Dr. Ir. Ana Koller

Dr. ir. Ana Koller has a diverse and extensive work experience in the field of fusion science and engineering. Starting in 2009, they gained practical experience as a student intern at the University of Belgrade, where they worked on projects related to plasma treatment and surface modification. Dr. ir. Ana continued their research as a student intern at Institut Jean Lamour, studying tungsten sputtering in DC and HiPIMS plasmas.

In 2015, Dr. Koller co-founded the Fusion Education Network, an organization aimed at promoting fusion science and engineering among undergraduate students in the western Balkans through workshops, experiments, and internship opportunities. Dr. ir. Ana also worked as a thesis student at the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, focusing on the physics of the L-H transition in the COMPASS tokamak.

Dr. Koller's research journey continued at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, where they served as a researcher and a doctoral researcher. Their work involved developing spectroscopic methods for electric field measurements in fusion devices and leading experimental studies on the interaction between ICRF and sheath dynamics in tokamak environments.

Dr. ir. Ana then joined Commonwealth Fusion Systems as a senior scientist, where they led the design and operation of spectroscopic and imaging diagnostics systems for the SPARC project.

In 2022, Dr. Koller became a research affiliate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, contributing to various research projects.

Currently, they serve as the Head of Research at First Momentum Ventures, where they lead deep dives into innovative tech solutions, identifies and invests in deep tech startups, and coordinates the Clueless No More Network and Events.

Dr. ir. Ana Koller's education history includes a range of academic achievements in the field of physics. Dr. ir. Ana completed their Doctor of Engineering Physics degree in Applied Physics (Nuclear Fusion Science and Engineering) at Ghent University in 2021. Additionally, they obtained a Doctor of Natural Sciences (doctor rerum naturalium) in Physics from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in the same year. Prior to their doctoral studies, Dr. Koller earned a Master of Science (MS) degree in Nuclear Fusion Science and Engineering from Ghent University in 2015. Dr. ir. Ana began their academic journey by obtaining a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Applied Physics/Physics and Technology Basics from the University of Belgrade in 2013.