A short story about me
I grew up in Ubon Ratchathani, a very unknown city for tourists (see figure for location), then pursued a bachelor’s degree and career life in Bangkok, where most of the opportunities are located (inequality of opportunity exists here).
Then explored professional life in very different places during my career, from Taiwan, back to Thailand, to Sepang (Malaysia), to Jinan (China), to the Netherlands, to Singapore… before the latest slingshot to France.
Geographically Journey
Career: A brief in the industry, then back to academia
I began my journey with the dream of becoming an aircraft engineer. Immersing myself in the intense world of aviation engineering—particularly within the high-pressure environment of low-cost airline maintenance—was eye-opening. (Think MasterChef or Hell’s Kitchen, but set beneath a bustling airport terminal 😉). It was there I realized that while I loved aviation, this path wasn’t the right fit for me.
I've learned a lot about HUMANS through this anyway.
Shifting gears, I became a freelance research engineer, collaborating with leading Thai enterprises and government agencies to develop innovative drone technologies. These hands-on experiences not only fueled my passion for experimentation and design but also reaffirmed one thing: my curiosity belonged to academia.
And that’s what brought me here—where engineering meets interaction design, and curiosity turns into research
(see more in the Research section)
Anyway, my passion has always been in aviation,
and I find immense joy in witnessing the freedom
of objects soaring through the skies
.. and of course, with the human in the loop :)
Frequently asked questions
Why do you speak so many languages?
Thai: Of course, this is my homeland.
Lao: My hometown, Ubon Ratchathani, is situated in the northeastern region where people speak both Thai and Isaan—a fusion of Thai and Lao. During my early childhood, I was raised by my grandparents, who primarily communicated with me in Lao. Consequently, I naturally developed Lao as my native language.
English: In higher education in Thailand, English is the second language. However, the English level in Southeast Asia varies significantly among regions.
Chinese:
First half: During my late bachelor’s life in Taiwan, I spent approximately half a year there.
Second half: I became an aircraft engineer and was responsible for facilitating the maintenance of airlines in China. In this role, I interacted with mechanics who could not speak English, but I was required to communicate effectively with them.
Korean: Before my arrival in France: I was almost offered a scholarship from Korea, which would have given me the opportunity to learn Korean. However, due to management issues, I was one of the individuals who were rejected mid-air :(
French: Sure, I study in France, where the majority of people speak only French.
Life is like a journey, and when you come from a country where your language has no influence on others, you’ll have to speak the dominant language (and the logic of languages are far different from my roots). Is this a fair balance?
Are you from Bangkok?
No, but most of my experiences are in Bangkok.
Can you cook Thai menu?
Sure, as you request :)
What is your other name "Erde"?
That's my nickname. In Thailand, we don't call each other by first name and last name; it's too long, and only for official use. The original pronunciation should be closer to the word "Earth" in English. But during the time I was in Taiwan, I felt that I didn't get noticed by the way they pronounce "Earth". Then I asked them how should I make you pronounce my nickname correctly as per pinyin, and the result became
"Er-de", which is coincident with the word "Earth" in German, which is called "Erde".
Anyway, if I instructed you to call me Chandhawat, it's okay, so I could recognize that this is a call regarding professional life :D