I always had a knack for mechanical engineering and had taken the branch by choice (strange but true). Since my second semester, when I got recruited into IIT Roorkee Motorsports as well as SDSLabs, I was juggling between engineering design and software product design. There were parts of both that I liked, but purely software design felt restricting in more ways than one, and my work on chassis design was too engineering-driven and needed a bit of humanisation.
It was then that I started exploring “Man Machine Interaction” as a field. Simply put, it refers to the communication and interaction between a human and a machine via a user interface. It hit a sweet spot but came with the cost of lesser opportunities and practically no guidance. MITACS as an opportunity was never on my mind, but once again, my nature of dipping toe into everything helped me, and I found a perfect project.
Unlike most research internship programs, including hardcore cold mailing, Mitacs GRI is, in my honest opinion, the most organised and well-oiled program. It presents the users with a wonderful two-sided interface, with one side available only to professors and the other to students. Professors throughout Canada upload available projects and flag the required skills, making it very convenient for enthusiasts to sort and find relevant projects.
Students fill out 3-7 projects and rank them in the order of preference till the deadline, along with filling in basic academic information and documents. Mitacs then filters the first wave of candidates, just filtering incomplete applications along with basic CG and field criteria. Then the professors receive the student profiles, and they filter them out by implementing their method of shortlisting candidates and filling out their preferences (Basically academic matchmaking :p)
Some conduct interviews, some ask to fill out forms, and some select based on profiles. Once matched, the students are awarded the internship.
With the fear and uncertainties of COVID always around the corner, it was never certain that I’ll get a chance to visit Montreal in person. I was elated when the in-person internship was confirmed in March and soon started with the visa process. Since both embassies are familiar with this program visa procedure was fast and smooth. The excitement grew as departure came close. I had finalised an off-campus apartment with two other girls. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to learn french as french is the region’s first language.
I also received starter material from my host professor to get started with the topic of my research and build momentum before I arrived for the internship. Those were very helpful for secondary research as it was the first time I was working in the aviation industry.
I interned at École Polytechnique de Montréal under professor Philippe Doyon-Poulin who is an expert in human factors with a special interest in aviation. My project was to improve the user experience of CPDLC Communication application for pilots and design the first-ever touch screen implementation for the same. The team was very welcoming and accommodating towards me; french was their day-to-day communication language which they gladly shifted to English. The nature of the work was very relaxed and gave room for experimentation and innovation.
I also got to aid a doctoral student in data collection on cockpit rigs with a vibrating seat which simulated the vibration of a helicopter. The goal was to compare various data input methods against each other and determine the best mode for various parameters.
CRIAQ (The Consortium for Aerospace Research and Innovation in Quebec) was one of the networking events that helped me build a network with researchers and professionals in aviation across Quebec.
The team also went on a field trip to CTA, where we were exposed to various aviation technologies and aircraft systems. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the field of aviation.
We had a TV show shoot in our lab showcasing the research done by doctoral student.
The best part about the people of Montreal was work-life balance; you’ll find people hustling hard during the week and partying harder in the weekend. Even during post office hours in the evening, streets and parks were filled people enjoying quality time with friends and family. And man, Montrealers do know how to eat. Being vegetarian, my options were limited, still, I got to taste some amazing cuisines in this culturally rich city. The people will overhype Poutine of La Banquise for you, if you get a chance to go I’ll be waiting to hear your take on it.
During summers almost all weekends are filled with various cultural and musical fests, these would give you a very good sneak peek into the culture. The city is divided into various boroughs and each has it’s own different characteristics. The centre of the city adorns mount royal which was my evening hiking spot to view spectacular sunsets.
The biggest cultural shock for me was the extensive use of french, all the public information was essentially in french. Google translate was by best friend to translate written text. Most Montrealers are bilingual and gladly shift to english if you ask them to, so spoken communication is not much an issue.
My time in Montreal was filled with pleasant surprises. From randomly crossing by Atif Aslam on the streets to going to The Chainsmokers’ concert. I made a lot of friends in a very short period. We explored Montreal and nearby cities together, went hiking and also were each other’s support system away from home and friends. Being the foodie I am, I got my hands on many cuisines available (all that had vegan versions of them).