A Trailblazer in Nuclear Chemistry
Clarice Evone Salone Phelps, a distinguished nuclear chemist, has made significant contributions to the scientific community, most notably as part of the research team that discovered element 117, tennessine. Born in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and raised in the Edgehill Housing Projects of Nashville, Tennessee, Phelps’s journey to becoming a pioneer in her field is a testament to resilience, determination, and a passion for science. Raised by a single mother alongside her three sisters, Phelps displayed an early interest in the natural sciences. Her curiosity was nurtured through educational programs like *Beakman’s World*, an American children’s television show that explored STEM concepts, and through hands-on tools such as a microscope set and an encyclopedia-based science kit that her mother acquired from a garage sale. These formative experiences laid the foundation for her future in scientific research.
Phelps pursued higher education at Tennessee State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) located in Nashville. In 2003, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Following graduation, she joined the United States Navy, where she served with distinction as a chemical and radiological controls technician aboard the aircraft carrier USS *Ronald Reagan*. Her exemplary performance earned her the Military Excellence Award before her honorable discharge in 2007.
In 2009, Phelps began working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Initially hired as a technician, she quickly advanced to roles as a research associate and program manager. By 2013, Phelps was managing ORNL programs focused on producing isotopes such as nickel-63 and selenium-75. It was during this period that she made history as part of the team that discovered tennessine. The groundbreaking achievement involved bombarding berkelium isotopes with calcium isotopes in a nuclear reactor to synthesize the new element. This discovery cemented Phelps’s place in history as the first African American woman to contribute to the discovery of an element and only the second Black scientist of the modern era to achieve this milestone, following James Andrew Harris’s discovery of elements 104 and 105 in 1969.
Phelps’ contributions to science have been widely recognized. In 2017, she received the Knoxville YWCA Tribute to Women Award for Technology, Research, and Innovation. Two years later, in 2019, she was featured on the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Periodic Table of Younger Chemists for her groundbreaking work and commitment to public engagement. Continuing her pursuit of academic and professional excellence, Phelps earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree in nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville while maintaining her role at ORNL. As part of the Isotope & Fuel Cycle Technology Division, she manages industrial applications of isotopes and contributes to educational outreach initiatives for Knox County Schools.
Beyond her professional achievements, Phelps is dedicated to her family life. She is married to John E. Phelps, and together they have three children. She remains an active member of the American Chemical Society and continues to inspire future generations through her work and outreach efforts. Clarice Evone Salone Phelps’s remarkable career serves as an inspiration to aspiring scientists everywhere. Her contributions to nuclear chemistry and her advocacy for STEM education underscore the importance of representation and perseverance in advancing scientific discovery.