Is a Ph.D in Nuclear Fusion Power the Path to a Fulfilling Career?

[rm446]

Hello,

I'm a Mechanical Engineering grad with a M.S. in Controls and Dynamics and have been working for a year. I was originally set to get a Ph.D in Controls but I kind of got burnt out on being a student and settled for a M.S. (would have just left but it took so long to find a job I ended up getting the necessary credits to get a masters).

I feel like I've matured a little more after a year of work and I've been toying with the notion of heading back to grad school if I could find a research area that really inspires me. Fusion really looks like something I could get into, but I don't know if there's really much of a job market yet for Fusion specialists (particularly for those who focused on magnetic confinement). On top of that, where said job market would be is a big consideration for me, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be with leaving the west coast of the U.S.

Anyways though, if anyone has any insights into the what and where of Fusion careers please leave a post.

Thanks

 

[Astronuc]

There's pretty much one place for fusion engineering or research on the west coast.

https://fusion.gat.com/global/Home

There jobs are rather limited.

 

[Dr Lots-o'watts]

The NIF is also on the west coast: https://lasers.llnl.gov/