"If I’ve learned one thing in working with students, it’s that scientists aren’t made: they are unmade," Dr. Njema Frazier told the Department of Energy's Erin R. Pierce in 10 Questions for a Nuclear Physicist. "If I can stem the tide of young people losing their enthusiasm for, and curiosity about, science, then I’m happy to do it. “All day!” as my students say."
Dr. Njema Frazier is co-founder and chair of Algebra by 7th Grade (Ab7G)– an educational math initiative to increase the number of underrepresented minority students with the prerequisites to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
She is also the founder and CEO of Diversity Science, LLC, an expert-based network of scientists and engineers dedicated to broadening participation in STEM.
Through her work with young people in STEM, she has been featured on Careergirls and Diverse Faces of Science.
Dr. Frazier serves in a number of STEM education, advisory, and advocacy roles, while maintaining full time employment as the Acting Director of the Office of Inertial Confinement Fusion for the US Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a federal program that provides experimental capabilities and scientific understanding for weapons-relevant high energy density physics.
Her federal career also includes previous roles as Acting Deputy for the Office of Advanced Simulation and Computing and Acting Director for the Office of International Programs Management within NNSA; Visiting Professor at the National Defense University, College of International Security Affairs, in Washington, DC; Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Office of Advanced Simulation and Computing and Acting Director for the Office of International Programs Management within NNSA; and Professional Staff Member for the U.S.House of Representatives, Committee on Science.
Dr. Frazier is the recipient of multiple career awards including the Department of Defense Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award; and the award for Distinguished Service to the National Nuclear Security Administration. She earned a Masters and Ph.D. from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Science from Carnegie Mellon University.
