Dr. Amy L. Hudson is a principal hydrogeologist and geochemist who specializes in mining impacted waters and numeric modeling. She joined Tetra Tech in 2007 and applies her engineering experience in the water, environmental management, and resource management markets. Amy has a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Environmental Science from Mary Washington College, a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and her Doctorate in Geoscience, specializing in hydrogeology and geochemistry, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She also gives back to the community by mentoring other strong women through her participation in the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. We spoke with Amy as part of our #INWED19 campaign to not only celebrate our brilliant women engineers but also to raise their profiles to encourage those who aspire to become engineers and to work in STEM. Follow #WomenInSTEM on social media for more stories.

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What do you like about working at Tetra Tech?

I like the people I work with and the focus on technical quality and innovative thinking. Putting science first is not just a tagline, but a focus for how people at Tetra Tech approach projects, which really comes through while working on complex problems. I find myself continuing to learn from other team members and the solutions they bring to projects, even after years of experience in my career. Engineering really is a team sport!

What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering?

I was inspired to go into a STEM career by my parents, specifically by my father. He was an analytical chemist who taught me a lot about the scientific method and chemistry at a very early age and always encouraged me to pursue my interests in science and math. I was fortunate as a young girl to have this kind of support at home and to have the mentoring of other strong women through my participation in Girl Scouts.

How can we encourage women to pursue careers in engineering?

It is important for women engineers and STEM professionals to be role models for current female students, so they know that women can have successful careers in these fields. It was the support and encouragement I received as a child that paved the way for me to be an engineer.

What is the greatest advice you could pass onto female students who aspire to have a career in engineering?

Be persistent. Be persistent in your education, in standing up for yourself and others, in going after your goals, and in showing others that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

What should women consider before entering the engineering world?

It can be challenging, both technically and personally. While there have been great strides made by women in engineering, there are still some who don’t think we belong. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities can go a long way to overcoming the personal challenges most women will face while pursuing a career in engineering. One of the greatest rewards of engineering is overcoming the technical challenges—so think big and outside of the box.