Jenifer C. Shafer

Jenifer C. Shafer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines, also affiliated with the Nuclear Science & Engineering Program. She holds a B.S. from Colorado State University (2005) and a Ph.D. from Washington State University (2010). Her research focuses on advancing f-element separations through supramolecular assembly, electronic structure control, and novel materials, with applications in nuclear fuel cycles and forensics. She has secured over $30M in grants from DOE, DOD, and DHS.

Recent work emphasizes covalent bonding in actinides, berkelium compound characterization, and solvent extraction systems like TRUSPEAK. Her awards include DOE and DHS Early Career Awards (2014), ACS Fellow (2022), and a Seaborg Fellowship (2020). She serves on the ACS Committee on Science and led NAS studies on nuclear forensics.

Professional leadership includes chairing the ACS Division of Nuclear Chemistry & Technology and serving as Program Director at ARPA-E (2021–2023). Her research group collaborates extensively with national labs like Los Alamos and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.