Sam Johnson

What do you love most about your profession? Why did you choose this career?

I have always loved school even when I was in Junior High and High School, and being a student at university has not changed that passion for learning. A great part of the engineering program at MUN is the opportunity to do up to 6 work terms (4 month work semesters). I have had the opportunity to work with Husky Energy, Irving Tissue, and more. My favourite work term has probably been at Avalon Holographics, a tech start-up company that makes holographic displays. In that job, I simulated Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) that will eventually make advanced holographic screens.

When did you realize you wanted to work in STEM or Skilled Trades?

When I was in grade 11 I applied for the Women In Science and Engineering (WISE) student summer employment program (I highly recommend applying for a placement with this awesome program if you are in grade 11!). I got a job in a process engineering lab at MUN where I got to assist with lots of fun lab work and run experiments. I really loved this job and that is why I chose to study Process Engineering at MUN.

Why do we need more women in STEM and Skilled Trades?

Something that we learn a lot in engineering is that projects need a lot of diversity in order to be successful. This includes diversity in gender. Without a diverse team, it can be hard to see a project from all sides, it is much better to have a wide variety of perspectives. There are absolutely no reasons why a woman shouldn't work in STEM and in skilled trades. Having female representation will actually make those teams better, and give young girls some great role models to look up to.

How do you think the school you went to influenced your career?

My favourite subjects in school were math and chemistry. Math always came pretty easily to me and I found it very fun and satisfying to solve math problems. There is so much math out there to learn and some of it still blows my mind. I also really liked chemistry, I even took AP chemistry in high school (This gave me credit for the first two chemistry courses I needed in university). I found chemistry to be very interesting and I love lab work. If you didn't know, process engineering is sometimes also called chemical engineering. It is basically a mix of math and chemistry which is perfect for me.

What does your typical workday involve? Can you work remotely? (indoors/outdoors, office/plant, travel time, teamwork/solo work)?

My typical work day as a student involves attending classes for half of the day, and then on some days I have labs. My labs take place in the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation at MUN, where we have lots of interesting process equipment. After class, I work on assignments, lab reports, and projects, and study if I have any upcoming tests. The amount of work I have to do outside of class usually fluctuates throughout the semester. During midterms, it can get very busy, but I also always find free time to relax or work on my hobbies.

Who is your role model? What is it about this person that inspires you?

One of my role models is definitely Katherine Johnson. She was a mathematician who worked at NASA in the 50s and she overcame both gender and race discrimination to get her education and get a job as a scientist in a time when that was extremely difficult for women. If you want to know more about her I recommend watching the movie Hidden Figures. Katherine Johnson played a crucial role in the first successful crewed American spaceflight. It inspires me that she was able to prove to so many people that women can be just as smart as men.

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies/activities?

One of my favourite hobbies is reading. As much as I love math and science I have also always loved language arts. I read all kinds of genres of fiction and I find it really fun to dive into different worlds and stories in my free time. I also have taken dance classes since I was 3 years old and still do now. Finally, I really enjoy any activities that let me be outside. I hike, camp, ski and snowboard!