Charlyne Smith Makes History as the First Black Person to Earn a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from University of Florida
Her journey into Nuclear Engineering began after a conversation with nuclear scientist Dr. Nickie Peters at a Coppin State University alumni event. Charlyne Smith recognized the potential for immediate change in countries through Nuclear Engineering.
Binye-lum 
In a groundbreaking achievement, 27-year-old Charlyne Smith has become the first-ever black person to earn a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Florida, setting an exceptional record and paving the way for marginalized groups.
Originally from St. Catherine, Jamaica, Charlyne Smith moved to the United States in 2012 with aspirations in science and technology. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Coppin State University in Baltimore, earning a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry and Mathematics in 2017.
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Charlyne Smith, now a Senior Nuclear Energy Analyst on the Nuclear Energy Innovation team at the Breakthrough Institute, views her achievement as a significant milestone for creating opportunities in the nuclear energy space. She emphasized the impact on marginalized groups, including Black women and men, to contribute to solving global challenges such as climate change.
Her journey into Nuclear Engineering began after a conversation with nuclear scientist Dr. Nickie Peters at a Coppin State University alumni event. Charlyne Smith recognized the potential for immediate change in countries through Nuclear Engineering.
Moving to the University of Florida, Charlyne Smith completed her PhD, marking a historic accomplishment as the first black woman to do so at the university. She envisions leveraging her expertise to displace fossil fuel energy sources in the Caribbean and introduce clean energy alternatives, particularly nuclear energy.
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Charlyne Smith's strategy involves starting with Jamaica, home to the only nuclear reactor in the Caribbean. Her goal is to address energy instability, especially during extreme weather events, and contribute to global carbon neutrality objectives.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Charlyne Smith is a co-founder of the non-profit organization Empowering Garrison Girls (EGGs), focusing on reducing gender and economic inequalities by targeting young girls in Jamaican garrison communities. She plans to diversify engineering disciplines by creating educational programs and a summer engineering pilot program for high school students in Jamaica.
