Grant Bodner
About Grant Bodner
Grant Bodner is an Experimental Scientist specializing in shattered pellet injection experiments at General Atomics, where he leads investigations into dispersive shell pellets for disruption mitigation. He holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has previously worked at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
Work at General Atomics
Grant Bodner currently serves as an Experimental Scientist at General Atomics, a position he has held since 2022. His work primarily focuses on shattered pellet injection experiments on the Joint European Torus (JET) and DIII-D facilities. He investigates assimilation physics, pellet drifts, and multiple injection scenarios. Additionally, he leads the investigation of dispersive shell pellets as an alternative disruption mitigation technique, contributing to advancements in fusion energy research.
Education and Expertise
Grant Bodner has an extensive educational background in Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics. He earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2010 to 2014. He continued his studies at the same institution, obtaining a Master of Science (MS) degree from 2015 to 2017, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from 2015 to 2020. This educational foundation supports his expertise in experimental physics and fusion research.
Background
Before his current role at General Atomics, Grant Bodner worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). He served as an Associate Research Physicist from 2020 to 2022, where he contributed to various research initiatives. Earlier in his career, he gained experience as a Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Intern at PPPL in 2013. His background includes significant hands-on experience in plasma physics and diagnostic systems.
Achievements
In his current role, Grant Bodner is designated as the operator for the DIII-D Thomson scattering diagnostic. His responsibilities include system start-up, shutdown, and laser alignment during disruption-focused experiments. His work in this area is critical for understanding plasma behavior and improving disruption mitigation techniques in fusion research.