Tom’s Story

This summer, we were delighted to welcome Tom as an intern at Woodruff Engineering. We caught up with him as he travels across the US to find out more about his experiences

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you studying and what are your interests?

   • My name is Tom Fitzgerald, I’m 22 years old and have studied a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Warwick and a Masters degree in Fusion Energy at the University of York. I am interested in engineering a greener and more sustainable future for the next generation.

2. What initially drew you to an internship at Woodruff Engineering?

   • I was drawn to the internship after researching the work Woodruff Engineering does in the Fusion industry and how their physics simulation work aligned with my own research during my bachelors degree.

3. Where and when did your programme take place?

   • My internship took place at Woodruff Engineering during the summer, specifically within the context of the FIP Summer Placement Scheme. I worked as an intern remotely in the summer of 2023 before returning to complete my Master’s Thesis research into Demountable toroidal field coil joints with Woodruff Engineering in their USA laboratory the following summer.

4. Can you describe a typical day at Woodruff Engineering and the kinds of projects you’ve been involved in?

   • A typical day involved supporting power supply and magnet design, working on CAD, electrical calculations, and test reports, as well as participating in daily product meetings to coordinate with team members.

5. What has been the most exciting project or task you’ve worked on during your internship?

   • The most exciting task has been researching high current interfaces in Tokamak reactor design, but I have also enjoyed testing and integrating power supply systems for customer projects.

6. What technical skills or engineering concepts have you gained or improved upon?

   • I have enhanced my skills in CAD design, electrical calculations, and project management, along with a deeper understanding of fusion technologies and have been able to apply engineering and physics skills learnt during my studies to real world projects.

7. What’s something surprising you learned about engineering or the industry that you didn’t know before?

   • I was surprised by the multidisciplinary nature of the projects in the Fusion industry and how important teamwork, collaboration and communication are to completing engineering projects.

8. Have you developed any new goals or interests from this experience that you’d like to pursue further?

   • Yes, I am now more focused on pursuing a career in nuclear fusion, especially in moving fusion from physics experiments to a commercial energy generation method through engineering new technologies.

9. What advice would you give to future interns looking to join Woodruff Engineering?

   • Being proactive and ready to take on new challenges is key to working in a team where unique projects come round regularly.

10. What are your main takeaways from your time with the Woodruff Engineering team?

• My main takeaways include the importance of teamwork, the complexity and challenges associated with fusion projects, and the impact of our work on sustainable energy solutions. With Woodruff Engineering I’ve been able to work on real projects in the Fusion Industry and have designed parts that are now being installed in the next generation of fusion demonstration reactors. This experience has been invaluable for me as I find my place in the Fusion Industry.