Diego del-Castillo-Negrete, Director
Before joining UT, Research Professor Diego del-Castillo-Negrete was a Distinguished Scientist in the Theory and Modeling Group of the Fusion Energy Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2000-2025). Previous appointments include research positions at the Theoretical Division of Los Alamos National Laboratory (1998-2000), and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of Californian San Diego (1994-1998). He has been visiting professor at universities in Marseille, Madrid, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo, has been a recurring visiting staff member at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, J.T. Oden Faculty Fellow and Visiting Researcher at the Oden Institute for Computational Sciences at the University of Texas, and exchange visiting scientist at the National Institute for Fusion Studies in Japan. Dr. Del Castillo Negrete holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin.
His research focuses on plasma theory, computational physics, nonlinear dynamics, applied mathematics and machine learning for controlled nuclear fusion. He pioneered the investigation of nonlocal transport in plasmas, and degenerate, non-twist chaotic Hamiltonian systems. He has contributed to the understanding, prediction, and control of runaway electrons and energetic particles in magnetically confined fusion devices. More recently, he has pioneered the use of generative artificial intelligence methods to accelerate turbulence and kinetic transport computations in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. He is a member of two multi-institutional DOE FIRE (Fusion Innovative Research Engine) collaboratives: APP-FPP focused on advanced profile prediction for the design of fusion pilot plants, and MiRACL focused on advanced simulation and engineering workflows to quantify and mitigate the potential damage due to the abrupt loss of plasma confinement in fusion devices. In 2021 he received the Great Minds in STEM HENAAC Outstanding Technical Achievement award.