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Winter Oostwoud

PhD Aerospace Engineering @Cambridge

Cambridge, UK • eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/ftwo2 • ftwo2@cam.ac.uk • linkedin.com/in/winter-oostwoud

Summary

PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering at Cambridge (Whittle Laboratory), focusing on sustainable aviation by means of contrail avoidance (Project Contrails), aiming to reduce aviation's climate impact by a third. Funded by Google. I have experience at the European Space Agency (ESA), the Royal Dutch Aerospace Centre (NLR), McKinsey, and Tesla, combining tech, operations, and strategic decision-making. Fun fact: I worked as a roadside car mechanic (ANWB) during my studies. Fixing a broken down car that is blocking a busy road certainly teaches you to "solve problems under pressure". Broadly interested, I have a second degree in Philosophy (Oxford / Leiden), where I learnt to question everything (including why I chose to do two degrees). Always open to learn and discuss.

Experience

Whittle Laboratory, University of Cambridge Sep 2025 – Present

Doctoral Student

Contrail mitigation research using machine learning and optimization (Project Contrails). Funded by Google.

Nederlands Lucht- en Ruimtevaartcentrum (NLR) July 2025 – Sep 2025

R&D Engineer

Contrail modelling research.

ANWB July 2023 – Sep 2025

Roadside Assistance – Mobile Mechanic • Delft

Working as a mobile mechanic for car breakdowns — driving around to repair cars and help people on the road. Received vehicle repair, first-aid, and crisis management training.

European Space Agency (ESA) Nov 2024 – June 2025

Graduate Innovation Consultant

Monitoring and analysing promising innovations in telecommunications.

McKinsey & Company Sep 2024 – Nov 2024

Fellow Intern • Amsterdam

Received a full-time offer.

Tesla Aug 2023 – Oct 2023

Business Operations Specialist EMEA • Amsterdam

Process optimisation and digital transformation: rebuilt, automated, and improved the main Service Planning forecasting model and related processes for Tesla in EMEA. Project-based role, before continuing my MSc.

Universiteit Leiden Nov 2022 – Mar 2023

AI for Business, Teaching Assistant • Leiden

Tutoring undergraduates, grading assignments and exams.

Tesla Sep 2022 – Mar 2023

Business Planning EMEA • Amsterdam

Provided the main forecasting, analysis, optimisation, automation, and visualisation for Sales, Deliveries, and Operations for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

TU Delft | Aerospace Engineering Apr 2022 – June 2022

Chief and Systems Engineer • Delft

Designed a mobile wind energy solution for an electric pickup truck, managing a team of 10 students.

Forze Hydrogen Electric Racing Sep 2020 – Sep 2021

Acquisitions • Delft

Acquisitions for the fastest Hydrogen racing car on our blue planet.

DeBijlesStudent B.V. || Self-employed May 2018 – Aug 2020

Tutor

D.S.R. Proteus-Eretes Sep 2018 – Sep 2019

Competitive Rower

Competed on a national level in the Freshman Lightweight division.

TU Delft Sep 2017 – Dec 2017

Internship, Ring of Fire • Grade: 10.0/10.0

The Ring of Fire is a new aerodynamic drag measurement system, now used i.a. by the Dutch Speedskaters for Beijing (2022), and the Sunweb Cycling Team. Contributed in last year of high school: improving the accuracy of these measurements by writing an algorithm for adaptive wake contouring.

Education

University of Cambridge 2025 – ongoing

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Aerospace engineering

Whittle Laboratory • Funded by Google • Project Contrails

TU Delft 2023 – 2025

Master of Science (MSc), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Control & Operations Track (4.0/4.0 GPA) • Thesis under Dr. Meijer (Grade 9.0/10.0)

University of Oxford Oct 2023 – Dec 2023

Visiting Student, Philosophy

First Class Distinction (74%) • Winner of Oxford Strategy Group (OSG) Challenge

Universiteit Leiden 2019 – 2025

Bachelor of Arts - BA, Philosophy

Critical thinking, writing, and Honours course in Data Science

Delft University of Technology 2018 – 2022

Bachelor of Science - BSc, Luchtvaart- en ruimtevaarttechniek / Aerospace engineering

Business Minor at Leiden University • National Competitive Rower • Forze Hydrogen Racing

Top Skills & Languages

Top Skills: Python, Matlab, Technical Writing

Languages: English, French, Dutch, German