Women@Energy features Sandia’s Stephanie Kuzio

This month, the Department of Energy’s STEM Rising initiative features a Q&A with Sandia National Laboratories’ Energy Water Systems Integration department Manager, Stephanie Kuzio.

In her role, Stephanie manages a team of early, mid and late career technical staff with expertise in environmental engineering, civil engineering, hydrology, and data, modeling and analysis for the energy-water nexus.

Stephanie’s team develops science-based engineering solutions, guided by the understanding of natural and human engineered systems to ensure safe and secure energy water systems for the nation. The availability of adequate water supplies has a profound impact on the availability of energy, while energy production and power generation activities affect the availability and quality of water.

When asked what inspired her to work in STEM, Stephanie states, “My path to STEM was a nontraditional one. As a single parent I chose to pursue Civil Engineering Technology because that discipline brought together my interests in math, science, and art. I knew little about Civil Engineering but imagined I could become a surveyor and work outside or be part of the design of buildings and bridges.

“I interviewed with a Sandia on-campus recruiter at the encouragement of one of my professors, and ultimately received a job offer and moved to New Mexico. Working as a technician at Sandia inspired me to pursue my bachelor’s degree even though I could only attend one or two classes per semester due to working full time and family responsibilities. A key lesson I learned as a technician was that the best engineers were creative engineers!”

Read the complete Q&A and view more inspiring stories by women working in #STEM at Sandia National Laboratories and throughout the Department of Energy on the STEM Rising website.