Thomas Rainford: Getting an overview of how the whole fusion industry fits together
Thomas Rainford: “It has been amazing to work with such knowledgeable mentors and colleagues to get an overview of how the whole fusion industry and the various technologies within it fit together.”
Fusion needs more people with a variety of skills to grow the industry to deliver low-carbon energy to all. For anyone interested in fusion jobs, or the motivations of young people coming into the field, here we introduce you to Fusion Energy Insights’ 2024 summer interns.
Meet Thomas Rainford
What are you currently studying/working on?
I am going into my fourth and final year of study of Physics at Durham University,
Why did you want to do an internship with Fusion Energy Insights Advisory Services?
After thinking for a long time about what I could do that would be meaningful in helping to create a better world for everyone, I decided that fusion seemed to be a perfect fit.
With a background in physics and a good general science knowledge, I was aware of a number of the key developments in public fusion projects. However, I wanted to get some real world experience working in the industry to see what it would be like.
I also have a lot of experience with management, working with people, and performing, and so I thought that my skillset would be the most useful in the market-facing side of the industry, as opposed to hard research and applied physics.
I discovered Fusion Energy Insights Advisory Services on the Fusion Industry Programme internship page, after it was recommended to me by a friend. The internship was offering the opportunity to learn about different fusion technologies and how they are progressing around the world, building towards eventual commercialisation. This interested me a lot, as I could see many ways that things such as the global supply chain or key progression milestones could be investigated and represented in order to show investors and the general public the incredible progress being made.
What have you found interesting and exciting about working in fusion so far?
Everything!
Firstly, I have learned a huge amount about plasma physics and how different fusion reactor concepts work, both from Fusion Energy Insights and the fantastic Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) introductory course. Before starting my internship, I had a relatively narrow view of the field and was unaware of the many parallel developments of different fusion reactor technologies. It has been amazing to work with such knowledgeable mentors and colleagues to get an overview of how the whole industry and the various technologies within it fit together.
My work on the fusion supply chain has opened up many interconnected areas, from mining materials, engineering large components and constructing power stations. Through this, I have been able to develop my own skillset, research and presenting on many new ideas, using AI tools to massively increase my productivity and coming to real world conclusions that have real impact.
Fusion is a very exciting, burgeoning industry that is really taking off, so joining in now is perfect timing.
Share something about yourself and what you do outside of work.
When I’m not working or studying, I’m an avid performer, having sang in many choirs and performed in tons of musical theatre productions over the years. In the past couple I was a slapstick pirate in The SpongeBob Musical and the eponymous Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. The biggest highlights have been the shows I have been part of at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with my barbershop chorus Full Score, which I’m heading off to do again following this internship. Besides that, I love to stay active and creative in lots of other ways. Going on a hike is always a great way to relax, and drawing or painting lets me make some really fun artwork. Sometimes I will create posters or advertising material for university societies, such as a hilarious one I recently did for a production of Shrek the Musical.
