ZHEN HONG (ZAC) CHAI
Johnsonville ,WGN
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Lead and Cofounder
Project Kororā
, Wellington
12.2024 - Current
- Leading New Zealand's largest student-led CubeSat team, with over 100 students ranging from law, design, to STEM.
- Designed the overall trajectory of the project from idea, marketing, research, to execution.
- Collaborating with international student CubeSat teams.
- Communication with New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment to ensure smoothness of project.
Research Assistant
Victoria University of Wellington
, Wellington
03.2023 - 02.2024
- Created Gmsh models for finite element analysis and simulation purposes.
- Simulated and validated hypersonic and supersonic flow cases using OpenFOAM.
Data Insights Analyst Intern
Z Energy
, Wellington
11.2022 - 02.2023
- Created and presented Power BI reports to stakeholders.
- Conducted data analysis of Z's electric vehicle data using SQL and Excel.
Research Assistant
GNS Science
, Wellington
11.2021 - 02.2022
- Doped molybdenum carbide samples with cobalt and nickel, using an ion implanter.
- Characterised the samples using four-point probe measurements and Rutherford backscattering analysis.
Education
MSc - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
07-2026
BSc (Hons) - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
03-2025
BSc - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
05-2024
Skills
- Data analysis
- Machine learning
- Programming in Python
- Project management
- Effective communication
- Project planning
- Verbal and written communication
- Google Earth Engine
- Satellite imagery
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Plasma physics
- Problem solving
- NASA's GMAT
- OpenFoam
Leadership & Outreach
Young Professional Committee Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2025
- Contributed to the planning and strategic development of events tailored for young professionals across AIAA forums, enhancing engagement and career pathways in aerospace
Event Planning Committee Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AVIATION & SciTech Forum, 2025
- Lead coordinator for the Speed Mentoring event at the AIAA flagship conference, AVIATION, connecting early-career professionals with senior aerospace leaders, such as astronauts and former NASA administrators
- Assisted in the setup and logistics for the prestigious AIAA Associate Fellows Ceremony
Social Media Executive, NZ Student Space Association, 2025
- Managed social media outreach, creating engaging content to promote space events and initiatives across New Zealand, increasing visibility and student involvement
STEM Outreach Volunteer, Inspire the Future, YouthMix, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce · 2024
- Promoted STEM and space science programs at Victoria University to secondary school students
Honors & Awards
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Rising Stars in Aerospace, Orlando, 2025
- Selected for a VIP tour around NASA's Kennedy Space Center
1st place, Masters category, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics International Region Student Conference, Melbourne, 2024
- One of the three category winners in the global international region
- 500 USD prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to Orlando, Florida, from New Zealand to present at the 2025 SciTech Forum
Blue's Award for Sport, Victoria University of Wellington, 2024
- Finalist for Male Sportsperson of the Year
NZ National Kendo Team, 19th World Kendo Championships, Milan, 2024
Summer Research Scholarship, Victoria University of Wellington, 2021
Projects
TRASHSAT Mission Study, 2025
- Planned a hypothetical debris-tracking CubeSat mission, covering payload design, orbit selection, and risk analysis.
- Served as the foundation for Project Kororā.
Glacial Lake Monitoring via Satellite Data, 2024
- Used remote sensing techniques to analyse morphological changes in Tasman Lake, applying geospatial data for environmental monitoring.
AF-MPDT Modelling Using Machine Learning, 2024
- Built and trained ML models to simulate performance characteristics of Applied Field Magnetoplasmadynamic Thrusters, utilising the Princeton AF-MPDT database.
Publications
- Performance Insights into Princeton's AF-MPD Thruster Database, AIAA SciTech 2025
- Applying Machine Learning Models for Thrust and Voltage Prediction in AF-MPD Thrusters, Work in Progress
Timeline
Project Lead and Cofounder
Project Kororā
12.2024 - Current
Research Assistant
Victoria University of Wellington
03.2023 - 02.2024
Data Insights Analyst Intern
Z Energy
11.2022 - 02.2023
Research Assistant
GNS Science
11.2021 - 02.2022
MSc - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
BSc (Hons) - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
BSc - Physics
Victoria University of Wellington
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