Astronaut candidate's profile
The candidates participating in the astronaut selection process all have unique journeys and outstanding qualities and skills. You can read their remarkable profiles here.
Ledwosinska, Elzbieta (Elizabeth)
Where were you born?
Gdynia, Poland
Where do you currently live?
Austin, Texas, USA
Education
- Bachelor's, physics – McGill University
- Master's, electrical engineering – McGill University
- Ph.D., electrical engineering – McGill University
Photo of the astronaut candidate during the aptitude tests. (Credit: Canadian Space Agency)
What is your current job?
Sensors and Foundry Engineer, Silicon Labs - Our company is a leader in energy-friendly solutions for a smarter, more connected world. You may have heard of the Internet of Things (IoT). The "Things" can refer to a wide variety of devices such as a heart rate monitor in your watch, biochip transponders on farm animals, automobiles with built-in sensors, and smart lighting and climate control within our homes. Sensors are an enormous component of enabling the IoT to become an evolving reality. My work at Silicon Labs focuses on the development and improvement of humidity, optical, and magnetic sensors for our interconnected world.
Why do you want to become an astronaut?
To me, an astronaut represents an ambassador of humanity, and a fusion of the best qualities of human ingenuity and social consciousness. My personal heroes have always been astronauts, and their pioneering work has constantly pushed me to learn more and to do more. An astronaut breaks new ground not only through space exploration, but also by creating solutions that improve life on Earth. To me, that is a beautiful way to spend our short time on (and off) this wondrous planet.