A
Northumbria University student has secured an out-of-this-world internship at
the European Space Agency, competing against applicants from across the
Continent.
Third-year Sport and Exercise Sciences student, Callum Blades,
will begin his prestigious internship at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) European
Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany this summer.
Student Callum Blades on ESA internship from Northumbria University on Vimeo.
These internships are incredibly competitive and are filled
by the highest calibre of student. In securing this coveted placement, Callum
will have had to compete against applicants from all over Europe.
The internships provide a unique chance to work at the heart
of European space medical operations. The interns usually complete a space
medicine related research project during the internship as well as working
alongside flight surgeons, astronaut trainers and astronauts themselves.
Speaking before embarking on his internship, Callum said: “I’ve
been fortunate enough to secure an internship with the European Astronaut Centre
and I see that as a brilliant way to translate what I have learned in my Sport
Science degree into a different setting.
“At the European Astronaut Centre I’m going to be assisting
with research on bed rest, looking at muscle wastage, but I’m also looking
forward to getting involved in other projects and gaining experience in a very
large European organisation.”
Callum was supported through his application by Dr Andrew
Winnard, who himself completed an internship at ESA’s Space Medicine Office
prior to coming to Northumbria University to study for his doctorate.
Dr Winnard, who is a Lecturer in Clinical/Musculoskeletal
Biomechanics at Northumbria and leads the University’s Aerospace Medicine
Systematic Review Group, said: “Callum has worked incredibly hard to secure
this placement, achieving high marks throughout his degree enabling him to
prove his academic skills and compete for these international
opportunities.
“Callum will now be spending his summer at the heart of
European human spaceflight operations, working alongside Europe’s flight
surgeons, astronaut trainers, exercise specialists and international space
station controllers. Callum follows in the footsteps of several of the
sport science course alumni that have also gone on to work at the European
Astronaut Centre. That our students repeatedly are able to gain these
opportunities and careers demonstrates the excellent employability and
beneficial transferable work skills taught during courses here at Northumbria.”
Northumbria University has a long tradition with the ESA’s
Space Medicine Office, both through its ongoing research collaborations as well
as graduates who have gone on to work for the organisation. A number of
students have completed internships at the ESA Space Medicine Office over the
past eight years.
