Dr. Njema Frazier - Physicist, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy
Dr. Frazier is a physicist in the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), managing scientific and technical projects established to ensure that the United States maintains a credible National nuclear deterrent without nuclear testing. While at NNSA, she has led efforts in modelling and simulation of nuclear weapons, weapons physics experiments, and international science and technology collaborations.
Dr. Frazier’s previous experience includes three years as a Visiting Professor at the National Defense University, College of International Security Affairs, in Washington, DC; and four years as a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Science.
Dr. Frazier received her Ph.D. in theoretical nuclear physics from Michigan State University in 1997, conducting her doctoral research on “Properties of Shell-Model Wavefunctions at High Excitation Energies.” She did her undergraduate work at Carnegie Mellon University, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in physics.
Her honors and awards include the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award from National Defense University, the Award for Distinguished Service to the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Black Engineer of the Year, Science Spectrum's Trailblazer Award, appointment to the National Advisory Board of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), inclusion in The Grio’s List of 100 History Makers in the Making, participation in the Congressional Black Caucus Science and Technology Brain Trust, and features in Essence, Black Enterprise, Careergirls, and Diverse Faces of Science. She is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diversity Science, LLC, an expert-based network of scientists and engineers dedicated to broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).