Nuclear engineer on new season of Survivor, premiers tonight!

2/26/2014

By Lenka Kollar

If you're looking for a reason to watch the newest season of Survivor, which premiers tonight at 8/7c on CBS, meet my colleague and friend, Dr. J'Tia Taylor! J’Tia received her PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was the first black female to successfully defend and receive a Ph.D. from the department. She now works at Argonne National Laboratory in the area of nuclear nonproliferation policy - learn more about J’Tia’s work at Argonne here.

J'Tia took a sabbatical from Argonne last summer to compete as a contestant on this season of Survivor, which is set in the Philippines province of Cagayan. The eighteen contestants are split into three tribes according to their skills: Brawn, Brains, and Beauty. Although J’Tia could easily qualify for the Beauty group, she is obviously on the Brains Tribe.

I worked closely with J'Tia while I was at Argonne and I can vouch that she is strategic and competitive, so I am definitely rooting for her to be the "Sole Survivor" and win that million dollar prize! I took over some of her work when she was gone last summer so she at least owes me dinner if she wins!

Read this article in full and learn more about J'Tia's involvement in the American Nuclear Society and work with STEM outreach to women on my post at the ANS Nuclear Cafe. And don't forget to tune into CBS tonight at 8/7c!

5 Comments

Lindsay Johnson

3/6/2014 02:11:47 am

If J'Tia is a nuclear engineer, then I'm an astro-physicist & brain surgeon. (Actually, I have a Masters degree in accounting & taxation.) We can't believe that she earned a degree at any university. We were so hopeful to see a young beautiful intelligent black woman lead on Survivor. Instead, we found J'Tia to be a stereotypical stupid spoiled brat- the product of affirmative action and race quotas. We're still not sure if the writers of Survivor were spoofing us. It's that bad.

Jake Hanson

3/9/2014 05:27:08 am

All the engineering graduates of U of Illinois that I've worked with have been very sharp and a pleasure to work with. J'Tia just seems kind of dumb and full of herself. Just because you're an engineer doesn't mean you know construction. Then dumping the rice in the fire was just immature and stupid. I feel sorry for anyone that has to work with her.

Mrs. Wsuillis Putnam

3/12/2014 10:52:30 am

I am fat and old and should be able to do better as a 61 year old than the Nuclear Engineer. I wouldn't destroy food, not swim, know my right from my left, , , ..G help us if she works on any natuonal defense matters or a nucleat meltdown!

danthracks

3/12/2014 11:02:53 pm

Nuclear failure in all levels of the game. How can she be much different in real life. She better get a clue soon.

Maia

3/16/2014 11:21:04 am

I think Jtia must be related to that other crazy guy who also thought he was some professor or other. I think survivor should be sued for exploiting sick people and making fun of them on their show. The Brain tribe is such as a JOKE

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