“Working [as a COVES Fellow] taught me that I don’t need to understand the intricacies of every industry I work in, but rather the ability to find information and then outline policies and programs is the important skillset that a good grad school experience teaches.”

Background: Ryan researches plasma physics and fusion energy; specifically, he studies experimental diagnostics and the edge region to better understand how to increase the confinement of fusion plasmas while keeping the reactor from damaging itself. He began with an internship on the DIII-D tokamak in San Diego, CA and his current project involves analyzing fast camera data on the MAST machine in Oxfordshire, UK. Through his education and research, he has come to believe the energy policy and goals established today will be among the most impactful decisions we make to safeguard our future and reduce the impact of climate change.