Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day
June 23rd is International Women in Engineering Day, the 9th annual celebration of the work that women engineers around the world are doing. INWED was created to raise the profile of women engineers around the world when they are still under-represented in their professions, and it plays a vital role in encouraging more young women and girls to pursue careers in the field, which is still a very male dominated sector. Across the whole engineering workforce in the US, less than a quarter are women. At Jost Chemical we celebrate this day because we recognize that diversity, not only of gender but of age, culture, and expertise builds a stronger company. Today we are highlighting the incredible achievements of three women on our engineering teams, who are inspiring future and current generations to achieve their potential.
Join our team!
Liz Andrew, Project Engineer
What inspired/motivated you to explore a career in engineering?
My high school AutoCAD instructor, Mr. Johnson, inspired me to study engineering. He showcased the plethora of industries that a degree in engineering offered access to. My intention with Biological Engineering was to work in Research & Development without the prerequisite of a doctorate degree. As I have progressed through my career, I have experienced working in Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Research & Development. Yet, I found my fit as a Project Engineer, which is something I did not first imagine for myself. I love the work I do now at Jost Chemical in the plant designing, building, and managing construction.
What advice would you give to women who are considering a career in STEM?
You will hear a lot of people tell you that you will be the minority as a woman in STEM, but I think that higher education and the workplace are a lot more inclusive for women than they were in the past. Do not let fear discourage you. You are capable of anything and everything you want to do in life and in your career.
How long have you worked at Jost Chemical and what do you like about working here?
I started at Jost Chemical in April 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. This was an unusual time to begin at a new job, but I am grateful that I made the transition because I found the career path I most enjoy. I like being able to see the physical impact of my work. It is very rewarding to change a space from a blank canvas into the reality of a design that once only existed in your head.
What has been your career highlight to date?
I am most proud of the laboratories I have built at Jost Chemical. However, I cannot take full credit and am immensely grateful to the many people who helped me along the way. It was a learning experience every step–from utility design to constructing walls–it gave me an entirely different perspective on what goes into creating a lab space versus my previous experiences simply working in them. I felt great pride when we were able to open the microbiology lab, ISO 6 and ISO 8 cleanrooms for use.
Rachel Foreman, Production Chemical Engineer
What inspired/motivated you to explore a career in engineering?
I grew up fascinated by math and science and always found myself wondering how things work at their core. My college roommate and best friend was studying electrical engineering while I was focusing on chemistry, and she introduced the idea of chemical engineering to me. I was always intrigued by her studies and didn’t want to give up on my love for mathematics, so chemical engineering seemed to be the perfect combination of all my interests.
What advice would you give to women who are considering a career in STEM?
STEM is a very difficult yet rewarding discipline for problem solvers. If it interests you, don’t let gender stereotypes deter you.
How long have you worked at Jost Chemical and what do you like about working here?
I have worked at Jost Chemical for 3.5 months as I just recently graduated from university. My favorite part of my job is that it is a good balance of desk work and hands-on work in the manufacturing plant. It’s cool to work directly with the equipment and see, firsthand, these chemical phenomena I’ve studied for years.
What would you say has been your most rewarding experience as an engineer?
The most rewarding experience as an engineer is simply finding a solution. When you’re able to reflect on everything you’ve learned, troubleshoot as to why your process is not behaving ideally, find a root cause, and implement your solution, you feel as if all the hard work is worth it.
Taylor Mekelburg, Process Engineer
What inspired/motivated you to explore a career in engineering?
I had a college professor that taught me how to build a “laser” using a breadboard for my independent research. At the time, I was studying to go to medical school. After he taught me how to modify chemical analysis instrumentation and build my own in a chemical lab setting, he encouraged me to investigate furthering my education in engineering.
What advice would you give to women who are considering a career in STEM?
Just do it. Don’t be afraid if you don’t know all the technical jargon and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.
How long have you worked at Jost Chemical and what do you like about working here?
I have worked at Jost Chemical for 3 weeks and have really enjoyed learning the process. Everyone here works together well and helps each other accomplish goals.
What’s the coolest project you and your team have been working on?
I’ve been working to understand the new chemical line equipment prior to running the first batch. I look forward to the problem-solving challenges that come with the startup of the line.
What would you say has been your most rewarding experience as an engineer?
I’m not sure about the most rewarding, but I really enjoy solving problems that take a while to fully grasp. Once you get a handle on the situation and start seeing improvements, it’s really rewarding.