Jodie Howlett

"Coach: I'm very supportive of my friends, family and colleagues, and I like to pass on advice and recommendations that I think with help them. If I see that somebody else has a problem, I will naturally want to help solve it.Influencer: I like to lead by example, and to openly share my experiences and how I have overcome challenges. When I work in a team, I like to be very clear in the way I communicate, ensuring that everybody is on the same page and feels included in the discussion.Quality Controller: I like to figure out better ways of doing things and using numbers and data to see how things are performing. I am quite analytical and like to understand things with logic and evidence."

"I work for the European Space Agency (which is essentially Europe's version of NASA), and I'm based at their mission control centre in Germany. We create commands and send them from antennas all over the world to control and operate spacecraft, and the spacecraft send science data and images back to us.We perform many exciting space missions, such as creating a 3D map of the Milky Way, looking for evidence of life on Mars, studying the icy moons of Jupiter, and monitoring climate change on Earth.My job is to make our procedures for performing missions as effective and efficient as possible, to ensure each mission is a success. I am part of the Quality team, so for me it is important that people are carrying out procedures properly and that no mistakes are made."

"I chose to study Mechanical Engineering at university because it gives you the flexibility to work in so many different industries and covers a broad range of engineering topics. I studied things like fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, materials, automation and robotics, and even business and project management.To build up my CV, I gained work experience wherever possible, which included the following:- Summer internship at Siemens (Oxford), working as a Process Engineer for manufacturing of MRI scanners- Placement year at Rolls-Royce (Derby), working on Computer-Aided Design and technical drawings for future jet engines- Summer internship at Rolls-Royce (Derby and Singapore), working to reduce defects in jet engine production- Summer internship at Gabler Medical (South Africa), working on the design of oxygen and suction equipment for hospitalsTo steer my career towards Space, I did the following:- Attended a student space conference in the UK- Took part in a Spacecraft Operations training course with the European Space Agency in Belgium- Attended a 9-week summer course at the International Space University in France"

"After work I like to keep fit by going to the gym, and I also love a good Netflix binge. I usually spend my weekends with friends and family, shopping, eating out and partying! Travelling is also one of my favourite things to do - so far I have visited 23 countries."

"My day always starts with a coffee with my colleagues.Each day I plan and manage my own work, so no two days are the same. I might arrange to meet with spacecraft operators, analyse procedures, research tools to help me with my work, or visit some of the mission control rooms.On Tuesday mornings, I have German language classes at work. Everybody speaks English at work, but I have realised that learning a new language is incredibly useful and rewarding (although I used to hate it at school!)."

"A Levels: Engineering (A), Maths (C), Physics (C), Extended Project Qualification (A).University: First Class Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University. This was a 5 year course, and included a one year work placement at Rolls-Royce. "