People

Uri Shumlak

Uri Shumlak

Principal Investigator

shumlak@uw.edu

UW Faculty Profile

Professor Shumlak enjoys working with his students to investigate novel approaches to confine plasmas for thermonuclear fusion that could satisfy Earth’s energy needs and enable human exploration of deep space. When he is not in the lab or in lecture, he can often be found on the squash court.

Staff and Postdocs

  • Susan Griffith
  • John Rogers
  • Dr. Anton Stepanov
  • Dr. Toby Weber
  • Dr. Yue Zhang

Researchers

Bennett Diamond

Bennett Diamond

Graduate Researcher

Bennett has always been interested in aerospace. During SpaceX’s first boost reusability campaign, he became interested specifically in propulsion which is the missing link for enabling human exploration of deep space. Bennett joined the Flow Z-Pinch Lab after listening to a talk by Dr. Shumlak about the shear flow stabilized Z-Pinch and its potential as a power thruster and fusion energy source. He hails from Oakland, CA, and likes clouds.

Aria Johansen

Aria Johansen

Graduate Researcher

Aria studies plasma optimization. Working with collaborators from Google and X, her goal is to increase performance and understanding of Shear Flow Stabilized Z-Pinches using multiple diagnostics, data science, and machine learning techniques. In her spare time, she likes to retreat to the mountains to climb, backpack, and ski.

Aqil Khairi

Aqil Khairi

Graduate Researcher

Aqil investigates plasma material interactions on the ZaP-HD device to better understand the effects of the electrode material on the plasma, and how the electrode responds to the high current, temperature and density environment of a sheared-flow stabilized Z-pinch plasma. His work will inform efforts to scale the concept to fusion reactor conditions. His interest in plasma physics and nuclear fusion stems from its potential use as a form of deep space propulsion. 

Tim Lloyd

Tim Lloyd

Graduate Researcher

Tim is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy and will be heading to pilot training after graduating from the UW. Within the ZaP-HD lab, he analyzes high speed imaging data and magnetic field probe data in order to better understand the relationship between the two. Tim hopes to combine his background of satellite systems and the knowledge gained from ZaP-HD in order to apply this technology to future space missions.

Josh Perry

Josh Perry

Graduate Researcher

Josh worked on inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion experiments at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and joined the Madison-based Phoenix Nuclear Labs before moving coming to the UW.

Jared Smythe

Jared Smythe

Graduate Researcher

Jared investigates how the end wall geometry of ZaP-HD affects the plasma plume characteristics and how this can be leveraged to optimize the plume for an engine in deep space missions. When not in the classroom or lab, you can find Jared rock climbing, slacklining, or skiing.
Ben Fetters

Ben Fetters

Undergraduate Researcher

Ben is interested in plasma physics and modeling flowing plasmas. He plans to spend his time in the plasma lab developing skills necessary to further fusion research. His hobbies outside of school include watching baseball, cooking and reading.
Harry Furey-Soper

Harry Furey-Soper

Undergraduate Researcher

Harry is a Martin Honors Scholar in the Aeronautics and Astronautics department. He is interested in studying plasma and nuclear fusion, specifically in the context of developing propulsion systems for deep space travel. Harry intends to remain with the department through graduate school while conducting plasma research and preparing for a career in advancing space exploration. His other interests include hiking, astronomy, and cooking.

Michelle Graebner

Michelle Graebner

Undergraduate Researcher

Michelle is an Air Force ROTC cadet. She is interested in many subjects, especially astrophysics, glaciology, geology and, of course, plasmas and nuclear fusion. Her other hobbies include climbing, skiing and being in the mountains.
Sara Hines

Sara Hines

Undergraduate Researcher

Sara is studying aerospace engineering and hopes to go into rocket science. She has always had an interest in plasma and is excited to explore its potential applications for rocket propulsion. She has many hobbies, including gaming, roller skating, music, and trying new foods.
Stephanie Mansperger

Stephanie Mansperger

Undergraduate Researcher

Stephanie is a junior in the aeronautics and astronautics program at UW.  Her area of interest is in focusing on plasma as it relates to propulsion to enable deep space exploration.
Grace Zoppi

Grace Zoppi

Undergraduate Researcher

Grace (she/her) is a senior majoring in Aerospace Engineering and minoring in Italian Language and Culture. She participates in Z-Pinch plasma research focusing on characterizing exhaust plumes. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a PhD in electric propulsion. Outside of class, she participates in orienteering, a running and navigational sport.

Collaborators

Harry S. McLean

Harry S. McLean

Collaborator

Harry S. McLean (PhD Nuclear Engineering, UC Berkeley 1990) is the Program Leader for the Fusion Energy Sciences Program (FESP) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the Physics Division of the Physical and Life Sciences Directorate. Harry has over 35 years of experience in advanced fusion energy concepts in both magnetic and inertial confinement fusion areas. With our lab, he coordinates the LLNL components of DOE ARPA-E sponsored collaborations exploring the potential of scaling the flow-stabilized pinch configuration to burning plasma conditions.

Hannah Meek

Hannah Meek

Collaborator

Hannah is a Research Engineer at ZaP Energy leading multiple diagnostic suites on shear-flow Z-pinch machines. She received her M.S. in Plasma Sciences from the UW in 2020. She is exploring Plasma/Material Interactions (PMI) within these Z-pinch machines with the Flow Z-Pinch Lab to optimize stability and lifespan of the plasmas while reducing impurities.

Brian Nelson

Brian Nelson

Collaborator

Brian Nelson received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987, after which he joined the UW, where he retired as a Research Professor Emeritus in 2019. He has worked on several fusion energy concepts, including tandem & axisymmetric mirrors, theta-pinches, linear stellarators & heliacs, field-reversed configurations, spherical torii, and sheared-flow stabilized Z-pinches. He was project manager in the design, ground-up construction, and successful operation of ten different experiments at the UW. Brian co-founded Zap Energy with Benj Conway and Uri Shumlak.

Previous Graduate Researchers

  • Dr. Colin Adams (Virginia Tech)
  • Joe Blakely (AFRL)
  • Justin Bright (US Air Force)
  • Travis Burton (US Air Force)
  • Bei-Jing Chan
  • Dr. Elliot Claveau
  • Dr. Eleanor Forbes (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
  • Dr. Ray Golingo
  • Michal Hughes (Blue Origin)
  • Dr. Stuart Jackson (NRL)
  • Dr. Nadiah Jenkins (Aerojet Rocketdyne)
  • Bonghan Kim (Boeing)
  • Dr. Sean Knecht (Penn State University)
  • Kyel Lambert (Boeing)
  • Summer Locke (Boeing)
  • Adam Madson (US Navy)
  • Lorcan McGonigle (Black Sky Global)
  • Keith Munson (Boeing)
  • Krystal Parker (Lockheed Martin)
  • Jacob Rohrbach (US Air Force)
  • Dr. Michael Ross (UCSD)
  • Dr. Weidong Song (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
  • Jon Weed (US Air Force)