Gabby Intihar is a Senior Program Manager/Engineer for the Gas Hydrates Program in the Office of Oil and Natural Gas. Intihar has been at the Department of Energy (DOE) since 2002. While she was an undergraduate, Intihar worked at DOE’s Hanford Nuclear Site and started in 2002 working with DOE’s Office of Oil and Natural gas as an engineering intern under the Career Intern Program (now called the Pathways Program).  Intihar has previously worked in the Office of Clean Coal as the secretariat for the Asia Pacific Partnership, and in the Office of Chief Financial Officer’s Performance Management Office of Program Analysis as the lead of the Departmental-wide Performance Measures Streamlining Initiative. 

She graduated from New Mexico State University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and obtained her Master’s degree in Engineering Management from George Washington State University in 2006.

I immigrated to the United States with my family when I was seven years old. Throughout my education I have always had a love and passion for math and chemistry. 

In 7th grade my chemistry teacher Mr. Calcavecchia saw the potential in me and challenged me to excel. He didn’t allow me to turn in any assignments that were less than A work and also promised me to check with my other teachers and make sure I exceled in all my classes. Also in 7th grade, my math teacher Mr. Mazzie saw that I was not being challenged in class and signed me up for advance math and told her she needed a challenge in her life.  Since then I have accepted the challenge and my love for math and science only grew throughout my education. 

In high school when faced with then deciding what career to pursue. I noticed that engineering always showed up in my aptitude tests. I research what engineering was and how to become one. When I read the description for the various engineering majors I fell in love with chemical engineering, which included both math and chemistry. I was the first in my family to graduate from high school and the first in my family to attend college. I was determined to obtain my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and be a role model to others in my home town and show the generations behind me that they too can make their dreams come true.

I enjoy working at the Department of Energy, it had been my dream growing up near the DOE Hanford Nuclear Site to work at DOE when I grew up.  I am passionate about the work that I am currently doing in the gas hydrates program and like that my work is making an impact towards future energy resource.  I enjoy working with my colleagues at DOE and at NETL. DOE has also been very supportive in my career and educational goals with obtaining my Masters and now pursuing a Doctors of Engineering from George Washington University. 

It is essential for people of all backgrounds to participate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers because people from different backgrounds bring different perspectives to the table. A broad viewpoint is most effective for solving the big technological challenges of DOE and industry. In order to support students who are entering the STEM fields I’m an active participant in the mentoring side of our Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program.

My advice to young people who want to pursue a career in STEM is to follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Prove them wrong and pursue your love of math and science.

My support of the STEM field even carries over into my personal life. I have the scientific method pinned up in my office at home and I spends time on my weekends conducting science experiments with my two daughters.

Learn more about our programs & resources for women and girls in STEM at /women