Zenith Fellow Intern, Class of 2024
Simon Fraser University, Bachelor of Computer Science
Host Organization: Mission Control Space Services
Mentor: Heidi Bathory

Sharanjit Virdi is a sixth-year Computer Engineering student, minoring in Computer Science at Simon Fraser University, with 20+ months of work experience at Sierra Wireless, Deloitte, and most recently, at Space Alpha Insights as a Software Engineer where she worked with SAR-XL satellite technology.

Sharanjit’s passion for space and creating opportunities for students in the Canadian Space Industry led her to join Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Canada (SEDS-Canada). She is currently on the board as the Events Chair through which she has led multiple NASA Space Apps Hackathons, the SEDSxSGAC Webinar Series, and organized SEDS-Canada’s annual Canadian Space Conference which brings together students, researchers, and space industry professionals from across Canada. Sharanjit hopes to continue to provide richer experiences and opportunities for students and make space more inclusive.

Sharanjit is also a strong STEM advocate with a passion for innovation and making a difference around her. As the Co-President of the Women in Engineering club at SFU, she hosted numerous Networking Nights, STEM workshops, computing Help Nights, and the first-ever female Hackathon at her university to empower fellow students for their professional careers. Similarly, as the Team Captain and Web-Interface Lead of her WiE Design Team at SFU, she worked on an autonomous robot designed to collect garbage on the beaches and help make the world a more sustainable place.

Outside of school and work, Sharanjit spends her time hacking in hackathons because she believes this is one of the best ways to practically apply what she learns in school and learn a new skill. She also enjoys reading and writing, her favorite genre being historical fiction!

Sharanjit hopes to contribute to the Canadian space industry in the future, so she is excited to join the Mission Control Space Services team in Ottawa as part of the Zenith Canada Pathways Fellowship this summer!