be a Zenith Fellow, and cannot wait for the amazing opportunities the future has in store.