College Scholar Leads Spectacular Fusion Analysis At Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Steven Warth's fascination with fusion energy blossomed during his modern physics coursework at Austin Peay State University. His decision to focus on tritium breeding blankets for his project solidified his professional aspirations. “My longstanding curiosity about fusion energy was intensified by that project, prompting me to confront the significant issues requiring attention,” Warth, now a senior in engineering physics, remarked.Following a summer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, he emerged as one of the first Austin Peay students granted entry into the prestigious Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI). Warth's transition to Oak Ridge was seamlessly facilitated by leveraging academic connections for his project within the Fusion Energy Division.Prior to engaging in demanding research on accelerating liquid metal flow simulations in reactors, he participated in an immersive fusion school. By developing computational approximations, Warth targeted significant enhancements in simulation efficiency. His journey underscores the exceptional educational framework provided by smaller universities, effectively nurturing the next generation of scientific innovators.

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