Hello! My name is Emma Dinger and I’m a fifth-year senior in BBE (specializing in BPE). I chose BBE because of the emphasis on sustainability and because of the growth in the fields of bioprocessing and biotechnology, both of which I’m very interested in.
I grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from South High in 2020. Outside of school I like to woodwork, sew, read, workout, and cook. Recently I made a wooden box for holding hats and mittens, and two picture frames. I mostly use sewing for repairing damage in clothes I already own, but I really want to learn to quilt as well.
When it comes to music, I enjoy listening to bluegrass and rock. My favorite book I read recently was Hard by a Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili and I’m currently reading a history book on Russia and the Soviet Union. If you see me around, I’d love to talk about books! I’ve been trying to improve my creative writing skills, but writing is hard. I’m currently watching season one of Yellowjackets, which has been very good so far. I also watch pretty much any and all sports. My favorite celebrities are Jenna Ortega and Kermit the Frog.
For the past two summers I’ve worked with Cargill (7 months in Kansas City at a biodiesel plant and 3 months in Omaha at a corn plant). It was really cool to see the theory of so many BPE classes in action while with Cargill. This school year, I’m looking forward to taking the separations class and learning about unit operations.
As a writer for the newsletter, my goal is to highlight the diverse perspectives and experiences present in the BBE department. I believe this newsletter can be a tool for building an even stronger BBE community, regardless of grade year, specialization track, or department position. If you have a story, experience, or person you think should be featured (yourself included), please let us know!