Steffi Diem

Steffi Diem - Professor, researcher in fusion energy, Science Communicator

Dr. Stephanie (Steffi) Diem is an experimental plasma physicist and fusion energy researcher who studies ways to heat plasma to temperatures 10x hotter than the sun and confining it in magnetic bottles for fusion energy development. She is an Assistant Professor in the Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a former research scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Fusion Energy Division. Diem is also the PI of the Pegasus-III Experiment, a fusion energy and plasma science experiment focused on studying unique and innovative plasma startup techniques in an effort to reduce cost and complexity of future fusion power plants and has recently started an interdisciplinary team, the Just Fusion Collaborative, investigating the societal-environmental-economic-technological impacts of fusion energy systems.

Diem was a speaker at the 2022 White House Summit on Developing a Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy and is a member of Cohorts 2021 and 2024 of the New Voices of the National Academies. She co-leads a grassroots public engagement team for fusion energy in the U.S., co-developed the USFusionEnergy.org website and is a science consultant for media both independently and through The Science and Entertainment Exchange, a program at the National Academies.

New Voices of the National Academies

national academies of science, engineering and medicine

selected by the national academies for the 22 member cohort 2021 and to extend appointment to join cohort 2024, selected as co-chair

2023 David J. Rose Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award

fusion power associates (FPA)

selected by the FPA board of directors

Assistant Professor, Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

University of wisconsin-madison

PI of Pegasus-III and the Just fusion collaborative

Ph.D. and M.A. in Astrophysical Sciences, Plasma Physics

Princeton University

Thomas H. Stix graduate prize

B.S. Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics, Physics

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Graduated with Highest Honors, Barry Goldwater Scholar

Additional Educational Training:

Alan Alda Science Communication Bootcamp at Stony Brook University

Women In STEM Leadership Program at Stony Brook University

Recent and Upcoming Events