How do you stay motivated, ethical, and impactful in engineering—even when everything around you is changing? On this episode of the Engineer Your Success Podcast, Dr. James Bryant talks with Dr. Emily Grubert, a nationally respected researcher in infrastructure and energy systems at Notre Dame. They cover how engineers can adapt to shrinking grant funding, political resistance to climate policy, and a changing professional landscape—while staying true to their mission. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for building a future-ready engineering career, grounded in ethics, resilience, and real-world value.

🧠 Topics We Cover:

• How engineers can respond when funding disappears
• Building resilient infrastructure under uncertain policy
• Ethical responsibility in engineering design
• Community-first thinking and public consultation
• The role of universities and professors in shaping future engineers
• Career pivots that stay true to your mission
• Smart design strategies to reduce long-term risk
• What engineers can do right now to lead meaningful change

00:00 Energy Transition Challenges Amidst Rhetoric

05:21 Optimistic Environmental Progress Paths

07:44 Optimizing Infrastructure for Change

12:21 Prioritize Design for Green Buildings

13:55 Predictable Problems: Proactive Solutions

16:55 From Biology to Engineering

21:33 "Transportation Leadership Internship Program"

23:11 Civil Engineering: A Meaningful Profession

27:27 Redefining Ambition

28:51 Infrastructure & Safety Expertise Offered

👤 About Dr. Emily Grubert
Dr. Emily Grubert is Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. Her research focuses on justice-oriented deep decarbonization and decision-making frameworks for large-scale infrastructure systems. With experience at the U.S. Department of Energy and a Ph.D. from Stanford, she helps engineers build ethical, sustainable careers that adapt to changing societal needs.

📲 Connect with Emily Grubert

→ Email: egrubert@nd.edu

→ University Profile: https://keough.nd.edu/profile/emily-grubert/

👨‍🏫 Connect with the Host – Dr. James Bryant

James Bryant | SleekBio