Dr. Spencer Pitcher

40+ years in fusion engineering and operations with a focus on large-scale project delivery and technology management

• Over 40 years of fusion science, engineering, and operations experience with a focus on technology management and the execution of large-scale clean energy projects.
• Previously, he was the Fusion Technology Principal Engineer at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, managing flagship technology delivery. He has held premier scientific and engineering roles across the globe, including the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, and the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center. At the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), he was a vital contributor to the landmark first production of fusion power using deuterium-tritium fuel on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR).
• At Stellarex, he is responsible for corporate strategy, executive leadership, fundraising, and commercialization, working closely with industry, government, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of commercial fusion networks.
• He combines deep technical expertise with a passion for transforming breakthrough innovations into scalable businesses. A veteran of major tokamak and stellarator programs across Europe and North America, he has authored over 200 research publications.

Ali Lodi, CFA

15+ years in private equity and venture capital with a focus on energy and infrastructure

• Over 15 years of private equity, infrastructure, and venture investing experience with a focus on energy, power, and emerging technologies. Previously a senior investor within the Sustainable Energies group at CPP Investments, one of the world’s largest institutional investors, overseeing investments across a global energy portfolio.
• Led investments and strategic initiatives spanning nuclear energy, geothermal power, and next-generation energy technologies. Served as deal lead for CPP Investments’ investment in Fervo Energy, a pioneering geothermal company that became one of the most successful clean energy growth stories in the sector.
• Responsible for Stellarex’s commercialization activities, fundraising, investor relations, and partnerships. Works closely with industry, government, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate the development and deployment of fusion energy technologies.
• Combines deep capital markets expertise with a passion for transforming breakthrough scientific innovations into scalable businesses, helping position Stellarex at the forefront of the emerging global fusion energy industry.

Dr. Michael Zarnstorff

40+ years in fusion science and technology with a focus on experimental physics and device design

• Over 40 years of fusion science and experimental research experience with a focus on stellarator physics, device design, and large‑scale project management.
• Previously, he was Deputy Director and Chief Scientist of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), overseeing scientific advancement across a global research portfolio. He led premier physics groups and strategic initiatives spanning compact stellarators, the TFTR program, and next-generation plasma confinement technologies. He also led experimental campaigns across the US, Germany, Japan, and the UK while teaching in Princeton’s Astrophysics Department.
• At Stellarex, he is responsible for technological strategy, engineering design, research collaborations, physical optimization, and technical validation, working closely with industry, government, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate fusion deployment.
• He combines deep experimental expertise with a passion for transforming scientific innovations into scalable businesses. A Fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and a PPPL Distinguished Research Fellow, he has authored over 400 publications and received the APS John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research.

Dr. Amitava Bhattacharjee

40+ years in plasma theory and computation with a focus on advanced computational modeling and fusion science

• Over 40 years of fusion science experience focused on theoretical plasma physics, advanced computational modeling, and strategic leadership. He serves as Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he directs the Princeton Center for Heliophysics.
• He also leads major initiatives, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s HiFiStell collaboration on high-fidelity stellarator simulations and the Simons Foundation’s Hidden Symmetries and Fusion Energy in Stellarators. Previously, he held academic appointments at Columbia University, the University of Iowa, and the University of New Hampshire as Paul Professor of Space Science.
• At Stellarex, he is responsible for driving corporate scientific strategy, leading predictive computational modeling, and steering advanced simulation frameworks , working closely with industry, government, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate fusion deployment. He combines deep theoretical expertise with a passion for transforming breakthrough scientific innovations into scalable businesses.
• He has authored over 350 publications, written a prize-winning textbook, received the 2022 APS James Clerk Maxwell Prize, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, American Geophysical Union, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Conrad Bellehumeur

30+ years in corporate strategy, public affairs, and international relations with a focus on commercialization, market access, and profitable growth.

• Over 30 years of senior leadership experience across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, specializing in corporate strategy, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement within complex, highly regulated environments.
• Previously, he held global executive roles, including Chief Communications Officer for maritime and logistics leader CMA CGM, and Vice President of Communications, Government Relations, and Marketing across multiple divisions of Thales in Europe and North America. He also served as Vice President of Public Affairs for the Canadian Pharmaceutical Industry Association, leading advocacy and reputation management for this multi-billion-dollar sector.
• At Stellarex Energy, he is responsible for corporate strategy, public affairs, communications, and stakeholder engagement. He works closely with government, institutional stakeholders, and industry to accelerate the development and deployment of fusion technologies and commercial fusion power.
• Earlier in his career, he served as Chief of Staff to a Canadian federal cabinet minister and as a military public affairs officer with assignments at National Defence Headquarters, the United Nations, and NATO.

Dr. Ron Oberth

40+ years of leadership in advanced nuclear strategy and partnership development with a focus on market strategy and program delivery

• Decades of experience in partnership development, market strategy, and program delivery for advanced nuclear and energy initiatives. Previously, he was President and CEO of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries.
• He has held extensive leadership, project‑management, and business‑development roles with Ontario Hydro, Ontario Hydro International, OPG, and AECL’s Reactor Division. In 2022, he received the Ian McRae Award from the Canadian Nuclear Society and Canadian Nuclear Association for substantive contributions to the advancement of nuclear energy in Canada.
• At Stellarex, he supports ecosystem strategy, partnership development, and market positioning, working closely with industry, government, and institutional stakeholders to accelerate the development and deployment of fusion energy technologies.He combines deep nuclear sector expertise with a passion for transforming breakthrough scientific innovations into scalable businesses, helping position Stellarex at the forefront of the emerging global fusion energy industry.
• He received his PhD in Aerospace (plasma) Propulsion from Princeton University and earned his ICD.D corporate director designation in 2020.

Yuhu Zhai

Yuhu is a Chief Engineer at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, specializing in high‑field superconducting magnet design, fusion‑relevant magnet systems, and advanced computational electromagnetics. With more than fifteen years of experience designing, building, and testing both LTS and HTS superconducting magnets, he brings deep expertise in multi‑physics simulations, model‑order reduction, and integrated workflows that couple electromagnetics, solid mechanics, and thermal behavior.

Yuhu received his Bachelor and Master of Applied Science degrees from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and his PhD in Engineering Mechanics from the University of Florida.

Dr. Alan Kaptanoglu

Alan Kaptanoglu is an Assistant Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the University of Washington, specializing in the intersection of numerical methods, machine learning, and fusion energy. His research focuses on advancing optimization techniques and numerical methods for stellarator and coil design, core challenges in next‑generation fusion system development.

Alan received his B.S. in Physics from Stanford University in 2016 and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Washington in 2021. From 2023 to 2026, he served as an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at New York University, where he continued his work on computational approaches to fusion‑relevant physics.

Dr. Stefan Buller

Stefan Buller is a Research Scientist at the Department of Astrophysical Science at Princeton University. He has a background in stellarator transport covering both neoclassical and turbulent transport with a focus on impurities. His work focuses on optimizing stellarator equilibrium to achieve confinement and magnetohydrodynamical stability.

Stefan received his M.S. in Physics and Astronomy in 2015 and his Ph.D. in Physics in 2029 from Chalmers University of Technology.

Dr. Wrick Sengupta

Wrick is an Associate Research Scholar in Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University, specializing in magnetic‑confinement physics and stellarator theory. His work focuses on asymptotic methods, hidden‑symmetry magnetic fields, and simplified models of plasma turbulence.

Deni Straus

Deni is a Master of Applied Science candidate at the University of Toronto in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, working on experimental plasma physics.

Deni received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto in 2026. In 2025, he spent his co-op year working at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, where he worked on the Collective Thomson Scattering diagnostic.

Issra Ali

Issra Ali is a PhD student at Princeton University in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, working on numerical methods for stellarator and coil optimization and analysis.

Issra received his BASc in Engineering Science (Engineering Physics) from the University of Toronto in 2026. In 2024, he spent his co-op year working at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany, where he worked on novel stellarator optimization techniques.