Design, build and run the world’s first student-led fusion energy reactor. Fusion energy is the ultimate solution to clean energy, and it’s closer than you think. Help accelerate its development, work with world-leading companies and start-ups, and break new world records.
VIP ChallENG research goals
Our team aims make the worlds first fusion reactor entirely designed, built, and operated by students. And do so in 2 years. You will develop innovative solutions to engineering challenges across many engineering disciplines, work closely with industry partners, and be part a vibrant team of enthusiastic and dedicated people who want to push the boundaries of what is possible with fusion energy. This project will support R&D for several start-ups in the fast-paced world of the fusion industry, with an estimated value nearing US$1 trillion by 2040. Fusion energy is no longer a scientific curiosity, it is a real engineering solution to decarbonise our electricity. The only thing holding it back, are engineering challenges, and you can help accelerate their development.
Research, design & technical issues
Model, design, build, test the following components:
- High-field electromagnets
- Plasma diagnostics
- Mechanical structures
- High and low voltage, high current, electrical power supplies
- Electronics
- Plasma control systems
- Low level control systems
Assembly integration and testing
Model plasma physics
Model magnets
Develop data acquisition and storage
ChallENG Area
Vertically Integrated Projects
Research Areas
Nuclear fusion energy | Structural mechanical design | Electromagnet physics | Electromagnet materials science | High voltage, high current electrical power supplies | Low voltage, high current electrical power supplies | Plasma physics and plasma control engineering | Plasma diagnostics | Vacuum and fuelling system | Plasma current drive and heating physics and engineering
- Join this team for
- Desired skills
- Industry partners
- Engineering Professional Practice
Professional Development
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Design
• Communication
• Integrity
• Innovation and excellence
• Diversity
• Respect
• Resilience
Degrees:
- Mechanical engineering
- Mechatronics
- Electronics and electrical engineering
- Materials engineering and science
- Computer science and software engineering
- Physics
- Chemical Engineering
- Design, Industrial Design, Media
Skills:
- Mechanical design
- Solid mechanics
- Manufacturing Systems engineering
- CAD
- Programming (python, MATLAB, C, C++)
- Control systems
- High voltage, high current electrical power supplies
- Low voltage, high current electrical power supplies
- Electronics design and manufacturing
- Plasma physics
- Plasma diagnostics
- Magnets physics
- Magnets mechanical design
- Magnets modelling
- Data acquisition and storage
Approved Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) completed after 2025 can be used towards your Engineering Professional Practice (EPP) requirements at any point in your degree. The list of approved projects can be found on the EPP ChallENG VIP List. If your VIP is not on the list, contact the Professional Engagement Team (ENG.WIL@unsw.edu.au).
How do I count my days?
Following the completion of your VIP course (3 terms*) with a passing grade, you will be able to claim your days via InPlace. For more information about the claiming process, refer to the EPP Student Portal.
*Note – if you drop out of the course before completing all 3 terms, then no days can be claimed.
Team Academic Lead
Prof. John Fletcher
School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications
