Amelia Köth Champions for Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship

Three Minors, Two Majors, One Dream

For Amelia Köth (’28), there is only one thing better than majoring in a physics discipline at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — majoring in two. She chose to pursue dual majors in Engineering Physics and Space Physics to honor her younger self, a girl who was obsessed with all things space and physics. She first enrolled in the Engineering Physics program, soon picking up a second major and three minors.

“The Engineering Physics degree is so different from any other degree on campus or in the world,” she shared. “It gives you a holistic view, and I’ve been able to think like both a physicist and an engineer through one degree program.”

Space Physics initially appealed to Amelia because of her longstanding interest in astrophysics, but she was delighted to discover how wide and varied the program’s offerings were.

“The Space Physics degree is so uniquely its own — it’s the only Space Physics undergraduate degree offered in the country,” she said. “Embry-Riddle specializes in solar physics and plasma physics, so it was important for me to combine both the engineering and electrical sides of a problem with the deep theory behind why plasma interacts with Earth in the way it does.”

With minors in Finance, Applied Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Amelia is charting her perfect educational path, one that fulfills her interests and prepares her for a dynamic career. She recently joined Embler Control Systems, a rocketry flight-computer production startup, with her peers in Engineering Physics. She brings financial expertise to the venture as the CFO and recently promoted CEO.

“They needed someone who could handle numbers and connect with people,” she explained. “I chose Finance so I can be versatile: not just solving quantum physics problems or doing plasma research but also understanding the business side and being prepared to run a company.”

Amelia is covering all her bases in the pursuit of professional development and having fun doing it.

Building Skills and Leveraging Student Resources

Amelia’s passions don’t end with space, physics, engineering and running a startup. Even on the most rigorous days, she enjoys listening to music, going on long drives and playing instruments — 11 in total. She intentionally divides her time so she can put her best foot forward and be present at all her commitments.

Her time management strategy includes deliberately planning her day to align with her priorities and energy levels. Even though she wears many hats in her classes and projects, she excels in all of them.

“I start with easier tasks: leadership responsibilities, emails and making sure my meetings are set,” she explained. “In the evening, I hit my stride, solving big physics problems and working on research for my startup. That’s where my passion really comes alive.”

Amelia practices time management, balance and discipline daily, always treating time as her most valuable asset. When she needs more direction or support, she has faculty members she trusts to turn to.

“I love hearing their stories from their own undergraduate and graduate years because they know this industry better than anyone,” she said. “When I’m not sure what the best career move is or need a second opinion, they always have insight that I don’t.”

Embry-Riddle's faculty members are known for their experience, expertise and student support. In fact, one of Amelia’s research advisors introduced her to the plasma physicists and an Embry-Riddle alumnus at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), where she interned this past summer.

A Summer Well Spent

Amelia’s experience researching space plasma physics led her to a missile systems engineering internship at APL, where she worked with the defense and space sectors to study and shape security functions and engineering innovations for space mission operations. She collaborated with physicists, project managers and experts across the lab to gain experience and apply her technical abilities in a real-world setting.

“My main objective [during the internship] was to connect with people who are running huge space sectors, because that's where I want to be,” she said. “My research has prepared me to speak clearly about engineering in a professional setting, and my coursework gave me the foundation and the resilience to be comfortable talking with incredibly skilled professionals in the field.”

Amelia also networked and attended community events across Washington, D.C., adamant to build meaningful connections while living in a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Embry-Riddle taught me how to be a people person, and that skill has helped me excel not just at APL but in every room I walked into while in Washington, D.C.”

Women Belong in STEM and Entrepreneurship

Amelia’s passions for space, physics, engineering and entrepreneurship are rooted in her mission to inspire women to find their place in STEM fields and to build, from the ground up, the opportunities they are called to pursue.

“Being able to walk into these big rooms and have all eyes on me is empowering,” she said. “Think about how much innovation we could have if we keep inspiring young girls to get involved.”

Amelia chronicles her own accomplishments on her self-built website, www.ameliakoth.com, in hopes of inspiring other women interested in physics and engineering.

When pursuing breakthroughs in these challenging, competitive fields, Amelia retains her drive to succeed by hearkening back to advocating for and inspiring women with aspirations like hers.

“I always ask myself: Would younger me be proud of what I’m doing now? That question pushes me forward,” she said. “If women keep showing up with strength, resilience and confidence in their work, the world is on a phenomenal trajectory.”