Strategic Initiatives

Professor Shafer joined the faculty at Colorado School of Mines in the fall of 2012 after a two-year employment at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Jenifer Shafer is an Associate Professor in the Chemistry Department and Nuclear Science & Engineering Program at the Colorado School of Mines. She received her Ph.D. from Washington State University in 2010, and a B.S. from Colorado State University in 2005. Jenifer is interested in advancing f-element separations technology through the use of new materials, supramolecular assembly, unique oxidation states, and controlling electronic structure. Advancing f-element separations technology has broad applications from advanced nuclear fuel cycles, nuclear forensics, and renewable technology. She is the co-author of several book chapters, over 50 technical manuscripts, and has led or collaborated on projects receiving over $30M in funding from the DOE, DOD, and DHS. Professor Shafer has received numerous awards and honors including Early Career awards from DOE and DHS and a Seaborg Visiting Scholar Fellowship for her sabbatical at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her professional service includes leading sections and authorship of DOE Basic Research Needs reports and participation as a panelist for the National Academy of Sciences study, U.S. Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Support Capabilities. She is currently serving on the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Science working on chemical policy matters.