2026 Internship Opportunities

Our research efforts focus on scientific and technical aspects of small, ca. 1 MW, fusion reactors that can burn advanced fuels, specifically a mixture of deuterium and Helium-3. The characteristics of our fusion reactor concept are predicted to result in far fewer neutrons generated compared to the mainline fusion reactor designs. Such advanced-fuel reactors would have fewer radioactivity, material degradation, and the associated safety and cost problems than the mainline concepts. We are presently operating the second research device at Princeton to investigate plasma physics of one candidate advanced-fuel reactor called the field-reversed configuration (FRC). These reactors have applications in the fields of spacecraft propulsion, distributed power grids, and mobile power sources, ones that could be used at the sites of natural disasters or in remote villages. Theoretical and experimental research projects on technical and scientific problems are possible. In the past, interns have also studied philosophical, political, and economic aspects of this type of power source.

The roles and responsibilities assigned to students would depend on their backgrounds, skills and career goals. Students with interests in computational or theoretical activities could work on modeling the plasma physics of energy extraction, current drive, fusion power production, or plasma heating. Those with experimental interests could measure characteristics of magnetic and electric fields in the experiment. A philosophical topic could be whether the fusion-research field is poised for a paradigm shift.

The students will learn about nuclear fusion, its scientific and technical challenges, its applications, and its potential impact on greenhouse-gas emissions and global economics. The students will experience what research into a complex set of phenomena is like.

Undergraduate courses in physics and math are recommended.

Being careful in a lab!

• See website for reports by previous interns: https://w3.pppl.gov/ppst/pages/ugrad_interns.html.
• Students for this opportunity are suggested to read materials from the following site, prior to the internship start date: https://w3.pppl.gov/ppst/pages/pfrc_papers.html.
• Students are responsible for securing accommodations for the duration of their internship. On-campus summer housing is typically available the first week of June until the first week of August (details to become available in Spring 2026). If the internship falls outside of on-campus housing availability, students will need to secure alternate housing.