Clarice Phelps

Clarice Phelps
Born
Clarice Evone Salone
EducationTennessee State University (BS, 2003)
US Navy Nuclear Power School
University of Texas at Austin (MS, 2020)
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsOak Ridge National Laboratory
Military career
Service / branchUnited States Navy
UnitUSS Ronald Reagan

Clarice Evone Phelps (née Salone)[1] is an American nuclear chemist researching the processing of radioactive transuranic elements at the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). She was part of ORNL's team that collaborated with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research to discover tennessine (element 117).[2] The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recognizes her as the first African-American woman to be involved with the discovery of a chemical element.[2][3][4][5]

Phelps was formerly in the US Navy Nuclear Power Program. At ORNL, Phelps manages programs in the Department of Energy's Isotope & Fuel Cycle Technology Division[6] investigating industrial uses of nickel-63 and selenium-75.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ORNL09 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Clarice Phelps". IUPAC 100.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference periodic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference oakridger was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference PhysicsToday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Bower, Abby (July 23, 2019). "Two ORNL researchers featured on 'Periodic Table of Younger Chemists' | ORNL". Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
  7. ^ "DOE Celebrates Black History Month: Distinguished Scientists Past and Present". United States Department of Energy. February 19, 2020.