Women in Engineering Profile: Amber Black
This new profile series introduces leading materials scientists from around the world who happen to be females. Here we speak with Amber N. Black, an applications engineer for PTR – Precision Technologies Inc.
What does your typical workday look like?
No two days are the same, which is part of what I love about my job. Some of the things I do on a daily or weekly basis include: Check on projects currently being welded in our contract welding shop; discuss new projects with potential customers; answer questions from engineers who call me to ask about electron beam welding because it is not a common process; work with my operators to develop welds for any new parts; work to improve longstanding welded parts; and provide documentation that our welds are sound and developed to specification.
What’s been your biggest technical challenge?
Welding the “unweldable” metals continues to be a challenge we attempt to solve. I’ve done extensive research and testing on gamma-prime strengthened superalloys in an effort to weld without microcracking. Hardened, carburized, or nitrided alloys can also cause issues. I’ve been working with local heat treatments to try to overcome the weak welds and cracking issues that often occur.
What part of your job do you like most?
I enjoy hands-on work on the floor to bring a part from conception to reality. We need to figure out tooling to hold it together, any issues with weld geometry during development, and how to overcome issues stemming from the original design.
What do you least like to do?
Paperwork! A lot of engineering involves appropriate documentation and as a critical element of many engineered parts, the welding process has a lot of necessary paperwork. But that doesn’t mean I like to do it.
What is your engineering background?
I have a bachelor’s in materials science and mechanical engineering from UConn and a Ph.D. in engineering science from Penn State. I worked at a laser laboratory as a laser technician for several years during my undergraduate career and since then I’ve been learning about high energy beam processes wherever I can.
What attracted you to engineering?
I did a project on metallurgy during chemistry in high school. When I found out that you could have an entire career based on that, I was hooked.
Did you ever consider doing something else with your life besides engineering?
Yes, I started college as a double major in chemistry and social sciences. Since switching majors, I have not seriously considered a different career.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on bringing about six different parts to fruition for small companies, very large companies, and national labs. We’re also doing research on welding additively manufactured parts and how the additional processing affects mechanical properties.
How many people do you work with?
My company employs 43 people and I’m in a unique position to work with all of them on a weekly basis. I also work with perhaps 75 to 100 customers at a time—mainly engineers—to ensure they receive all the information they need and a quality product.
If a young person approached you for career advice about pursuing engineering, what would you tell them?
The most important part of engineering is finding your passion. Before I found lasers, I had worked with composites, photovoltaics, and shape memory alloys. Once you figure out what you like, talk to people in that field and figure out what you can do with it and see where these other engineers take you. It’s a flexible, constantly changing career choice.
Hobbies?
Weightlifting and reading.
Last book read?
“The Round House” by Louise Erdrich.
For more information about ASM’s Women in Materials Engineering Committee, visit asminternational.org/wime.
