Press release

Future Leaders Fellowship awarded to UKAEA’s Dr Lloyd Fletcher

UK Atomic Energy Authority congratulates Dr Lloyd Fletcher on being awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship.

Dr Lloyd Fletcher, Fusion Technology Team Lead at UK Atomic Energy Authority - Image Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is pleased to congratulate Dr Lloyd Fletcher, Fusion Technology Team Lead, on being awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). 

The Fellowship, with a funded value of £1.5m, was awarded to UKAEA’s Dr Fletcher for a project to develop a new computer-aided qualification framework called Computer Aided Validation (CAV). 

The aim of the framework is to support engineers validating designs of new technologies, including future fusion powerplants. Once completed, this framework can then be applied to a wide range of low carbon engineering solutions and contribute to enabling sustainable commercial fusion technology in the UK. 

The £104 million Future Leaders Fellowships funding is split and awarded to 68 promising leaders to develop and commercialise their projects. Dr Fletcher’s fellowship was awarded as part of the eighth round of this funding. 

Lloyd Fletcher said: “I’m excited to receive this fellowship from UKRI. This project aims to deliver a valuable tool for digital design teams, and I look forward to building the research team.” 

Mike Gorley, Director of Fusion Technology at UKAEA said: “We are delighted for Lloyd to have received this fellowship, UKAEA’s first Future Leaders Fellowship. The project has potential to make real impact on the commercialisation of fusion energy.” 

Dr Fletcher’s research will be supported with the £1.5m funding through the Fellowship, alongside additional in-kind support from UKAEA. 

UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellowships provide funding to researchers and innovators around the UK to commercialise their innovations and lead research into global issues such as energy, environmental and climate issues. 

UKAEA’s Fusion Technology Division focuses on the development of engineering technology for future fusion powerplants. 

The full list of Future Leaders Fellows can be found on the UKRI website.

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Published 31 July 2024