Meet the 2023/2024 RISE team

CO-FOUNDER, TEAM MANAGER

During my Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering at the VU/UT I decided to become part of a group of students with the ambition to land the first model rocket since this was a great fit for my passion for design and complex systems. The pursuit of this challenge took us to multiple state-of-the-art designs and inspiring implementations in rocketry and space engineering, which made us want more. Focusing on the impact we can make as a student team we found the high need for sustainable solutions spread over all sectors of the space industry. We set new goals which attracted a lot of like-minded students from numerous disciplines who were looking for a challenge. I am excited to see what we can achieve as a team and where the hard work will lead us.

TECHNICAL MANAGER

Hi, I am Maxime Larguet, the technical manager of the team! I am excited to lead an aspiring team of engineers through the real-world challenges of rocketry engineering. I overview and supervise our technical teams to accomplish our mission: to push the boundaries of rocket science and sustainability by landing the first biofuel-powered rocket. To achieve this, we are developing our rocket and its engine "Green Phoenix". We strive to make the aerospace sector sustainable thanks to the new technologies we are developing.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Hello, my name is Diana Hernandez, I study International Business Administration at the University of Twente, and I am in charge of the communications department. You might wonder what made me join a rocketry innovation team, the truth is that despite not having an engineering background myself, I found the innovative work RISE is bringing to the Rocketry world to be very exciting. Additionally, being part of a multidisciplinary team can provide a great opportunity to grow professionally and personally, is the collaboration of different minds towards a shared goal and passion what pushes the team together to create something wonderful, and I’m glad to be part of it.

EXTERNAL & FINANCIAL MANAGER

Hello! I'm Erik Manfrin, currently pursuing my Master's in Business Administration and my role in RISE is External and Financial Manager. I've always been passionate about new technologies and the idea of contributing to an innovative project that has the potential to redefine industries fascinated me. Thanks to my role I am able to integrate my financial expertise into the innovative world of rocket science. My activities span from finding new sponsors to overseeing the financial aspects of the organization, giving me the possibility to leverage my business knowledge in a technological context. I see RISE not only as an opportunity to apply my financial knowledge, but also as a chance to learn and collaborate with brilliant minds from diverse backgrounds.

FINANCIAL MANAGER

Hey there! My name is Nicolas Haines and I am a 3rd year International Business bachelor student at the University of Twente. I joined RISE in hopes to gain practical business experiences and to help innovate the rocketry industry. At RISE, I'm in charge of everything from taxes to telling people “It doesn't fit the budget” when they want to buy fancy new things (Well…I also say yes sometimes). Other than that, I am very inspired by the work that RISE has been doing and the values of sustainability that they promote. I plan to help them succeed financially and as an organization. Who knew that spreadsheets could help put rockets into the sky!

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Hello, my name is Aigerim, a second year International Business Administration bachelor student at UT. I joined RISE because I believe in the power of collaboration and innovation. RISE provides unique opportunities where I can contribute my skills, learn from fellow enthusiasts, and actively engage in projects that push the boundaries.

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Hello, I'm Sonia, a second-year International Business Administration bachelor student. I discovered RISE through word-of-mouth and was instantly captivated. As someone passionate about brand building and social media, joining the student rocketry team seemed like an exciting challenge. I believe the best experiences stem from hands-on learning, and by immersing myself in this dynamic brand, I can actively contribute to its development, acquiring essential skills for the future. Besides, joining aligns with my desire to explore technology and innovation. I'm excited to contribute to ambitious projects, refine my social media skills, and immerse myself in the fascinating world of rocket science.

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Hi! My name is Nataly, I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration at UT and I am thrilled to be part of RISE as a Social Media Coordinator. The dynamic and multi-disciplinary environment of the team has motivated me to join the team and contribute to RISE’s mission. I wish to develop myself in the fields of Communications and Marketing and I am excited to help RISE to build its brand and expand its reach.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Hi, my name is Joséphine, I am a second-year Communication science student at Vrije University. I discovered RISE through a friend who was already part of the team and I thought why not take the plunge and try to work together in a field that I don't know very well but in which my skills acquired during my studies could be useful. I'm learning to understand how team life works and I'm discovering details that I didn't think about before. Being able to help and collaborate with students of all nationalities and from different educational backgrounds also enriches me.

Hi! My name is Bermet. I am a second year International Business Administration student at the University of Twente. I joined RISE for experiential learning. This opportunity helps me to improve my teamwork, and organizational skills. Moreover, RISE is an excellent space to meet new people and expand my network. I am glad to be a part of such a friendly and talented team!

Hey, my name is Orelio, and I’m a second-year International Business Administration student at the University of Twente. I joined RISE to gain work experience alongside bright-minded individuals who are in pursuit of some ambitious goals. As part of the external relations team, I aim to reach out to companies to share our vision and mission and to explore potential collaborations that would benefit both RISE and the companies we reach out to. I am excited to be a part of such an innovative and dynamic student team.

Hey there! My name is Orkhan. I’m from Azerbaijan. Currently I’m a second-year IBA student at the University of Twente. I became a part of this family earlier this year with huge desire and high expectations. As an intrinsically motivated individual I always seek to improve myself and contribute to teamwork. Considering my communication and soft skills I made the decision of becoming an External Affairs specialist. My main role is looking for partnerships and building a successful external environment. Some of you may already have seen me in various events across University. Being part of RISE is such an honour for me, I truly believe that with the joint effort and healthy atmosphere that we have within our organisation we will reach the highest peaks together!

CHIEF MECHANICS

My name is Mateus Lopes, I am from Portugal and currently I am a third-year mechanical engineering student in the VU-UT course.

My relationship with rocketry has its roots deep within my childhood. I am excited to build upon this dream using my engineering knowledge with the RISE team. Every big project starts with a couple of friends and an idea, and I am pleased to be the chief of mechanics of this great idea.

ASSEMBLY MANAGER

Hello, my name is Borna and I'm currently a third year Mechanical Engineering student at the UT. Spaceflight, rockets and jet engines always sparked an interest in me and the idea of me working on such a project seemed truly exciting. That’s why I joined RISE, where I’m currently the Assembly manager of the team. This is a role which requires an in-depth understanding of each mechanics-wise subsystem within the rocket. With that knowledge, I can then work closely with the chief of mechanics to prepare the team and the rocket for launches and events that RISE may be a part of.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Hello! I am Assylbek, from Kazakhstan, a second-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Twente. I joined RISE to challenge myself in the engineering field, try and mostly improve my knowledge in this area. The RISE team can give a perfect opportunity to trial a real job experience, where not only hard skills but soft skills are required as well. I look forward to growing as a professional engineer and favorable teammate in RISE.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

I am Aleksei Lissin a second-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Twente. I have got the wonderful chance to become a member of the RISE student team. I am excited about the team's future possibilities since I am passionate about new technologies and their potential. I'm eager to work with like-minded people and investigate cutting-edge ideas that could benefit society. Through RISE's activities, we hope to use our combined skills and experience to promote important developments and change the world.

MECHNICAL ENGINEER

My name is Victor and I am currently studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Twente. It is my second year in the university and I joined RISE as an aspiring engineer interested in learning about rocketry and space. I am appointed to the mechanics team where I am responsible for the structural mechanics and modeling of integrated rocket parts. Together with my teammates in RISE, we work towards a common goal to ideate and create a green rocket for space junk removal.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

I am Tomas Valentinas, a second-year mechanical engineering student at Vrije and Twente Universiteit. Recently, I had the exciting opportunity to join the Rise student team. Being passionate about new technologies and their potential, I am eagerly looking forward to the team's future prospects. I am excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals and explore innovative solutions that can have a positive impact on society. Together, we aim to leverage our skills and knowledge to drive meaningful advancements and make a difference through Rise's initiatives.

MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Hi! My name is Laura, I’m from Poland and I’m in my last year of Mechanical Engineering Bachelor at University of Twente. When I heard about RISE I immediately thought that this is the perfect opportunity to find out if my childhood dream of working for NASA or ESA is still relevant. Even though I’ve been in the team for less than a year, I already can see how excited designing a rocket and being able to see it come to life makes me! It has reassured me that this is the path I want to follow and seeing how much I’ve learned in this short period of time I can’t wait to see where working in this team will bring me.

CHIEF PROPULSION

I like rockets, and RISE builds rockets. Finding myself with some extra free time, I decided that I wanted to use it to work toward my goal of becoming a rocket engineer. As such, it made sense that I joined the team. Rocket science is a field where theory and practice are the same. Every tiny detail is consequential, there are no shortcuts to space. I love this type of cold, objective science almost as much as I love making the joke: “It’s not rocket science”.

PROPULSION ENGINEER

I'm Tristan, a propulsion engineer at RISE, and I'm thrilled to be part of this exceptional team. With a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering and currently pursuing my Master's, my passion lies in the realm of rocket engines. Joining the Green Phoenix program presents an incredible opportunity for me to push the boundaries of propulsion technology and acquire invaluable hands-on experience. Together, let's revolutionize the aerospace industry and work towards creating a greener and more efficient future.

PROPULSION ENGINEER

I'm Jude Fernandes, a third-year BSc Mechanical Engineering student at UTwente. Throughout my academic journey, I've cultivated a profound interest closely aligned with aerospace engineering, complemented by my minor in aircraft engineering. In joining RISE, an exciting and growing student team, I'm eager to learn about rocket science and bridge the theoretical and practical skills that I will gain during my time here. As a propulsion engineer, my role is to design a nitrous oxide oxidizer tank that is optimized for flight.

PROPULSION ENGINEER

Hi! My name is Max and I am part of the propulsion team. I joined RISE not only to build my experience but also to be part of something big that I can proudly look back on in the future. I strive to enrich the knowledge gained in my Mechanical Engineering program by exposure to a practical and more corporate setting. Since I joined RISE, I have been involved, among others, in researching and demonstrating a production technique for the solid fuel grain of our hybrid rocket motor from the Phoenix program.

PROPULSION ENGINEER

Hi, I’m Adam, and I'm a first-year Mechanical Engineering student currently working in the propulsion team. Even though I might be new to the university I have acquired quite a lot of experience developing and building my own experimental rockets. Rocketry has always been a passion of mine and sometimes is literally all I think all talk about (ask my friends they can’t stand me talking about rockets anymore). I have designed and built many solid rocket motors with varying success (from exploding on the test stand in my backyard to flying to 700m). I joined RISE to expand my knowledge and experience and have fun making rockets.

CHIEF ELECTRONICS

Hello! I am Nezar, I am currently a third-year electrical engineering student and chief of the electronics team. Since I was little, I have been fascinated with planes and rockets. Joining the RISE team was the perfect opportunity for me to delve deeper into those interests, by taking part in the development and landing of the first biofuel powered rocket. Joining the team has also provided me with the opportunity to improve both my technical and soft skills through practical experience.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Hi! I am Arnout, and even though I study computer science I am part of the electronics team. I love tinkering around with electronics, and using that to connect the software world to the real word. For me RISE was the perfect opportunity to level up my skills, and put my existing knowledge to good use. Spaceflight of course fascinates me, and being able to shoot my own PCB’s up into the sky (and hopefully back again) sounds like something I wouldn't want to skip out on.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

My name is Andy, and I'm a second-year Electrical Engineering student, currently a member of the Electronics Team. I have always been deeply curious and passionate about physics, astronomy, and rocketry. While I appreciate learning about the theoretical aspects, my main interest lies in the engineering that brings these theories to life and electronics plays a crucial role in making these concepts into reality. Joining RISE has provided me with the opportunity to contribute to this field and has motivated me to push my boundaries, further enhancing my skills.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Hello! I'm Neki, a second-year MSc Electrical Engineering student at UTwente, thrilled to join RISE after encouragement from several team members. With 1.5 years at CERN and extensive electronics industry experience, I aim to steer the electronics team towards groundbreaking achievements. My role as an electronics advisor and hardware engineer is pivotal in developing more reliable flight computers for RISE's future missions. I'm eager to contribute to our mission of crafting sustainable and reusable rockets in this dynamic, multicultural setting. Let's make history together!

CHIEF SOFTWARE

Hi, I’m Borna, MSc Embedded Systems student at the UTwente. I joined the RISE software team as it was my entrance into the practical world of embedded systems and as it turns out, making rockets is a really good start. Very early into my journey with RISE, I got presented with a very tempting offer to take on the role of a chief engineer which I just couldn’t refuse. Even though I haven’t been in the team for a long time, I learn a whole lot about the rockets, but also about leading a team and coordinating with other teams. Most importantly, I met a bunch of amazing and talented people and I look forward to tackling new challenges with them.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Hello there! I am Koppány, a Computer Science student working in the software development team. I decided to join RISE because it is a great opportunity to try out what exactly I can do with my current programming skills. I have always wanted to use my knowledge for something and working on a rocket can provide a great feedback to the work I have done. I hope to see more concepts that I have studied in theory, used on the field as well, and this project is the perfect opportunity for that.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Hi! I’m Nadeem, BSc Computer Science at VU Amsterdam. I joined RISE as a way to effect positive change using my programming skills, and as a way to further broaden my expertise in an area I am passionate about. So far, I’ve worked on the software for both the ground control station and the flight computer, which has taught me a lot about embedded systems. I look forward to working with the talented team on the future challenges this work provides!

SOFTWARE ENGINEER

Hi! My name is Isidora and I am a second year Computer Science student at the VU. I’ve always been fascinated with astronautics, which is why I decided to join RISE. I think it’s a great opportunity to learn more about different engineering fields and master new concepts that are not a part of the traditional curriculum. I get to work on tasks that allow me to combine my interests in specific computer science subjects, such as cryptography, with my other pursuits. As a member of RISE I have the chance to work within a team of bright and creative individuals who share a similar passion for space exploration.

CHIEF CONTROL

I am Ēvalds, a student from Latvia who came to the Netherlands to take advantage of the engineering opportunities that are present here. I study Advanced Technology with Control Engineering/Robotics as my target masters at the University of Twente. I am passionate about drums and music, and of course rocketry. Having built small sugar rockets in Latvia, I am very excited to use my studies to work towards something much more substantial both in terms of a rocket and a contribution to the student team.

CONTROL ENGINEER

I have been interested in aerospace for as long as I remember now. My long-time goal is to work in the aerospace sector one day, and joining RISE was my first step to getting some initial experience in the field. I am part of the very motivated control team, where we work towards stabilizing the rocket during descent and landing.

CONTROL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEER

Hello! I'm Dani, an MSc Robotics student at the University of Twente and a member of the Control and Electronics team at RISE. Currently, my team and I are focused on developing the control system for the Alpha rocket. Our responsibilities extend to constructing a simulation environment that accurately models the dynamic aspects and control system of the rocket. My role also involves crafting a sensor fusion algorithm to ensure pinpoint accuracy in tracking the rocket's position. Additionally, I lead the development of electronics for the static fire test stand, a crucial component of Alpha's hybrid motor testing. Beyond the technical aspects, what truly fuels my passion is the journey of exploration and discovery—PER ASPERA AD ASTRA!