PhD student advances fusion safety tools through DOE national lab collaboration

Anthony Carlos Garcia, a graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics, has been selected to conduct fusion safety analysis research in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program.

Selected based on a highly competitive national process, this prestigious program honors the exceptional research accomplishments of its participants and equips them with training and resources to address critical energy challenges. 

Awardees conduct part of their thesis research at a DOE national laboratory in collaboration with scientists at their host institution. Garcia will join the Nuclear Fuels and Materials division at Idaho National Laboratory, continuing the work he started during a summer internship under Dr. Adriaan Riet in 2025. 

Garcia’s research aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of MELCOR-TMAP, a thermal hydraulics computer code combined with a tritium migration analysis program. Once proven effective, the tool could be used by fusion power plant designers to ensure their systems are equipped to safely handle accident scenarios. 

“I am excited to work with the brilliant people at INL again on working towards demonstrating MELCOR-TMAP as a safety analysis tool for fusion,” says Garcia. 

This project will also contribute to his PhD dissertation. Garcia is working under the supervision of Associate Professor Juliana Pacheco Duarte to develop a comprehensive safety analysis framework for fusion technologies in compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations. His work will ultimately ensure the safe design and deployment of fusion energy devices.