PhD researcher and former European Space Agency engineer Jacob Parrott reveals that his time with CampusTV – the University’s student-run TV station – was just as important to launching his impressive career as graduating with his master’s in electronics with space science and technology.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
Remarkably, there is a limited selection of universities in the UK that offer undergraduate courses in space technology. Out of the mere three institutions providing this course, Bath emerged as the unequivocal standout.
Little did I know of the exceedingly high levels of student satisfaction, the charm of the city itself or the friendliness of the academic staff. I guess I got lucky in choosing an interest that funnelled me into living in such a wonderful place for four years of my life.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
My passion for engineering was always there. However, I initially held the belief that space-related careers were reserved exclusively for Americans, so I didn't see the point in pursuing it as a career path. During my time at university, I kept my options open, even entertaining the thought of working in the corporate world.
The turning point came after a transformative summer internship with the European Space Agency (ESA).
Interestingly, I wasn't working as an engineer during this internship. Instead, I found myself in the media office, creating videos. The experience opened my eyes to the possibility of a career in the space industry for the first time.
You were a big part of the student-run Bath Nightline and CampusTV during your studies. What are some standout moments from these experiences?
I chose to take up volunteering for Nightline because I appreciated the importance of having somebody to talk to when you are feeling at your worst. We sat by the phone from 8pm to 8am in case anybody needed to talk. I found this work fulfilling and am glad that I did it for two years.
CampusTV had the bigger impact on me. It was my favourite society and the one that I gave most of my time to. The society was centred around making original video content; be that news, live event coverage or comedy sketches. If something interesting was happening on campus, then CampusTV would be invited to film, so we got front-row seats to all the happenings on campus.
I got so much out of being a part of this group. It changed the trajectory of my life: it led me to a summer internship which became a graduate scheme that resulted in a career. The people from CampusTV are the ones I remain close to from university to this day. Also, it would be remiss to not say that this is also where I met my long-term partner.
A standout moment from CampusTV might be the ‘celebrity’ interview I did during my third year of covering Freshers' Week, where I interviewed a minor celebrity and got him to read his own fan fiction.
Describe your academic journey since graduating.
My academic journey began about a year prior to my graduation when my involvement with CampusTV opened the door to a life-changing summer internship at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany.
During this experience, I was tasked with scripting and shooting astronaut outreach content and creating training materials for use on the International Space Station.
This was also my first exposure to the life of a space scientist, where groundbreaking science and world-firsts were happening in every office.
From that point, I did everything to ensure my first job would be at the ESA. The hard work I put into the final year of my degree paid off – I was hired as an engineer at the ESA’s technology office in the Netherlands the following year.
During my two years there, we experimented with a new way to measure the atmosphere of Mars. I wanted to continue this work outside of the ESA, so I suggested this project as a physics PhD to Imperial College London. I've recently submitted my first paper, presenting the initial findings of this study. It’s an exciting time and I’m glad that I started on this journey.
How did your studies help you to develop?
I would say the largest development I saw was with my programming. I was studying space technology, which was mostly electrical and electronic engineering and involved plenty of coding.
The course got us used to programming paradigms with a language called MATLAB, then showed us languages for robotics, servers and AI. I am very grateful for the AI and space science modules, as I use both frequently in my research today.
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Be a 'yes person' and really make the most of the societies. Your course will offer the foundation for a career, but the nucleation of an enjoyable career starts in the extracurriculars.
Respond
