To accelerate and embed fusion robotics learning among university students, two prominent visiting professorships and one lectureship have been appointed from UKAEA’s Robotics division. This initiative brings real-world fusion engineering into the classroom for the first time—strengthening ties between academia and industry, promoting diversity in STEM, and inspiring the next generation of fusion scientists and engineers. It represents a bold step towards aligning academic excellence with the UK’s ambitions in sustainable fusion energy and advanced robotics.
Dr Robert Skilton – University of Oxford
Dr Robert Skilton, Head of Robotics Research & Technology at UKAEA, has been appointed Visiting Professor of Practice in the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford. He will contribute to the MEng in Engineering Science and help develop a new MSc in Robotics, delivering lectures, supervising student projects, and embedding industrial insight into the curriculum. Students will gain hands-on experience through group design and master’s projects, supported by industry collaboration and site visits.
Dr Robert Skilton said:
This is an exciting new teaching partnership, marking a significant expansion of our long-standing research collaboration.
Director of the Oxford Robotics Institute Professor Nick Hawes, who nominated Dr Skilton for the role, added:
UKAEA has been a key research stakeholder and active collaborator for us for at least a decade, with our joint achievements including a number of autonomy world firsts. Rob’s appointment as a Visiting Professor of Practice will allow us to bring that same energy and application experience to our robotics teaching, from undergraduate project supervision to shaping the curriculum of our new MSc in Autonomous Robotics.
Dr Kaiqiang Zhang – University of Nottingham
Dr Kaiqiang Zhang, Principal Robotics Research Engineer and Robotic Research Programme Area Manager at UKAEA, has been appointed Honorary Professor of Robotics at the University of Nottingham (UoN). Every year, he will engage with over 350 students studying a wide range of engineering degrees within the School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. This allows to integrate real-world fusion engineering challenges into teaching, develop early-career pathways, support curriculum development, and mentor students pursuing careers in the fusion-energy supply chain.
Dr Kaiqiang Zhang said:
This initiative will not only strengthen the UKAEA–UoN partnership but also support the local workforce near STEP’s West Burton site in Nottinghamshire.
Dr Ipek Caliskanelli – University of York
Dr Ipek Caliskanelli, Principal Robotics Research Engineer at UKAEA, has been appointed as Honorary Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science of the University of York. She will enhance the University of York’s Autonomous Robotic Systems Engineering course through a collaboration with Dr Ribeiro. The programme will expand its curriculum with advanced robotics topics, increase hands-on learning through lab sessions, and promote diversity through outreach and mentoring.
Dr Ipek Caliskanelli commented:
I’m excited to bring real-world fusion engineering into the classroom and help inspire the next generation of robotics and fusion engineers.
Fuelling fusion: Building the workforce for 2030
The UK’s fusion ambitions can only be realised with a skilled and growing workforce. It’s estimated that 2,000–3,000 new professionals will be needed by 2030 to meet sector demands. UKAEA is addressing this through the FOSTER programme.
Interested in collaborating?
We warmly welcome enquiries from researchers and academics interested in fusion-related education or engineering research.