Engineering & Technology, People, Research, Student Profile

Ilija Hristovski is reaching for the stars

Engineering doctoral student hopes to become an astronaut and help solve some of society’s pressing issues

February 27, 2023

What is your PhD focus, and why did you choose this area of research?

My doctorate focuses on developing a method to counteract atmospheric turbulence for ground-to-satellite communication links. This will help improve the way we send data from the ground to satellites in space. I chose this area of research after being exposed to it at the Integrated Optics Laboratory at UBCO, and through an internship at the German Aerospace Center. I want to understand the challenges we face and create innovative solutions that come into play during the development of new technologies that help and connect humanity worldwide.

What are some challenges you’ve faced so far in your academic career?

The fear of failure. It might seem simple, but getting a question wrong, misunderstanding a technical concept, or trying something new is part of learning. If everyone already had the answers, there wouldn’t be any problems left to solve in life and most of today’s jobs would be obsolete.

Failing can be an important part of learning and the best thing to do in this scenario is reflect on the experience and decide how you’re going to achieve said goal. Just because you don’t succeed the first time doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. In my opinion, the way one works through failure shows more about that person than if they seem to be perfect from the outside.

Do you have a mentor? If so, how have they influenced you?

I’ve been fortunate enough to encounter many individuals who I would consider mentors throughout my life so far: Dr. Jonathan Holzman, Dr. Jannik Eikenaar and Dr. Richard Federley.

Dr. Holzman exposed me to undergraduate research and showed me the benefits, excitement and real-world influence that research can have on communities locally and globally. Dr. Eikenaar greatly influenced my interpersonal skills, showing me how to view events of merit or conflict from multiple different viewpoints. Dr. Federley taught me that achieving seemingly impossible dreams is actually possible; sticking to one’s values and having a positive mindset can make a huge difference when trying to reach a goal. 

What’s the best advice you have for other students?

First, never be afraid of asking questions. As students, our job is to learn and it’s unreasonable to think or expect that someone should know everything about a topic. Asking questions and genuinely trying to understand concepts not only helps you learn it but also leads to opportunities in life that would never present themselves if those questions were never asked.

Second, be bold, dream big, and don’t be afraid to fail. Many of the great advances that led to the technologies used today have stemmed from an individual or team with a big (and sometimes seemingly impossible) dream. While incremental advances in any field can be made, so too can colossal ones, especially in today’s world, so the sky is NOT the limit.

Finally, always remember that if you’re truly passionate about something, you’ll find success in it. If you spend your time on something you truly love, more often than not, you’ll achieve the goal you’ve set, advance the field, or develop a meaningful solution, all the while feeling like the task being completed is less like work and more like fun.

What do you think makes UBCO unique?

The first thought that comes to mind is the accessibility of UBCO’s talented professors and instructors. Throughout my academic life, I’ve always appreciated the open-door policy that most professors have; specifically, the ability to seek help with complicated technical concepts while also getting to know the professors on a more personal level. Another factor that makes UBCO unique is the emphasis on undergraduate research and the encouragement students receive to get involved in technical projects through coursework or clubs.

What do you see yourself doing 10 years from now?

I want to pursue my childhood dream of becoming an astronaut and going to space. This trajectory has allowed me to learn a lot about myself and encouraged me to seek out new experiences, like considering completing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or pursuing international research in free-space optical communications. Through these experiences, I also developed a passion for the fields of photonics and laser communications, and this opened up a wide array of possibilities for what I can pursue in the future.

I intend to apply during Canada’s next call for astronauts and pursue my dream of going to space. If I’m lucky enough to be selected by the Canadian Space Agency, I see myself helping humanity explore our solar system so we can solve some of our most challenging problems back here on Earth. If I’m not selected for the next call, I’ll continue to pursue my passion for photonics and laser communications applied to space and help humanity solve pressing issues of our time, like climate change, worldwide injustice or energy security.