Photo credit: Christopher K. George
About | J’Tia
Need a two-minute take on technology, Dr. J’Tia Hart can deliver. Known for impartial assessments and relatable explanations of STEM topics, she’s written national security reports and delivered briefings for the government’s most senior policymakers. Her technical and outreach efforts have garnered accolades from the last two presidential administrations.
She currently serves as the Chief Science officer for the National & Homeland Security Directorate at Idaho National Laboratory, building on her experience developing STEM research at Argonne National Laboratory. As a 15-year-old freshman at Florida State University and a former contestant on CBS’ Survivor, J’Tia has always challenged herself. Now she’s turned her attention to serving as a spark to ignite young minds
and increase minority participation in STEM.
Dr. Hart holds a bachelors degree from Florida State University and master’s and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She lives in Chicago with her husband and their two children— a 6-year-old daughter and a 4-year old son, whom she is grooming to become globe-trotting, well-read Nobel Laureates with flawless fashion sense.
Let’s talk…
Mission | Philanthrophy
As a 15-year-old freshman at Florida State University and a former contestant on CBS' Survivor, J'Tia has always challenged herself. Now she’s turned her attention to increasing minority participation in STEM and national security and serving as a spark to ignite the future.
In her own philanthropic vision, J’Tia envisions her serving as the multidimensional woman she is, pushing a more inclusive and modern approach to STEM to young Black & Brown girls. She wants to show them you can be in STEM and still be cool and versatile.
Media | Coverage
CBS’ Survivor Cagayan
Survivor: Cagayan is the twenty-eighth season of Survivor. Three tribes of six players each were established at the beginning of the season, each being defined by traits that its members tended to employ in their daily lives.
Cagayan is famed among Survivor seasons for its unpredictability as well as the strategic and emotional dynamism of its cast. The post-merge game in particular was characterized by a higher-than-usual number of betrayals and blindsides, and there were several bitter disputes between contestants.
Survivor Diversity Campaign
J'Tia have joined forces alongside other Black "Survivor" players to form The Soul Survivor Organization, and launched a petition calling on Survivor the reality TV juggernaut to become far more inclusive when it comes to BIPOC representation both on and off-screen.
The 2019 Class
They are social activists. Vice presidents at Fortune 500 companies. They are firsts: First woman to hold their position, first person of color. They are doctors and professors and professional coaches and serve on civic boards. They hold influential roles in government and have created thriving companies. The one thing they have in common? None has yet celebrated their 40th birthday. Inspiring? You bet.
Watch the 40 Under 40 2019 class, talking about what it means to be honored in the Crain's video below. Produced by Stephen J. Serio.
AAAS IF/THEN Ambassador
IF/THEN seeks to further advance women in science, technology, engineering and math by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers.
VIRES Florida State University Alumni Magazine
Never intimidated, eager for a challenge and hyper-competitive, nuclear engineer J’Tia Hart’s journey from the shores of Miami to intelligence briefings in D.C. was shaped by unforgettable experiences forged in unusual environments.
Intel.gov | Barrier Breaker
DR. J’TIA HART
Harnessing Nuclear Energy to Address Intelligence Challenges
She’s been inside a nuclear power plant, written intelligence for policy-makers, and briefed the Secretary of Energy. She’s also a vocal advocate for women and minorities to pursue careers in STEM
Nuclear Engineer J’Tia Hart on mixing hard science and pop culture
J'Tia Hart was labeled a 'mad scientist' on Survivor. But her real passion? Using her PhD in nuclear engineering to work on nonproliferation at Argonne National Laboratory. We talk about the intersection of pop culture and hard science. And ahead of Memorial Day, we get to know Rosie the Riveter
Girls of Energy
Energy is powerful; so as new sources are discovered, we must store and use it responsibly. Safety and security are always top priorities for our teams who constantly look for ways to protect us and our loved ones. From ensuring the energy we use in our homes is safe to taking care of the biggest nuclear technologies, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy work together to safeguard energy’s tremendous power. These scientists exercise their sense of adventure and curiosity, aren’t afraid to take risks, and are driven to solve even the toughest challenges in our nation and all over the world.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED)
J’Tia served as the keynote speaker at Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, an annual all-day diversity outreach program designed for middle school girls provides an opportunity to learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. The program hosted annual in February at Argonne National Laboratory consists of an introduction and activity to science and engineering, followed by lab tours/demos, lunch with STEM mentors and a hands-on design-build activity.
Argonne ACT-SO High School Research Program
The Argonne ACT-SO High School Research Program provides real world research experiences that capture the imagination of inquisitive African-American high school students in hopes of inspiring them to pursue careers in STEM. Since its launch in 2013, it has helped over 50 students pursue research projects and connect with leading scientists and engineers. Our students have advanced in regional competitions every year and gone on to win gold, silver or bronze at the national level.