Mr Christopher Conrad (left) and Mr Karl Zammit (right), two alumni of the University of Malta (Faculty of Engineering) were recently honoured for achieving outstanding results in their respective courses at Cranfield University in the UK.

Mr Conrad completed an MSc in Advanced Air Mobility Systems over the course of one year, during which he focused on innovative automated and autonomous solutions for managing uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) in vertiport environments. 

Upon completing the course, he was awarded the Course Director’s Prize for achieving the highest overall course mark, and the Vice Chancellor's Award for exceptional academic performance, dedication and contributions to the university. This is the only prize awarded across all postgraduate master's degree students at the University.

He is also the recipient of the prestigious SESAR Young Scientist Award 2023.

Mr Conrad currently works as a researcher at Cranfield University, on an EU-wide project called SAFIR-Ready, aiming to develop the systems needed to operate large-scale drone operations, especially for socially critical services like medical deliveries. He is also pursuing a PhD at Cranfield on AI-driven prioritisation and decision-making for UAS traffic management (UTM). 

"These achievements served as a strong source of motivation to further pursue research in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). They provided me with exceptional opportunities to engage with industry leaders and renowned academics, deepening my understanding of the field and expanding my professional network. This recognition also reinforced my confidence and commitment to contributing to advancements in AAM and engineering as a whole", he told Newspoint.  

Mr Zammit completed an MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design, also over the course of one year, and focused on the technical, business and management aspects integral to aircraft design in both the civil and military aerospace sectors.

He received three awards – Course Director’s Prize for Best Individual Research Project (for drawing inspiration from nature while developing an AI framework for wing design), the Course Director’s Prize for Best Performance in the Group Design Project (for leading a group of over 100 students in designing an aircraft fuelled by liquid hydrogen) and the Joe Young Memorial Prize for having obtained the highest overall course mark.

After working as an engineering consultant at some of the world's largest automotive OEMs, Mr Zammit returned to UM, where he is currently conducting research at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, aiming to develop a novel approach to boost the energy yield from offshore wind farms.

"These achievements have collectively shaped my journey by building a strong technical foundation, fostering my drive for innovation, and honing my leadership skills through both academic and industry experiences. They have enabled me to tackle complex engineering challenges and pursue impactful research, such as is my current work, with confidence and a forward-thinking approach", Mr Zammit told Newspoint.

Congratulations to our successful UM alumni!