Zenith Fellow, Class of 2022
University of Waterloo, Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering
Host Organization: Sinclair Interplanetary by Rocket Lab
Mentor: Dr. Raymond Francis

Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Elizabeth is a third-year student studying Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She has been passionate about astronomy and robotics from a young age and has been committed to making sure young women in STEM feel empowered.

During high school, she spent a year on a robotics team doing promotional material. She decided to leave and start a science club with the help of her chemistry and physics teachers. To create equal involvement for all students, she planned weekly activities such as dissections, physics experiments, design sessions, and visits from guest speakers. To fund those activities, she sold copies of her well-illustrated notes to fellow students.

Later on, Elizabeth was selected as one of two high school students in Canada to attend the United Space School in Houston to plan a mission to Mars. She was selected to be a co-team leader and subsequently was awarded top female student of the program. While there, she realized her love of space would best be realized in the context of engineering, specifically being inspired by a talk from a female project manager who worked on the James Webb Space Telescope. After the program, Elizabeth focused on robotics by joining an all-girls community team at the University of Calgary. While on the team, Elizabeth learned valuable technical skills in an encouraging, collaborative, and inclusive environment which shaped her for years to come.

After moving to Waterloo, Ontario for University, Elizabeth focused on adjusting to University and worked hard to secure meaningful co-op experience. She had the opportunity to spend 3 co-op terms at Canadensys Aerospace working on hardware for satellites, lunar rover prototypes, and amphibious military vehicles (she attests they were very fun to drive). Her experience showed her how close-knit and welcoming the Canadian space community is, and how much innovation Canada has to offer the global space industry. Elizabeth has mentored various students (including her old robotics team) to help them navigate engineering, co-ops, and the aerospace industry.

Putting the technical aspect aside, she loves going on motorcycle trips to scenic landscapes, spending quality time with her friends and family, and indulging in her creative sparks like jewelry making, embroidery, and painting. She also has a natural head for business, as her parents are entrepreneurs. Additionally, she loves to tease and joke with anyone, regardless of how tough the personality!

Elizabeth is thrilled to be joining Sinclair Interplanetary to contribute her skills and learn about guidance, navigation, and control systems! She can't wait to see what the summer and beyond will bring, and is so excited and grateful to be a Fellow for Zenith Pathways.