Women in Fusion Profile: Leah Morgan
Leah Morgan is a Diagnostic Project Engineer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority. She is responsible for defining, designing, and installing diagnostics on the JET, MAST-U, and ITER tokamaks. Outside of work she is a science communicator and has performed at events all over the country. You can find her @LeahLoveScience on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube!
What in fusion do you work on?
I am a Diagnostic Project Engineer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority. I design, build, and install all different kinds of sensors (called diagnostics) on our fusion experiments. These diagnostics measure things like temperature, density, and fuel composition. I’m currently the Lead Engineer for a several metre long diagnostic on ITER, which is a brand new fusion experiment being built in the south of France.
Can you tell us about your career path and how it led to fusion?
I studied for a masters degree in physics at the University of Sheffield and then joined the UK Atomic Energy Authority on their Graduate Scheme as a Graduate Project Engineer. I wanted to work somewhere that was making a positive change in the world and fusion seemed like the best career for that!
Can you share your most exciting fusion moment?
I love working in the JET Control Room during operations. It’s so exciting to hear the countdown and alarms, and to actually hear the sounds JET makes when it’s running!
Any advice for others looking to get into fusion?
Follow companies on LinkedIn and check out what kind of research they’re doing and what kind of positions they are hiring for. Fusion research is such a broad field, we’re hiring for all kinds of role – not just engineers and physicists! I would also recommend applying for placements if you’re still completing a degree as it’s really beneficial to finding a job later.
Share something about yourself and what you do outside of work.
Outside of work, I am a science communicator – I do talks on fusion energy research, and make YouTube and TikTok videos! I’m also an avid pole dancer, after starting classes while at university. I love the people I’ve met there and it’s the only form of exercise I’ve ever enjoyed. I have been trying to learn how to do the splits for over 5 years, but stretching is so boring!