MFE-IM Team

MFE-IM is a group of the Magnetic Fusion Experiments (MFE) division of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC). We are a team of scientists, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students, and we host visiting and undergraduate students to carry out short-term cutting-edge projects with us. We actively collaborate with other groups at the PSFC and from the worldwide fusion energy community.

Scientists and Postdoctoral Researchers

Pablo Rodriguez-Fernandez

Principal research scientist, Group Leader MFE-IM

Pablo RF (he/him, pablorf@mit.edu) works as a research scientist at the MIT PSFC and leads the MFE-IM group. Currently, Pablo focuses on the development of the PORTALS framework to enable prediction of tokamak plasmas from first-principles turbulence simulations. He collaborates with experimental teams at ASDEX Upgrade, JET and DIII-D tokamaks to validate transport models and build confidence in reactor designs.

Nathan Howard

PRINCIPAL research scientist, GRoup leader SPARC & ARC Physics

Nathan Howard (he/him, nthoward@psfc.mit.edu) is a principal research scientist at the MIT PSFC and leads the Performance and Transport group, formed as part of the MIT/CFS collaborations. Nathan’s research interests lie in multi-scale gyrokinetics, impurity transport validation, high performance computing and machine learning enhanced transport models. Nathan actively collaborates with the DIII-D tokamak, where his team operates the laser-blow off system to study experimental impurity transport.

Aaron Ho

Research Scientist

Aaron Ho (he/him, aaronkho@mit.edu) is a research scientist working at the MIT PSFC. Aaron’s research combines plasma transport knowledge with machine learning techniques to build fast surrogate models, with the aim of using them in the design and operation of tokamak devices

Anne White

PROFESSOR, Associate VPR

Anne White (she/her, whitea@mit.edu) is the School of Engineering Distinguished Professor of Engineering at MIT. Her current research is a focused US DOE funded effort on core-to-edge turbulence-transport research and study of ELM-free regimes at ASDEX Upgrade, supported by the development of Correlation Electron Cyclotron Emission Diagnostics (CECE) and coupled radiometer and reflectometer measurements. She and her students also perform research funded by private companies CFS and nT-Tao, in the area of transport physics and diagnostic development.

Department Website

Arsene Tema Biwole

Postdoctoral associate

Arsene TB (he/him, biwole@mit.edu) is a postdoctoral associate at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center. Arsene runs the MIT Laser Blow-off (LBO) system installed on DIII-D. His research focuses on core impurity transport studies in view of future fusion devices, e.g. ITER and SPARC. His other interests include science promotion and educational outreach activities.

Marco Muraca

Postdoctoral associate

Marco Muraca (he/him, mmuraca@mit.edu) works as a postdoctoral associate at the MIT PSFC and has joined the MFE-IM group in Summer 2023. Currently his focus is on the prediction of relevant plasmas for the SPARC and ARC tokamaks, in collaboration with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, with the transport codes TRANSP and ASTRA.

Garud Snoep

Postdoctoral Associate

Garud Snoep (he/him, gsnoep@mit.edu) is a postdoctoral associate at the MIT PSFC in the MFE-IM group. Garud’s research interests are in using gyrokinetic simulations and integrated modeling to characterize, predict and optimize turbulent plasma transport in fusion reactors. Currently, he is working on an improved quasilinear turbulence saturation model for plasma conditions in the SPARC tokamak.

Students

Audrey Saltzman

Graduate student

Audrey Saltzman (she/her, audreysa@mit.edu) is a graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. She is interested in automating the optimization of fusion power plant designs, with consideration to economic outcomes. Outside of work, Audrey enjoys practicing gymnastics and escaping into the woods.

Jo Hall

Graduate student

Jo Hall (they/them, hallj@psfc.mit.edu) is a graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Their primary interest is modeling turbulent transport and performance in burning plasmas, focusing on how fast particle physics affect core transport and power plant performance. They enjoy running, cooking, and drinking too much coffee with friends in Cambridge’s many cafés.

Ivan Marshall

Graduate student

Ivan Marshall (he/him, imars23@mit.edu) is a graduate student in the MIT Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering. He studies plasma impurities, which are a major factor for the performance of tokamak devices. Different regions of a tokamak plasma have different requirements for their impurities, and so his goal is to study transport in the whole plasma simultaneously. He has also worked on applying machine learning techniques to simulations of the edge of the plasma, allowing for efficient and high-fidelity interpretation of experiment. Outside of plasma physics, Ivan practices gymnastics and serves his department as an NSE Communication Lab fellow.

Xavior Wang

graduate student

Xavior Wang (he/him, xxw@mit.edu) is a graduate student in the department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. He is interested in studying turbulence and transport in core fusion plasmas through a holistic approach, from high fidelity gyrokinetic modelling and profile predictions to experimental diagnostics and validation. His research spans across confinement concepts and machines, including ASDEX-U, LHD, DIII-D, and MAST-U. When not in the office or control room, Xavior can be found backpacking through all corners of the world and picking up new hobbies like snowboarding, diving, and photography.

Kaitlyn Yanna

graduate student

Kaitlyn Yanna (she/her, yanna@mit.edu) is an graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. She is interested in optimizing plasmas for improved heat confinement, with an interest in turbulent transport. Current projects include validating computational codes with experimental data. Outside of work, Kaitlyn enjoys practicing ballet, crochet, and memes.

Greta Hibbard

Graduate student

Greta Hibbard (she/her, hibbard@mit.edu) is a graduate student in the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at MIT. Her research focuses on applying machine learning and optimization techniques to magnetic fusion experiments, specifically plasma trajectory optimization using accelerated time-dependent models. Currently, she is investigating the presence and impact of path-dependence on scenario design. Outside of physics, Greta enjoys running, swimming, and reading.

Visiting Scholars and Students

Rachel Bielajew

VISITING SCIENTIST

Rachel Bielajew (she/her, bielajew@mit.edu) is a Visiting Scientist at the MIT PSFC and a Principle Technical Analyst at Rutherford Energy Ventures. Her research focuses on the intersection of experiment and modeling, where she analyzes experimental turbulence measurements from magnetic confinement fusion devices and compares them with simulated turbulence from gyrokinetic simulations. At Rutherford Energy Ventures, Rachel evaluates the technical and business dimensions of companies and partners across the growing fusion ecosystem.

Pablo De Lara Montoya

Visiting student

Pablo de Lara (he/him, pablo314@mit.edu) is a visiting student at the PSFC who joined the MFE-IM group in September 2025. He holds a background in Energy Engineering and has prior research experience in physical optics. His main interest lies in the study of fusion plasmas and in optimizing computational codes and workflows to enhance simulation performance, contributing to the broader effort of achieving stable plasmas for future fusion reactors. His current work focuses on improving the workflow of transport solvers such as TGLF to produce results that more closely match high-fidelity codes like CGYRO. Outside of research, Pablo enjoys playing chess, music, and exploring new ideas wherever curiosity takes him.