Oliver Schmitz

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT OLIVER SCHMITZ

Passionate scientist and technologist, eager to drive innovation in the technical domains of multi-disciplinary, complex research environments and their support in an equitable, diverse and inclusive fashion. More than five years experience in Dean’s level leadership of research in the College of Engineering at UW Madison. Co-founder of Realta Fusion, and early stage fusion energy spin-out from UW Madison. As Thomas and Suzanne Werner Professor for Plasma Physics in the Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics Department at UW Madison I enjoy working with my research group on the forefront of plasma material interaction. This comprises studies about the coupling of high-temperature fusion plasmas to material surfaces in magnetic confinement experiments to reach fusion energy. It also includes low-temperature plasma physics to develop new particle accelerators, research on advanced materials and manufacturing and computational and data analysis methods. In my position as Associate Dean for Corporate Engagement & Entrepreneurship, and as Director of the Grainger Institute for Engineering, I support the expansion of the research enterprise of the College of Engineering at UW Madison to new, innovative areas, including embedding industry relations and entrepreneurial spirit. Previously I was appointed as Associate Dean for Research Innovation and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs, overseeing the college pre- and post award support as well as UW Madison campus core nanotechnology facilities and the UW Madison Nuclear Reactor.I am a co-founder of Realta Fusion, a UW Madison spin-out aiming at establishing the physics basis of mirror confinement for burning plasmas, creating engineering solutions to leverage the unique form factor of the mirror for system development and commercializing it for fusion energy.