Qianyi Sun
University of Oxford
Co-hort year: 2025
Achieving nuclear fusion is a monumental and critical step towards humanity’s endeavours towards
unlimited, clean, and green energy, and I am proud to be advancing efforts towards the realisation of fusion as a viable power source during my studies.
My doctoral research project, supervised by Prof. Susannah Speller and Dr. Simon Chislett-McDonald (Tokamak Energy), is within the Centre for Applied Superconductivity at the University of Oxford.
The project focuses on the impact of irradiation on high temperature superconducting components, such as tapes, coils, and joints. Substantial work has been conducted on the behaviour of superconducting tapes and the material under irradiation, and very little on the behaviour of entire
components.
We hope to ascertain how these components behave within tokamak designs of fusion reactor, identifying key challenges for future development and to examine mechanisms of failure. The project will utilise novel irradiation campaigns (ion, fission neutron, and fusion-relevant 14.1MeV neutron) to probe the materials properties relevant to superconducting fusion components (superconducting, thermal, and mechanical), gaining a mechanistic perspective by utilising and developing correlative characterisation
techniques.
Prior to pursuing a doctorate, I undertook an MEng in Materials Science at the University of Oxford from 2021 through to 2025. My master’s research project, supervised by Prof. Sergio Lozano-Perez and Dr. Jack Haley (UKAEA), investigated and communicated a novel high-throughput precipitate
characterisation scheme in boron-containing reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel for structural applications in nuclear fusion power.
I am grateful for the support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), alongside the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Tokamak Energy as sponsors, with whom I will be working closely and collaborating for the extent of my doctorate. After all, nuclear fusion is within reach and only together shall we realise it.