Altair Kossymbayev

23-year-old Altair from Atyrau is finishing his bachelor’s degree in Astana. Having won the 2022 science internship program competition of the Kazakhstani charitable Yessenov Foundation, the young Kazakhstani completed an internship at the Aeronautical University in the USA last summer. Let’s ask Altair about his internship experience, what has he learned, and what are his creative plans for the future.

How and when did you take an interest in aerospace engineering?
In the summer of 2019, before starting university, I became a finalist in a school competition in developing a concept of a most efficient airplane. Due to the innovative aircraft models that my team and I came up with, we received a grant to attend the summer school at Cranfield University in the UK. There we attended lectures and seminars on aerospace topics. This experience solidified my passion for building aircrafts, so I went on to study aerospace engineering.

What can you tell about your participation in the competition?
The competition was incredibly difficult. They were testing not only technical skills, but also stress resistance. A group interview was the most challenging and interesting part. Its participants, who were actually rivals, had to unite to solve complex problems. The unique format required great concentration and dedication. This competition was an important moment in my personal development: I became skilled at problem solving and learned to collaborate effectively with others.

Tell us about your internship experience.
I worked in the Propulsion and Aerodynamics Computational Laboratory (PACL) at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, which is one of the best universities in its field. I worked on the research “Noise Prediction and Management in Multi-Rotor Operations Using CFD” (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The project is funded by NASA, and its goal is to develop a vertical take-off and landing aircraft with the aerodynamic properties that reduce rotor noise. Perhaps, such aircrafts will become common transport in the future. The main challenge was to keep the initial rotor thrust. This is important, since high thrust rotors that don’t meet noise requirements, are prohibited to use. We have to strike a balance between high performance and noise reduction, which would allow such rotors to be used in practice.

Altair, how do you evaluate the results of the internship?
My knowledge of aerodynamics has deepened, but not only that. I learned how to work with the OpenFOAM software. It is used to perform calculations in the field of fluid dynamics and solve practical problems. Working with this software was the most difficult part of my internship. In order to program and simulate a project in it, you need to have deep knowledge of computational fluid dynamics and have an experience in working with other similar software, for example, Ansys Fluent. I did not have such an experience, that’s why everything was quite challenging. In the meantime, I studied aerodynamics and got an idea of ​​​​working in the field of computational fluid dynamics. I met researchers and students at the laboratories, understood how postgraduate study works, what are the options after graduation, what are their doctoral studies like. Since my professor left the university, I’m not aware of our research outcomes – I simply do not know them.

Were there any interesting observations and discoveries you made besides science while living in the USA?
There is a striking difference between our and Americans’ attitude to life. It is even noticeable in clothing – Americans wear loose clothes, they always choose more comfortable outfits, even if clothing is not fashionable or does not match. American students often ride skateboards. As for the university itself, it has its own aircrafts and the runway. Students can fly as passengers via student ID card. During my internship, I met many people who got a pilot’s license while pursuing their doctorate. It allows them to fly a small plane.

What did you manage to see in Florida where you were doing your internship? How did you spend your free time?
I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, so I often walked along the beaches filled with tourists. I attended the vibrant Biketoberfest in Daytona Beach, where bikers from all over the USA gather every October. I enjoyed playing volleyball with the university students. It helped me make friends and lead an active lifestyle. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the Daytona 500, one of the largest races in the world. So, my stay in Florida was an unforgettable experience.

Altair, what can you advise the future winners of the Yessenov Foundation science internship program?
As for education. Tell your professor or supervisor about your achievements. Communicate better with your lab colleagues – this will help you learn more interesting and useful things about living and studying during the internship. Your professor will meet with you 1-2 times a week, so it is better to actively engage in networking. Try to attend additional lectures and seminars if possible. In a practical sense, I would like to tell about air travel. Buying airline tickets, pay attention not only to the cost, but also to what you get for it. To the number of pieces of checked baggage, for example. And if the prices are completely unaffordable for you, try to look for a transit flight the next day – it can be much cheaper. In my case, a flight from Astana to New York via Istanbul cost almost half as much. Find more airport information. There are several airports in some large cities in the world, you can arrive at one airport and leave another, so you have to calculate the time and deal with your luggage. My life hacks already helped one of the winners of the Yesenov Foundation science internship program competition last year, and I hope they will help you too.

What are your plans for the next couple of years?
I am currently completing my undergraduate studies at Nazarbayev University. Later this academic year, I plan to apply for PhD studies at top universities abroad and continue my education and career in aerospace engineering. After a PhD, I will pursue postdoctoral research to gain a deep knowledge in this field.