Adina Sorostinean was a finalist at the EuroBrake Student Innovation Competition 2016 in Milan,
Italy. Adina was personally congratulated by the judging panel for her innovative work and
presentation style. Adina has continued to study within the mobility engineering sector and has
broadened her horizons by travelling to Paris to take up a Masters programme.
We caught up with Adina to talk all things mobility, EuroBrake and where she sees herself in a few
years...
1. How did you find your EuroBrake experience overall?
EuroBrake was a great opportunity for me to experience a high level conference and to interact with
experts from the automotive industry. The dialogue with professors and the industry
representatives helped me gain some perspective regarding my future in the automotive industry
and the path that I can take to achieve my goals. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the opportunity of meeting
other students and exchange passions and interests with them.
2. How would you rate the support FISITA provided you before, during and after EuroBrake?
FISITA was there for me from the moment they announced that I was selected to participate at the
conference as a student finalist and until my departure. Prior to my departure I received all the
appropriate information and during the event someone was always around to guide us.
3. Tell us about your Masters programme, what are you focusing your studies on?
In September this year I started a Masters in Mobility and Electric Vehicles as a student of the Group
Renault Corporate Foundation. The courses take place at five Universities in Paris and Lille and they
address all the problems related to electric vehicles and their infrastructure from conception of
mechanical and electrical parts, to issues related to electrical networks and recharge stations. I find
this global approach to be really interesting since it is giving me the opportunity to better perceive
the impact of the vehicle on the environment and on the society.
4. Did you always want to be an automotive engineer/what inspired you?
I was always passionate about discovering how things around me work and I loved mathematics and
physics in school. Therefore I decided to become an engineer but the passion for vehicles came
afterwards. What motivates me is the fact that the automotive sector is so dynamic and challenging
and implies having good knowledge in a lot of fields.
5. Did you do any work experience/internships?
I understood pretty quickly that if I want to progress in the automotive domain I have to gain a lot of
experience in a short time. During my studies I took part twice in the Erasmus+ exchange program.
The first internship was at ENSTA Paris Tech and the second one was at the research Institute IVK in
Stuttgart, where I also wrote my bachelor thesis. After graduation I realised that I was still far from
having the experience that I wanted so I started another internship. This time was closer to the
industry at BMW Munich, where I worked for 5 months in the department of pre-development of
inline transmission. I consider these experiences as a key factor in my development as an engineer. I
learned a lot about the automotive industry, what is expected from young engineers and what I
should focus on in the future.
6. What advice would you give to students who are keen to enter the automotive engineering
industry?
Automotive engineering is a very challenging field and it requires a lot of dedication but it is also
very rewarding because as an automotive engineer you literally make things move. They should
focus on learning the fundamentals during their studies and to complete their studies with as many
internships as they can.
7. Did you enter any engineering competitions as a student?
I participated each year in various competitions for students like advanced mathematics and
materials resistance. I also participated in conferences organised for students. But participating in
EuroBrake as a student finalist was by far the most important experience in this sense.
8. What do you hope to be doing in your career in 5 years’ time?
The automotive sector is facing a big change with two important directions: the electric vehicle and
the autonomous vehicle. I hope to be an active part in this change and to contribute to the future of
mobility.
9. In 3 words how do you see the current automotive engineering industry?
Revolutionary, innovative, challenging.