Vanderbilt's Premier Student Engineering Organization
OUR INITIATIVE
Transformative Student-led Engineering Research.
The Vanderbilt Fusion Project is Vanderbilt University's premier student-led research initiative and engineering project team. Together, we're on a mission to make history at Vanderbilt by building a functional nuclear fusion reactor. Besides serving as a cross-disciplinary research test platform for innovative research, our reactor will be a powerful tool to inspire others. We'll be able to showcase the power of the stars in a safe, stable system about the size of a soccer ball. From jets of brilliant purple plasma to the glow of deuterium-deuterium nuclei fusing, our reactor is designed to inspire.
At the Vanderbilt Fusion Project, we’re building a community of innovators and problem solvers working together to accomplish something incredible. When we succeed, we’ll have fused atoms together at hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius, created a cutting-edge research platform, and formed a team of next-generation leaders. The Vanderbilt Fusion Project represents the culture of intersectionality and real-world research that makes Vanderbilt stand out today, all while embodying the spirit of innovation that’s driving our university forward into the future. The Vanderbilt Fusion Project embraces the motto “dare to grow,” as we push ourselves to explore, innovate, and create.
Interdisciplinary DNA.
Cutting-edge research and engineering should be possible for everyone. It's this simple belief that kickstarted the Vanderbilt Fusion Project. Our founders wanted to create a project that wouldn't only enable next-generation research for new labs and groups, but would also prove that anyone can create something incredible when they work with a team.
Once completed, our reactor platform will open up new research paradigms with applications ranging from nanotechnology to renewable energy. Nuclear Fusion provides the extreme environment and unique particle source conditions necessary to expand the frontiers of science, and our miniature, low-cost reactor will let any research group explore these new horizons.
Additionally, the Vanderbilt Fusion Project's role as an interdisciplinary project team has been woven into its DNA since day one. For our team, the journey is just as important as the atom-smashing destination, and we strive to create an environment where our team members can grow, innovate, and explore. The Vanderbilt Fusion Project is a unique, hands-on learning environment, and provides unmatched real-world experiences to our team members. From plasma physics to business communications, our team members gain the skills and experiences they need to excel as engineers, innovators, and leaders.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Meet Our Executive Team
Mason Anton
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO, Mason spearheads key decision-making and executes critical initiatives. Mason directs all executive board operations and oversees all cross-functional programs and system teams. Outside of Fusion, Mason is a competitive powerlifter, the president of Sigma Nu, involved in Kappa Theta Pi, and has two dogs named Malcolm and Melody.
Tommy Pennington
President
As the President, Tommy leads the initiative at an executive level and directs University relations. He directly interfaces with all system teams and manages the project. Outside of Fusion, Tommy's experiences include running a fabrication business and serving as a founder and CEO for a tech startup.
Nils-Erik Kramer
Chief Operating Officer
As COO, Nils-Erik directs the business operations team and ensures the Vanderbilt Fusion Project runs smoothly, coordinating with the University and leading fundraising initiatives. Outside of Fusion, Nils-Erik is part of Vanderbilt's Army ROTC program and has experience working with startups specializing in nuclear fission.
Brett Payne
Chief Safety Officer
As the CSO, Brett directs the Vanderbilt Fusion Project's comprehensive safety program, including vacuum, gas, electrical, and radiation safety. Brett ensures compliance with University, State of Tennessee, and Federal regulations. Beyond his role in Fusion, Brett is interested in biomedical engineering and nanotechnology, continuously exploring new advancements and safety applications in these fields.
Remington Holder
Chief Technology Officer
As CTO, Remington directs the technical operations of Vanderbilt Fusion and its projects. He also heads the reactor and electronics control teams and other smaller projects. Outside of Vanderbilt fusion Remington can be found enjoying the outdoors and running his IT business
WHO WE ARE
Meet Our Team
Alli Hoying
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Trent Bendar
Engineer
Major: Physics & Applied Mathematics
Sean Confoy
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Ron Asoulin-Handelman
Engineer
Major: Computer Science
Natalie Carrión
Engineer
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Megan Landis
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
John Hague
Engineer
Major: History & English
Colin Strout
Engineer
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Isabella Nelson
Engineer
Major: Computer Science
Isabel Madrid
Engineer
Major: Civil Engineering
Farouk Ramzan
Engineer
Major: Psychology & Economics
Ashank Awasthy
Engineer
Major: Computer Science
Carson Felton
Engineer
Major: Chemical Engineering and Data Science
Bryce Ware
Engineer
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Abbott Heerden
Engineer
Major: Physics and Mathematics
Ella Provancher
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Michael Taleb
Engineer
Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
Bucky Aboud-Hall
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering
Camile Gowda
Engineer
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Catherine Knox
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Jonathan Wilson
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Anders Westermann
Business Operations
Major: Human and Organizational Development
Blake Layman
Business Operations
Major: Human & Organizational Development and Computer Science
Brooke Byrne
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Tuna
Zevkirlioglu
Engineer
Major: Physics and Economics
Eli Pruzan
Engineer
Major: Chemical Engineering
Henry Coleman
Engineer
Major: Engineering Science
Julia DeMeritt
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Katelyn Moore
Engineer
Major: Biochemistry & Art History
Reese Flechner
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Seth Hemingway
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Nirmal Alla
Engineer
Major: Computer Science and Mathematics
Solomon Tolson
Engineer
Major: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Samuel Wang
Engineer
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Pranav
Narayanan
Engineer
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Kunal Bham
Engineer
Major: Computer Science and Political Science
Thomas Hogarty
Business Operations
Major: Mathematics and Economics
Frederik Schultz
Business Operations
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Avyay Parmeswaran
Business Operations
Major: Economics and History
Lucas Barash
Business Operations
Major: Economics and Political Science
Jan Jedynak
Engineer
Major: Biochemistry and Law, History & Society
Sonam Thukral
Engineer
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering
Aaron Gleitman
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Pruett Fredorowicz
Engineer
Major:
Manish Kota
Engineer
Major: Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering
Zachary Hunter
Engineer
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Errita Xu
Engineer
Major: Computer Science
OUR LEGACY
Hall of Fame
Zachary Klinger
Co-Founder
2022-2025
Lauren Elson
Business Operations
2023-2024
Robby Richards
Business Operations
2023-2024
Catherine Knox
CEO
2023-2024
Jackson Singer
VP of Engineering
2022-2025
Jackson Cornett
VP of Engineering
2022-2025
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B. Thomas Edman
CTO
2022-2024
PRESS
Vanderbilt Fusion in the News
