This year, Oxford Sigma proudly received a record-breaking number of applications for its summer internship programme, with over 70 students vying for a place in our 2025 cohort. For the fourth consecutive year, we partnered with the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s FOSTER Programme (Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research) to offer eight-week placements to university students. Welcoming undergraduates from physics, engineering, and materials science, the initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing exceptional talent, both for Oxford Sigma’s growing capabilities and the wider fusion community.
This summer, we were delighted to host four outstanding interns currently studying Engineering, Materials Science and Physics; Sebastian Lo, Lucas Santos, Caitlin Smith and Gabriel Sumner. Each intern undertook a dedicated project aligned with our mission to accelerate fusion energy development, culminating in a final presentation to the entire company.
Throughout the programme, students gained hands-on experience in fusion research, developing both technical and professional skills. Their projects spanned computational modelling, experimental design, neutron transport, liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics, and fusion materials qualification within key fusion Codes and Standards. Each intern took full technical ownership of their project, supported by Oxford Sigma’s expert team, and building upon the company’s patented materials technologies.
Our interns were fully immersed into the company, contributing fresh perspectives and demonstrating enthusiasm from day one. Beyond their technical work, they engaged with a broad range of fusion energy topics through seminars covering manufacturing, plasma physics, and business strategy. They also had the opportunity to visit Oxford Sigma’s local collaborators, including Tokamak Energy. The final presentations showcased the interns’ impressive progress and potential in fusion technology. Their contributions were a testament to the value of investing in the next generation of innovators.
Here’s what some of our interns had to say about their experience:
“My time at Oxford Sigma has been truly invaluable. Whether actively contributing to technical projects or simply listening in on meetings and office conversations, I’ve learned so much, not only about the technical side of fusion, but also the broader landscape, including policy, economics, and business. Beyond that, it’s been a genuinely fun and inspiring environment to be part of, surrounded by such driven and lively people. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned here, and I know these experiences will stay with me in whatever comes next.”
Sebastian Lo, Imperial College London, Materials and Nuclear Engineering:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oxford Sigma this summer. It has been a pleasure to work alongside exceptional colleagues who are so passionate about developing fusion technology. Working on a liquid lithium loop project has allowed me to develop valuable CAD and CFD skills, particularly in designing heat exchangers and modelling components for fusion conditions. This experience has reinforced my aspiration to contribute to nuclear technologies that can help shape a sustainable energy future.”
Lucas Santos, Imperial College London, Mechanical with Nuclear Engineering:
“I’ve had such an amazing time at Oxford Sigma. Everyone was very friendly but also professional. The project was really interesting, and it was a great introduction to working in a scientific company. I felt properly immersed in the work and office from the start. I learnt so much, grew in confidence, and picked up many new skills along the way. I look forward to applying these skills in my future studies and building on everything I’ve learnt whilst at the company.”
Caitlin Smith, University of Oxford, Materials Science:
“I’ve really enjoyed this internship and believe that the experience has positively reinforced my confidence going into the professional working environment in fusion. The internship will almost certainly influence my career path as I explore more of the world of fusion going forward. Everyone at Oxford Sigma has been so welcoming and provides a great platform for interns to hone their professional skills.”
Gabriel Sumner, University of Bristol, Physics and Philosophy
We are incredibly proud of the contributions our interns have made and grateful for the energy and insight they brought to Oxford Sigma. Initiatives such as the UKAEA’s Foster programme are vital to nurturing the next generation of fusion scientists and engineers, and we look forward to continuing to support emerging talent in the years to come.
“All of our interns have made significant progress in their technical understanding and applied their knowledge to do great work on their respective projects, providing beneficial outputs to Oxford Sigma. We wish them luck in their studies for the upcoming year.”
Anna Oliver-Hills, Technical Project Manager and Internship Program Lead at Oxford Sigma
About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.
Get in touch at [email protected]
About UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
Who we are
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national fusion energy research organisation. We are an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
The work we do
UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise the scientific and economic benefit. We do this by being technical experts, partnering with companies and the international research community.
At the core of UKAEA’s efforts is the operation of world-leading facilities that build a comprehensive knowledge base for fusion energy. By addressing and solving the challenges across the full lifecycle of fusion, and integrating solutions from various disciplines, we establish technical centres of excellence that serve as the foundation for future fusion power plant programmes.
UKAEA collaborates with its partners to develop fusion power plants by providing access to our skills, facilities and expertise. UKAEA owns UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) on behalf of the UK government. Through UKIFS, we’re spearheading the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant in Nottinghamshire.
To grow the fusion ecosystem, UKAEA focuses on cultivating skilled talent, growing the fusion industry and creating ‘innovation clusters’. We actively seek opportunities to advance fusion technologies and communicate its vast potential to stakeholders and the public alike to accelerate fusion energy’s future – the energy of tomorrow we need today.
More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial
About fusion energy
When a mix of two forms of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) is heated to form a controlled plasma at extreme temperatures – 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun – they fuse together to create helium and release energy which can be harnessed to produce electricity. There is more than one way of achieving this. UKAEA’s approach is to hold this hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’, and then to harness this heat to produce electricity in a similar way to existing power stations.