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ASPIRING AEROSPACE ENGINEER

OLLIE NEBEL

Computer Science  /  Physics  /  Mathematics

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51.497194° N    0.176722° W
02 ABOUT

Building
the machines
that leave Earth

A visit to the Science Museum's Cosmonauts exhibition in 2015 made an impression that stuck. Something about seeing the actual hardware - the suits, the capsules, the sheer scale of what people had built - made the whole thing feel real in a way it hadn't before.

I'm Ollie, a Year 12 student studying Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematics at Caterham School. I'm drawn to the harder problems in aerospace and space systems - the kind where physics, engineering, and computation all have to work together. One area I've gone deep on is high-speed flight: I researched scramjet and ramjet propulsion, thermal protection systems, shock-wave interactions, and boundary-layer instabilities, producing a technical report and later delivering a lecture on modelling hypersonic flow through Caterham School's Moncrieff-Jones Society. The lecture took an audience from the Navier-Stokes equations through to computational methods such as DSMC. I now serve as President of the Society, helping to organise and promote student-led scientific lectures across the school. My aim is to study aerospace engineering at university - the questions are too interesting to stop now!

12 YEAR
4 A-LEVELS
7 PROJECTS
10+ HONOURS
Hypersonics Physics Modelling Computer Architecture Software Development Neural Networks Simulation Structural Engineering Cryptography Systems Engineering Rocketry Research Public Speaking Leadership Debating
03 PROJECTS

Selected Work

Hypersonics Fluid Dynamics Propulsion Research

Hypersonic Flight Research

Conducted an independent research project analysing whether current aerodynamic and propulsion technologies could enable practical, reusable hypersonic flight. Investigated scramjet propulsion, shock-wave interactions, SBLI, and thermal protection systems, drawing on NASA and ESA technical literature to produce a 10-page analytical report. Extended this into a public lecture on modelling hypersonic flow - walking an audience through the Navier-Stokes equations and computational simulation methods including DSMC. The research was subsequently written up as a published article in Quantum Ultimatum, Caterham School's science journal.

JULY - SEPT 2025  ·  DEC 2025 - FEB 2026  ·  TYPE: RESEARCH & PUBLIC LECTURE
Computer Architecture Logic Design Systems Engineering

CPU Design Project

Designed and built a functional Turing-complete CPU from fundamental logic gates using the simulation platform Turing Complete. Progressively developed increasingly complex digital circuits including arithmetic logic units (ALUs), registers, memory systems, and control logic, culminating in a programmable processor capable of executing a custom instruction set. Explored low-level computer architecture, instruction design, and assembly programming while gaining a practical understanding of how modern processors operate beneath high-level programming languages.

Dec 2025 - Mar 2026  ·  TYPE: Computer Architecture & Logic Design
Structural Engineering Materials Team Project

Bridge Design Project

Worked as a team to design and build a structural bridge based on an inverted Pratt truss, inspired by New York's Lockport Bridge. Competed against the entire physics year group, optimising for strength-to-weight ratio — the final structure weighed 108.26g and held a maximum load of 27.5kg, a ratio of roughly 254:1. Won the competition outright.

Jun 2026  ·  TYPE: Structural Engineering
Cryptography Satellite Systems Research

Satellite-Based Quantum Key Distribution

Extended independent research that culminated into a report assessing the suitability of satellites for Quantum Key Distribution. Covered the case for satellites over fibre-optic links, orbit selection, optical link budgets, pointing/acquisition/tracking, and atmospheric noise effects, then presented the findings to fellow physics students.

Jun 2026  ·  TYPE: Research & Presentation
Rocketry Aerospace Engineering Team Project

UKROC — UK Youth Rocketry Challenge

Competed in the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge as part of a five-person team — designing, building, and launching a rocket to carry a payload to a target altitude of exactly 229 metres. Used OpenRocket for simulation and flight modelling throughout the process, and a variety of manufacturing techniques ranging from custom 3D printing to laser cutting. The project culminated in the team competing at the regional competition in Cambridge.

NOV 2025 – July 2026  ·  TYPE: TEAM COMPETITION
C# Unity Systems Design

Metroidvania - In Development

An ongoing solo game development project built in Unity using C#. So far focused on building custom input and movement systems from scratch - utilising Unity's physics and collision engine to create responsive, precise character control. The foundation for a larger metroidvania experience, currently in active development.

NOV 2025 - PRESENT  ·  TYPE: SOLO GAME DEVELOPMENT
Cryptography Mathematics Python Research

Cryptography Research & Animated Presentation

Independently researched the mathematics underpinning modern public-key cryptography — focusing on Euler's totient function and the RSA algorithm, and how security relies on the computational hardness of prime factorisation. Taught myself Manim (Python's mathematical animation library) to communicate the findings, producing and delivering a 20-minute animated presentation to the Further Mathematics cohort. Extended the research into a report assessing satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (see P.04).

Jun 2026  ·  TYPE: RESEARCH & MATHEMATICAL PRESENTATION

✦   More projects in development — check back soon.

04 EXPERIENCE

Flight Path

2025 - PRESENT

High Ropes Instructor

Caterham School

Deliver outdoor training sessions for students aged 8-16, managing safety protocols, building participant confidence, and developing teamwork skills. Responsible for equipment checks and emergency procedure adherence.

Safety Management Leadership Communication
UPCOMING

Work Experience / Shadowing

Currently seeking aerospace, engineering, or research work experience opportunities.

05 ACHIEVEMENTS

Proof of Work

The Smallpeice Trust

Arkwright Engineering Scholarship

One of the UK's most prestigious engineering scholarships for school students, awarded to exceptional candidates demonstrating outstanding engineering aptitude and passion.

MONCRIEFF-JONES SOCIETY · CATERHAM SCHOOL

Society President & Published Author

Elected President of Caterham School's Moncrieff-Jones Society, a student-led science society delivering weekly lectures and discussions. Delivered a one-hour public lecture (including Q&A) on modelling hypersonic flow, and wrote up the research as an article published in Quantum Ultimatum, the school science journal, which I now co-edit. Responsible for overseeing the society's programme and coordinating speakers across the Sixth Form.

UK MATHEMATICS TRUST

UKMT Gold - Senior Mathematical Challenge

Gold award in the UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge, placing in the top tier of student performance nationwide in one of the UK's top mathematics competitions and qualifying for the Andrew Jobbings Senior Kangaroo follow on round.

BEBRAS

Trailblazer Challenge - Gold

Ranked 131/5383 nation-wide, coming first in the school. Awarded Gold in the Raspberry Pi Trailblazer Challenge, recognising exceptional performance in advanced problem-solving and computing beyond the standard curriculum.

British Physics Olympiad

Senior Physics Challenge - Silver

Awarded Silver in the Senior Physics Challenge, recognising strong performance in advanced problem-solving and physics beyond the standard curriculum.

06 CONTACT

Let's
Connect

Open to work experience, aerospace conversations, engineering challenges, and anything worth building. Always worth reaching out.

EMAIL ollie.nebel@gmail.com LINKEDIN /in/ollie-nebel