2025 Delegation

Andrew Maris (He/Him)

President

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Andrew is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Andrew received a Bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in 2019 with a major in Physics and a minor in Public Policy. His research utilizes machine learning to understand, predict, and control instabilities in tokamaks. Andrew’s interests also extend to economic and policy questions, where he has studied the impact disruptions have on the cost of fusion electricity from tokamaks.

Amelia Chambliss (She/They)

Vice-President

Columbia University

Amelia is currently a 3rd-year Ph.D. student at Columbia University. Amelia earned her Bachelor's degree in Physics at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Her research focuses on the study of energetic particles and integrability in stellarators. Amelia joined FuSD to learn more about fusion energy policy and pursue her passion for energy justice. She hopes to advocate for the needs and rights of underserved communities by encouraging heightened efforts for thoughtful and ethical engagement between experts and the communities they aspire to serve.

Promise Adebayo-Ige (He/Him)

Treasurer

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Promise is a 5th year Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research focuses on optimizing heat flux analysis on plasma-facing components in tokamaks. Promise joined FuSD because he wanted to learn more about how government, industry, and academia work together to advance Fusion-related policy. In his free time, he enjoys to read, watch anime, watch Liverpool FC, serve at his church, and referee soccer.

Juan M. Valderrama (He/Him)

Communications Chair/Secretary

University of Florida

Juan is a nuclear engineering student and undergraduate research assistant at the University of Florida. Juan's research interests are focused on fusion nuclear science, particularly the development of fusion neutronics and multiphysics tools and the advancement of fusion fuel cycle and power cycle technologies. Juan is also an active advocate for raising awareness and support for fusion energy.

Nathaniel Barbour (any pronouns)

University of Maryland

Nathaniel is a sixth-year Physics Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland, College Park, studying plasma physics for magnetic fusion energy.  His research explores the potential for machine learning algorithms to accelerate gyrokinetic turbulence simulations. As an undergraduate at Yale University, he studied cosmology and began his path into fusion energy with two internships at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Nathaniel’s experiences at the national laboratory, in advocacy work with the Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction, and in science and environmental policy courses have inspired him to seek solutions to critical global challenges at the intersection of science and policy. 

Jessica Eskew (She/Her)

Auburn University

Jessica is a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University working with Professor Evdokiya Kostadinova. Her research focuses on the transport of runaway electrons in magnetically confined fusion devices, like the DIII-D tokamak. She obtained her B.S. in Physics with a concentration on Astrophysics at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  After completing her undergraduate degree, she taught High School Physics for a year at the Wesleyan School.  In addition to serving on FuSD, she also serves on the APS Committee for the Status of Women in Physics and Advisory Board for APS Gender Inclusive Community. 

Jack Gabriel (He/Him)

William & Mary

Jack is a fourth-year graduate student at William & Mary where his research involves computation simulations of neutral particles in the edge region of tokamak plasmas. Jack received his bachelor's degree in physics and math from Rollins College in 2020. In his free time, Jack is an avid triathlete having competed in multiple Half Ironmans and recently finished 44th overall at the USA Age Group National Championships. 

Siena Hurwitz (She/Her)

University of Maryland

Siena is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in physics at the University of Maryland, where she works on stellarator optimization. She has long been interested in studying nuclear fusion due to its potential benefits to society and the unique juxtaposition of theoretical research with concrete application. Prior to her time at Maryland, Siena graduated with a B.A. in physics from Cornell University in 2020. In her free time, Siena can be found reading, hiking, with friends, making music, and being active in her local punk and Queer scenes.

Andrew Ingram (He/Him)

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Andrew is a 4th year Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research focuses on computational modeling of non-solenoidal startup techniques for the Pegasus-III Experiment. Andrew graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with Bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Physics. He is also interested in the economic and policy aspects of the emerging fusion industry. He enjoys deep dish pizza, cats, video games and reading.

Lauryn Kortman (She/Her)

University of Michigan

Lauryn is a first-year Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan, studying radiation effects on plasma facing materials through experimental triple beam ion irradiations. She earned her B.S. in Materials Science from MIT in 2024, where she researched radiation effects on high-temperature superconductors for fusion applications. Outside of her research, she enjoys cycling, blacksmithing, and traveling.

Kaden Loring (He/Him)

Stanford University

Kaden is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate at Stanford University and SLAC National Lab. Originally from Kansas, Kaden went on to earn a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Florida in 2020. During his PhD, he has worked to develop a laser-based tool to study the physics of fusion reactor exhaust and plasma-material interaction. Kaden joined FuSD to advocate for the growth of fusion research funding, and deepen his understanding of the relationship between science and policy. Beyond fusion research, Kaden is passionate about wilderness conservation and outdoors recreation.

Katarina Nichols (She/Her)

University of Rochester

Katarina is a fifth-year physics Ph.D. candidate at the University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Her research is focused on running quantum-based simulations to improve hydrodynamic models for laser direct drive inertial confinement fusion. Katarina received her bachelor’s degree in physics and math from SUNY Geneseo in 2020. In her free time, Katarina enjoys running, hiking, and cooking.

Nivedan Vishwanath (He/Him)

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Nivedan is a third year graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research involves the development of quantum-enhanced laser diagnostics for fusion reactor-relevant environments. He got his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering where he worked on high-powered rocketry. This inspired him to explore plasma physics and pursue a masters degree at the UW. Outside of work, you’ll find Nivedan sailing or hiking around the Madison area.

Clarissa Zuo  (She/Her)

University of California, Los Angeles

Clarissa is a second-year undergraduate research assistant and physics student at University of California, Los Angeles. Her research surrounds the simulation of antennas used in the Large Plasma Device (LaPD) at UCLA and calibration of muon veto panels. She's also part of UCLA's competitive college debate team and enjoys discussing energy policy there.