Behind First Light Fusion is a team of nearly 100 talented scientists, engineers, technicians and business experts. Our team come from a range of backgrounds but are all united by a passion for realising fusion energy at scale.
In the latest installment of our ‘Meet the Team’ series, we hear from Head of Empirical Validation, Hugo Doyle, about why the future of fusion looks so promising, and why there has never been a more exciting time to be a part of the sector.
- What is your role at First Light Fusion?
I am Head of the Empirical Validation Department. We’re a ten-person department responsible for designing, fielding and analysing experiments to benchmark the simulations. We are focused on constantly improving our capability – whether that’s building new diagnostics, or developing new analytical methods.
- What did you do before joining FLF?
Amazingly, I’ve been at FLF for eleven years now – over a decade! Before joining First Light, I did my PhD at Imperial College London and a Post-doc at Oxford University using building-sized lasers to reproduce astrophysical events in the lab. I was lucky enough to travel around the world using international laser facilities. Typically, we’d have a couple weeks to set-up an experiment, get to know the laser and gather some data before moving off to make room for the next experiment – all made even more interesting with different languages and cultures working together.
- What made you want to join the First Light team?
Joining FLF was an exciting opportunity to apply all that I’d learnt through my post-graduate research to solving one of the world’s biggest challenges – fusion energy. I was also keen to experience a new, exciting startup environment. Being part of our rapid growth, both in terms of people and technology, has been thrilling. No two days are ever the same and the company feels different from one year to the next as we constantly add new machines, buildings, and departments to our arsenal. It has also been a unique opportunity to work with a large group of enthusiastic, highly skilled people all working towards one goal.
- What most excites you about the future of fusion energy?
The rapid growth in investment and interest. There are a lot of challenges still to solve to get a fusion power plant operational and the only way to make this happen is with greater investment and more people working on addressing those challenges. Fortunately, this is happening right now. If you look back over the last few decades of fusion work – so much has been discovered. If we continue making progress at the same rate, it is easy to see a fusion-shaped solution to our growing energy crisis on the horizon.
- What advice to do you have for someone interested in working in fusion or physics?
The conversation has shifted over the last few years from ‘if’ fusion will happen to ‘when’. This is reflected in the work that the many new companies are doing. Contributions are needed from all industries – you no longer need to be a nuclear physicist to be a key contributor. The industry is recruiting heavily in all sectors. If you are interested in working in fusion, make sure you train in something you are passionate about and there will undoubtedly be an application for it in the fusion sector. Ultimately, we are just looking for passionate, skilled people – less and less do they need to be a specialist in fusion physics itself.
- When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
Two young children occupy my time very fully! Outside of this, skiing and walking are my passions, ideally with a cheeky pub lunch. As the children get older I’m slowly starting flying lessons – though it’s a long road ahead to a license.
- What is your favourite thing about working at First Light?
My job is exciting! I get to play with lasers, radiation, gun powder and high voltage. I also get a lot of exposure to the business side which interests me. Doing this surrounded by a great bunch of diverse people makes me look forward to coming in to work every day.
