11 STEM Influencers in Engineering

Today’s students are likely not flipping through trade magazines or browsing library shelves to learn about engineering careers. It’s much more likely that they’re scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts. These platforms aren’t just for doomscrolling and entertainment; they’ve become primary sources of information, inspiration, and even career exploration.

Resisting that reality means missing out on opportunities to engage young minds. If people are getting their information through social networks, then the STEM community needs to rethink how it shares opportunities and stories. Rather than trying to change the way the next generation consumes content—or dismissing social media as a distraction—educators, engineers, and organizations can use these platforms to meet students where they are.
 

What is influencer marketing?

Influencer marketing is when trusted content creators (often with large followings or high engagement rates on social platforms) promote ideas, products, or programs. These creators are valued for their authenticity and ability to connect with communities in ways traditional advertising often can’t. 

In STEM, influencer marketing can look like engineers and scientists sharing their real-world experiences online. As manufacturing engineer and creator Janie Valdez shared, “I did a video talking about a CNC machine in a very trendy way, and it got 2 million views. Now imagine if a program was attached to that video.”  
 

How do influencers get their start?

There’s no single path to becoming an influencer, but most start by sharing something they care about. For payload engineer Susan Martinez, the pandemic created an unexpected space to explore new kinds of creative expression. “Some people made sourdough,” Martinez joked. “I made a SciComm account.”  

Biomedical and mechanical engineer Amma Agyei shared that her journey started in a similar place. “During COVID, I was just playing around with makeup,” she said. “But then I started getting questions about my career. So I thought, why not blend my two worlds?” Over time, she built a platform that mixes style advice and career insights for students and young professionals alike. 

A common sentiment is that the hardest part can simply be hitting the record button. “I had to get over being embarrassed that people would see me recording in public, or people I know would see my videos,” Agyei said. “The rewarding part is people reaching out to say they saw your video and found it really informational and insightful.” 

These influencers aren’t just showcasing science—they’re sharing personal journeys, advocating for underrepresented communities, and debunking misconceptions. From nuclear advocacy to engineering memes, here are 11 engineering influencers who are shaping how STEM is seen—and who sees themselves in it.
 

Janie Valdez

Background: Machining, engineering
Content Focus: Latina women in STEM, breaking stereotypes, bilingual content
Instagram @janie.vc
TikTok @janievc
 
Janie Valdez didn’t grow up seeing engineers in her community, but now she’s making sure her community sees her. Her path to becoming a field service engineer was anything but typical, and that’s what makes her story resonate. “I try to be transparent with my story on social media,” she said, recounting how she dropped out of high school multiple times, lost classmates to violence or incarceration, and returned to college at 23, working as a machinist while earning her degree in manufacturing engineering. “I thought, why not share my story online? And it blew up.” Valdez uses her platform not just to inspire, but to advocate for real change in how STEM programs reach underserved audiences. Her content is raw, honest, and deeply community-focused. “Social media is the new newspaper,” she said. Follow Janie Valdez on Instagram.
 

Amma Agyei

Background: Biomedical and mechanical engineering
Content Focus: Creative storytelling, makeup and fashion, career
Instagram @amma.agyei
YouTube @AmmaAgyei
 
True to her technical nature, Amma Agyei builds her content with intention and precision. “It’s better to have one impactful video than 20 videos that don’t resonate,” she said. From “get ready with me” clips to engineering outfits of the day, Agyei’s content lives up to her nickname: Engineer Baddie. When she first began sharing more about her engineering career, she wasn’t sure how her audience—originally drawn to her beauty and skincare posts—would react. “I thought people would be more annoyed,” she said. “Like, okay, well, she’s just gonna switch from makeup.” But to her surprise, longtime followers were genuinely curious about her job, often commenting, “I thought you were a full-time content creator—I didn’t know you have an actual job!” That reaction stuck with her. “It made them see a side of me they hadn’t seen,” she said. “And also made them realize—you don’t have to do just one thing. You can do both.” Follow Amma Agyei on Instagram.
 

Elio Morillo

Background: Aerospace and mechanical engineering
Content Focus: Bilingual content, mentoring engineers, activism
Instagram @thespacemechanic
Website
 
"The Space Mechanic" Elio Morillo is on a mission to make aerospace feel relatable and inclusive. A mechanical and aerospace engineer who worked on NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover, Morillo uses his platform to share what engineering looks like behind the scenes, and why representation matters in the space sector. Born in Ecuador and raised in the U.S., he earned his mechanical and space systems engineering degrees from the University of Michigan before joining NASA in 2016. The proud advocate for Latine visibility in STEM blends technical insight with cultural pride, encouraging both young students and professionals to see themselves in science. Check out Elio Morillo's website.
 

Ruha Tacey

Background: Chemical engineering
Content Focus: Student mentorship, early career, storytelling
Instagram @futurecheme
LinkedIn
 
“A student once asked me what chemical engineers do, and I had such a hard time answering it. That haunted me,” said Ruha Tacey, a chemical engineer turned stay-at-home mom and content creator. “Starting my channel was my way to fix that.” Tacey shared that her own mother, a mechanical engineer, nudged her toward chemical engineering when she wasn't sure which path to take. "It was my mom who was an engineer. It was my dad who was the school teacher. So to me, the idea that a woman can’t do what a man can do just never made sense. I never saw that as a limitation." Tacey now uses her platform to make engineering more accessible through a mix of direct-to-camera insights, humor, and storytelling. Follow Ruha Tacey on Instagram.
 

Fernanda Sulantay Vargas

Background: Chemical engineer, computational scientist
Content Focus: STEM education advocacy, first gen students, motherhood
Instagram @fernsulantay
TikTok @fernsulantay
 
Fernanda Sulantay Vargas describes herself as a non-traditional student sharing her journey in STEM to help others with similar backgrounds. Originally from El Salvador, she navigated the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture, being a first generation college student, and becoming a mother, and ultimately earned her degree from Yale. Follow Fernanda Sulantay Vargas on TikTok.
 

Grace Stanke

Background: Nuclear engineering
Content Focus: Nuclear advocacy, public speaking, travel
Instagram @grace.stanke
LinkedIn
 
“We are changing general public perception of the word ‘nuclear’ and nuclear energy as a whole,” said Grace Stanke, nuclear engineer and Miss America 2023. Stanke has spent years speaking publicly about the role of nuclear power in a clean energy future. “It’s two drastically different circumstances,” she noted, comparing reactions today to those she received five years ago when she began her advocacy. But she’s quick to point out that the work isn’t over: “What we need is overwhelming public support and public demand to keep building up towards this nuclear construction and expansion to support our energy grid and transition to clean energy.” Read more about Grace Stanke in the Mechanical Engineering 2024 Watch List.
 

Eduardo Flores

Background: Mechatronics, automation
Content Focus: Engineering humor, startup life, robotics
Instagram @engineeringmemesguy
Business @lumisautomation
 
Eduardo Flores, the mind behind @engineeringmemesguy, has built one of the most recognizable voices in STEM humor. His meme-making process comes down to creativity, curation, and relatability. “Sometimes I spend a little bit of time thinking about them,” he said. “I try to focus on the quality of the post, make it nice and clear.” From remixing viral videos to poking fun at engineering students' packed weekends or inflated egos, Flores captures the shared pain—and pride—of the profession. As the founder of Lumis Automation, he also uses his platform to spotlight real engineering work. “I use whatever I do here at work to make videos,” he explained. “So they’re literally seeing the business, and in the meantime, I’m showing that it’s engineering related.” Read more about Eduardo Flores in the Mechanical Engineering 2025 Watch List.
 

Marizza Delgado

Background: Computer engineer, data scientist
Content Focus: Fashion modeling, girls who code, breaking stereotypes
Instagram @marizzadelgado
TikTok @marizza.delgado
 
Marizza Delgado uses her platform to blend brains, beauty, and advocacy. The Filipina American first-gen student and Miss New York 2024 is now a data scientist at Rent the Runway and council leader for Girls Who Code. She’s passionate about breaking stereotypes and proving that technical excellence and creative expression can coexist. Whether she’s modeling, coding, or mentoring the next generation, Delgado is helping redefine what leadership in STEM looks like. Follow Marizza Delgado on Instagram.
 

Susan Martinez

Background: Mechanical engineering, payload SME
Content Focus: Space engineering, career growth, fashion and STEM
Instagram @adastrasu
Tiktok @adastrasu
 
Susan Martinez’s path to science communication started with a love of sharing, whether it was lab tours or answering questions from curious students. “I love to talk—clearly,” she joked. After giving a presentation at her former community college and appearing in a NASA STEM Stars video, she realized how much she enjoyed making STEM feel accessible. That spark led her to transform her old Instagram nail art account into @adastrasu, where she now shares her work as a payload engineer at Blue Origin and amplifies STEM stories for a wide audience. “It’s just a crazy thing to think about, it's like you put on your social person pants,” she said. “And you become this person that talks about science to people all over the world.” Read more about Susan Martinez in the Mechanical Engineering 2025 Watch List.
 

Asia Fee

Background: Chemical engineering
Content Focus: Chemistry and cosmetics, women in STEM, fashion
Instagram @asiafee
Tiktok @asiafee
 
Asia Fee is a young scientist and content creator putting a playful, polished spin on STEM. Based in Alaska, she’s known for blending beauty, fashion, and lab life, often breaking down the science behind skincare ingredients or posting day-in-the-life vlogs in her signature pink aesthetic. “STEM, but make it pink” is the tagline and vibe that drives her brand Alchemist Asia and her growing platform. With wit, style, and a sharp eye for design, Fee is making science more visible and vibrant for a new generation. Follow Asia Fee on Instagram.
 

Jay Flores

Background: Mechanical engineering
Content Focus: STEM ambassador, American Ninja Warrior, It's Not Magic, It's Science!
Instagram @jayfloresinspires
Website  
Jay Flores believes in showing up—on social media, in classrooms, and across communities—to help kids see themselves in STEM. “I hope to reach the ones that weren’t already looking for it,” he said. “The ones that didn’t think this was something they’d be interested in, and they’re just scrolling through TikTok and think, wow, that was so cool—now how do I do it?” Through his bilingual content and STEM outreach company Invent the Change, Flores focuses on breaking down barriers like STEM anxiety and access to representation. He recalled applying for a graduation stole with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and realizing he was the only engineering graduate from a Hispanic background that semester. “If we can build the inclusive world we want to see on social media, even if it’s not quite there yet in real life, kids will grow up with less self-doubt, less imposter syndrome.” Read about Jay Flores' Next Gen Award at the ASME Foundation Gala.

Sarah Alburakeh is a strategic content editor.