A multidisciplinary cluster built for fusion's hardest problems.
Housed in VCU's Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, VCU Fusion spans four interconnected research thrusts — from advanced materials fabrication to full-scale power plant operator simulation.
Our research is supported by the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and Virginia Energy, with active collaborations across academia and national laboratories.
Collaboration Opportunities
- Extreme environment exposure — plasma, ion, and neutron irradiation
- Plasma engineering and physics integration (core-edge)
- Hydrogen and deuterium exposures for functional materials
- Simulator development — human factors and workforce training
- Workforce development for Fusion Science and Engineering
Research Thrusts
Four areas. One mission.
Advanced Materials Fabrication of Structural and Plasma Facing Components
Fabrication and characterization of ODS steels, refractory alloys, ultra-high-temperature ceramics (UHTCs), and low-magnetic permeability steels fabricated using additive manufacturing (laser-based), powder metallurgy, and arc melt- and cold spray deposition-based technologies.
Plasma-Facing Components and Plasma-Material Interactions
Computational modeling of plasma thermodynamic and optical properties, melt motion and splashing from plasma-facing components in fusion devices.
Blanket Science and Technology & Fuel Cycle and Tritium Processing
Experimental studies of liquid metal coolants, molten salt blankets, divertor cooling, and tritium gas sparging for fusion breeding blanket development.
Fusion Plant Engineering and System Integration
Development of fusion power plant plant simulators for operational readiness, human factors research, workforce training for commercial fusion power plants.
Academic Programs
• Minor in Nuclear Engineering (for non-MNE majors)
• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a Nuclear Engineering Concentration
• M.S. in Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (thesis, non-thesis and online options)
Train for the fusion workforce at VCU.
The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering offers degree paths at every level for students who want to work in fusion and nuclear energy. Undergraduate and graduate students can join VCU Fusion research early, working with faculty on materials, plasma-material interactions, blanket technology and plant simulation.