Learn about the Christie co-op experience from Melda

At Christie, we’re thrilled that some of the brightest students from local universities and colleges choose to spend their co-op terms with us. They are the next generation of professionals, and whether they pursue a career in AV after graduation or choose another path, it’s always exciting to teach them about our technology.  

One of our recent co-op students, Melda Kiziltan, shares what she learned during her term at Christie, how she applied the experience to her studies, and where she sees herself 10 years down the road. 

We have a reputation 

Melda is studying mechatronics engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and to say she’s accomplished a lot as an undergraduate student is an understatement. Her extracurricular activities include leading the UW Orbital CubeSat team, which won the Canadian Satellite Design Challenge 2023. She’s a five-time participant and two-time winner of Hack the North and was part of the team that took first place in the 2023 Ontario Engineering Competition.  

She joined the engineering department at Christie located in Kitchener, Canada, in 2023.  Why Christie? “Everyone who’s gone to Christie speaks highly of the experience – it has a very good reputation!” says Melda. 

Life at Christie 

For four months, Melda worked with ARC, our advanced research and collaboration team on a dynamic projection mapping project. Her role involved software development and electrical-mechanical engineering to help bring the project to fruition. And Melda has carried this work into her studies: “I’m currently taking a course on mobile autonomous robotics, and it’s what I worked on at Christie! It’s helping me in class – I know exactly what to do, while the rest of the class is still learning.” 

Melda has not only carried on-the-job learning with her but she’s also continued the friendships she made during her co-op term. “The social aspect is something that I will carry with me,” says Melda. “The people at Christie are great, but it’s also the way that everyone worked together. There was never a time when I felt I couldn’t be myself.” 

“It was like working with all my friends, which normally sounds like a bad thing, but it was actually very good! It kept me motivated,” explains Melda. “It also made me very comfortable to share ideas and ask for help. And the communication went both ways – everyone on the team bounced ideas off each other.”  

Life after Christie 

Melda will graduate in 2025 and is considering her future. “I'm currently looking into full-time jobs. I'll probably stay in aerospace and aviation or space systems,” she says.  

And where will we find Melda in 10 years’ time? “I think it will be a job that I think is relatively challenging and keeps me on my toes because I do get bored quickly, which is why ARC was good for me!”