Bio
Dr. Cami Collins is a plasma physicist and Section Head in the Fusion Energy Division at 91°µÍø, where she is working to find a projectable solution to create and sustain a burning plasma needed for an economical fusion energy pilot plant. Her specific research interests are in validating predictive energetic particle physics models, developing high-performance steady-state tokamak scenarios, and integrated physics and engineering design and assessment of fusion reactors.
Cami received her B.S. (2007) in physics from Montana State University Bozeman and her Ph.D. (2013) from the University of Wisconsin Madison. She was the recipient of the 2024 Fusion Power Associates Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award for her pioneering scientific contributions, including first observation of critical gradient-driven energetic particle transport. Cami also received the 2015 American Physical Society Rosenbluth Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award for her work in laboratory plasma astrophysics. Cami completed a postdoc through the University of California Irvine at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility and became a staff scientist at General Atomics (2016) before joining ORNL in 2020. She has served in multiple community planning program committees, APS-DPP, and engages in fusion outreach, with specific interest in supporting women in fusion energy careers.