FAMU physics PhD grad finds success conducting weapons /nuclear security research at national lab

Candace Harris, a December 2018, Ph.D. in physics graduate of FAMU, is making her mark at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California.  Harris is on a prestigious National Nuclear Security Administration Graduate Fellowship.  

At LLNL, Harris is conducting research in the Weapons Physics division in support of stockpile management. She’s also learning how policies in Defense Programs are being made by adding scientific and technical expertise.  Upon completion of the fellowship, Harris hopes to remain working as part of the Nuclear Security Enterprise conducting research in support of NNSA’s mission.  

Harris became the 22nd student and the fifth black woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from FAMU since the university began offering the doctorate in 2001. She received her bachelor’s degree in physics from Spelman College, and a masters in physics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Editors note:  This story first appeared on Rattler Nation on April 27, 2019.  Rather than go blank during the slow holiday season, we decided to rerun some stories while we work on an end-of-the year review.