Grace Bunker

Lab Time!

Meet Grace, she is a Queen's University Smith Engineering, Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Applied Mathematics and Applied Mechanics Engineering student. Outside of academics, one of her biggest interests is space technology, especially the design and systems work behind small satellites and mission support hardware. Through the Queen’s Satellite and Space Engineering Team (QSET), she has had the opportunity to work with a team on tangible space projects that she found incredibly rewarding. She helped develop and test a thermally resilient CubeSat battery and power system designed to operate in extreme cold conditions, which involved thinking through insulation, reliability, and real world performance constraints. She also contributed to the design and build of a portable ground station tower intended to support communication with our satellite systems. What she enjoys most about these projects is the combination of technical problem solving, teamwork, and the bigger purpose behind the work. She finds it exciting to be part of projects that connect mechanical design to real space applications, and that passion has made space one of the most meaningful interests she pursues outside the classroom.

When did your love of STEM begin?

My love of STEM began at a young age. Both my parents and both of my grandfathers are engineers, so I grew up seeing engineering as a meaningful and exciting way to understand and contribute to the world. Because of that, I always had an early sense that I wanted to apply myself in this space as well.
In high school, that interest grew significantly through science labs, class demonstrations, and the excitement of learning how the world works through math and physics. I still remember how fascinated I was the first time I learned about quantum mechanics and the Big Bang. Those topics completely captured my attention and made me certain that I wanted to become an engineer and build a career in STEM.
What has stayed consistent for me is that, although STEM can be challenging, it is also where I feel most like myself. It is the space where I feel the most curious, motivated, and capable of applying my strengths to meaningful problems.

What is the best part about working in the field of STEM?

The best part about working in STEM is the opportunity to solve meaningful problems while constantly learning. I love that STEM challenges you to think critically, collaborate with others, and turn ideas into something real. Whether it is designing, testing, analyzing, or improving a system, there is something incredibly rewarding about applying technical knowledge to a problem and seeing progress come from it.
Another of the best parts of STEM is the team environment. Some of my most rewarding experiences have come from working with others on hands-on projects, where everyone brings different strengths and perspectives. STEM has taught me that you do not need to know everything on your own to make a valuable contribution. I also love that the field is always evolving, which means there is always more to discover, build, and improve.

What advice would you give young women interested in a career in STEM?

My biggest advice to young women interested in STEM is to take that first jump and get involved, even if you do not feel completely ready. For a long time, and honestly even still today, I have struggled with feelings of alienation and not feeling smart enough to contribute. That has been one of the hardest parts of pursuing STEM for me. It can be easy to look around and assume everyone else belongs more than you do, but I have learned that feeling uncertain does not mean you are incapable.
What helped me most was putting myself into spaces that challenged me. By getting involved, asking questions, and throwing myself into the deep end, I gave myself the chance to grow. Like anyone, there are still many areas where I have room for improvement, but I have also realized there are many areas where my strengths genuinely add value to projects and team environments. Applying myself, even when I felt intimidated, has helped me build confidence in my abilities and in my place within STEM. You do not need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes confidence comes after the leap, not before it.

Tell us a fun fact about you and your current role!

A fun fact about me is that I recently had the opportunity to serve as a student ambassador at NGen Canada’s N3 Summit, where I took part in the CEO Pledge initiative through Youth Culture Inc. In that role, I interviewed CEOs and industry leaders in the advanced manufacturing and technology space, which was an incredible experience. It gave me the chance to speak directly with people shaping the future of innovation in Canada and learn more about leadership, industry growth, and how young people can play a role in that future.

Another big part of my current role is serving as the Class of 2028 representative for Applied Mathematics Engineering at Queen’s. That has been especially meaningful to me because I have loved building relationships with both my peers and professors. I have worked to help streamline communication between students and faculty, improve transparency, and raise concerns such as exam conflicts so they can be addressed more effectively. It has been really rewarding to help create stronger connections and make student concerns feel heard.