About Amber
About me
Hi! I’m Amber — engineer, STEM advocate, and creator of Miss Enginerd.
I started Miss Enginerd in 2019 as a way to support women navigating STEM careers. Working in traditionally male-dominated environments can feel confusing, intimidating, and isolating, especially when you’re trying to figure out everything from choosing the right major or grad program to thriving in labs, classrooms, and meetings.
I recently earned my Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering and now work in the biofuels industry as a Quality Manager. Along the way, I’ve learned how important it is to take care of your whole self — academically, professionally, and personally.
Outside of work, I love hiking, yoga, reading, cheering on the University of Kentucky Wildcats (#BigBlueNation), and rapping along to songs that do not match my personality in the slightest.
Welcome to Miss Enginerd — I’m glad you’re here.
The Journey
I was born and raised in eastern South Dakota and have always loved school and learning. As a kid, I read constantly and explored every interest imaginable — journalism, psychology, neuroscience, and medicine were all on the list at some point. I was especially fascinated by the human body and assumed I’d become a doctor.
During my junior year of high school, my chemistry class toured a nearby ethanol plant. Watching corn be converted into fuel completely captivated me. That experience, paired with my love for chemistry and math, led me to chemical engineering — a field that blended everything I loved: biology, chemistry, sustainability, and problem-solving.
I went on to earn my BS in Chemical Engineering with an emphasis in Biochemical Engineering from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. My time as an undergrad included an 8-month co-op with Cargill in Blair, NE, and a summer research experience at the University of Kentucky, which helped solidify my interest in biofuels and bioprocessing.
After graduating, I spent several months at home caring for my mom, who was battling metastatic breast cancer. In August 2011, I moved to Lexington, KY to start graduate school at the University of Kentucky. Between my first and second semesters, my mom passed away — a loss that profoundly shaped my values, goals, and perspectives on life and learning.
I completed my Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2013, then returned to South Dakota to pause, work, and reassess my dream of earning a Ph.D. Eventually, I went back to SDSM&T to pursue a doctorate in Chemical Engineering, which I completed in the summer of 2019.
Remember that ethanol plant from my high-school field trip? Today, I work for that same company — now the world’s largest biofuels producer — as a Quality Manager at one of their 34 plants. My work blends lab science, fermentation, operations, and continuous improvement, and it’s been one of the most rewarding full-circle experiences of my career.
Ready to make your dreams come true?
Do you need help navigating the trenches of being an engineering major, surviving grad school, or excelling in your career?
Please check out my current services below!