Domonkos Péntek grew up in Hungary, where his interest in engineering emerged early. When he started looking for a university abroad, TU Delft quickly rose to the top of his list. “I was always drawn to engineering,” he says. “When I searched online, Delft consistently appeared among the best universities in the world. I was able to visit the campus, and I was really impressed — so much greenery, and these futuristic buildings and labs. It immediately felt like the right choice.” Being an EU citizen helped make the move realistic: “I didn’t receive a scholarship, but studying here was still affordable.”
Although he has only just completed his first year, Domonkos has already been selected as a Teaching Assistant for the course Dynamics — a remarkable step for a first-year student. “They were looking for students with strong academic results, and I really enjoyed the course,” he explains. “It felt natural to apply. I love helping other students understand difficult concepts. Dynamics fascinates me because it uses a few very basic principles — like superposition and Newton’s laws — to describe the world with surprising accuracy. Using simple ideas to solve very complex problems is incredibly satisfying.”
Domonkos studies Aerospace Engineering, a field many associate with childhood dreams of flight and space. Is it really as exciting as people imagine? “The first year is a bit more theoretical than people might expect,” he says, “but you need that foundation to understand the technical side later on. For me, the dream is still space engineering. I’m very interested in space exploration, and I hope to pursue a career in that direction. Becoming an astronaut would be amazing, of course, but I’m especially drawn to the engineering challenges behind spacecraft design. That’s where I see myself.”
Outside the lecture halls, Domonkos has a completely different passion: music. He started playing music at the age of seven — first flute, then bass guitar when he discovered rock music. “Music has a very deep connection to mathematics,” he says. “The harmonies, the structures — there is a kind of mathematical beauty in it.” Although his studies are demanding, he still tries to play a few times a week with friends. “It helps me stay balanced. If I only focused on studying, burnout would be inevitable. Music clears my mind.”
Receiving the KHMW Young Talent Incentive Award means a lot to him. “It’s wonderful recognition for all the work I’ve put in,” he says. “It motivates me even more.”
