Postdoctoral researcher in plasma physics
IPP Garching, Germany, with co-funding from Proxima Fusion · Nov 2025 — present
Elias Waagaard
Curious by nature, I conduct physics research in fusion reactors at hundreds of millions of degrees. Since Nov 2025, I am a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, co-funded by Proxima Fusion. I believe that energy supply is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. My personal mission statement is to advance stellarator fusion reactor design, as a source of abundant cheap energy for humankind.
I was recently awarded the 2027 EUROfusion Bernard Bigot Researcher Grant for outstanding early career researchers. I develop power exhaust models for Wendelstein 7-X (photo), the world’s largest superconducting optimized stellarator, and for future reactor designs. I have published 24 peer-reviewed papers, proceeding articles and theses (14 as first author).
In Sep 2025, I defended my PhD in accelerator physics at EPFL and CERN, selected for a CERN doctoral studentship. I graduated from Uppsala University with a Master's in Particle and Nuclear Physics, where I was awarded the Leman Scholarship. Previously, I did research internships as a Technical Student and Summer Student at CERN, at the Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics and at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
I spend much time speaking to founders in the Munich start-up ecosystem, as I believe that entrepreneurship is the catalyst needed to transition ideas from the academic lab into real-world innovations. I also enjoy reading, running, hiking, swimming and various outdoor sports.
While Swedish is my native language, I am fluent in English, French and Italian, but communicate quite well also in German and Spanish.
Research experience
Doctoral researcher in accelerator physics
CERN, Switzerland · Sep 2022 — Sep 2025
Technical student (Master’s thesis)
CERN, Switzerland · Sep 2021 — Aug 2022
CERN summer student
CERN, Switzerland · Jul — Aug 2021
Student researcher
FREIA Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden · Jan — Dec 2020
Erasmus+ research intern
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Turin, Italy · Jul — Aug 2019
Summer intern at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Boston (MA), USA · Jun — Aug 2016
Education
PhD in Accelerator Physics
EPFL & CERN, Switzerland · 2022 — 2025
Master’s Programme in Particle and Nuclear Physics
Uppsala University, Sweden. GPA: 4.9/5 · 2020 — 2022
Bachelor’s Programme in Physics
Uppsala University, Sweden. GPA: 4.9/5 · 2017 — 2020
Natural Science High School Program
Bromangymnasiet, Hudiksvall, Sweden · 2013 — 2017
Exchange year at Riverside Regional High School, Jonquière (QC), Canada (2014 — 2015). Graduated with a bilingual Canadian high school diploma.
Research and Publications
My work spans plasma physics, accelerator physics, numerical optimization, machine learning, beam dynamics, and cryogenics. A complete list of publications can be found on Google Scholar and InspireHEP.
Publications and Proceedings
2026
Advances in 3D transient plasma dynamics and control through MHD and hybrid fluid-kinetic simulations with JOREK
M. Hoelzl et al (including E. Waagaard)
Nuclear Fusion
Paper ↗LHC operation with oxygen and neon ions
R. Bruce et al (including E. Waagaard)
17th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Oxygen and neon ion beam performance in the CERN ion injector complex
R. Alemany Fernández et al (including E. Waagaard)
17th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗2025
Charting the luminosity capabilities of the CERN Large Hadron Collider with various nuclear species
E. Waagaard, R. Bruce, H. Bartosik, R. Alemany Fernández, J. M. Jowett, and N. Triantafyllou
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 171118
Paper ↗Beam-gas interactions in the CERN Proton Synchrotron: Cross section measurements and lifetime modelling
E. Waagaard, F. Ukena, J. Olsen, R. Alemany Fernández, J. Somoza, and G. Weber
arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.02928
Paper ↗Investigating Lead Ion Beam Loss Mechanisms at the Super Proton Synchrotron Flat Bottom
E. Waagaard, F. Soubelet, H. Bartosik and K. Paraschou
16th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Future of light ions at LHC: Run 4 and beyond
N. Triantafyllou, R. Alemany Fernández, R. Bruce, J. M. Jowett, S. Redaelli and E. Waagaard
13th Annual Large Hadron Collider Physics Conference (LHCP2025) Proceedings
Paper ↗Development of new ion beams at the CERN ion injector complex for future physics programmes
M. Slupecki et al (including E. Waagaard)
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 3094, 012006
Paper ↗Exceeding high-luminosity LHC performance targets during the 2024 Pb-Pb ion run
R. Bruce et al (including E. Waagaard)
16th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Review of linear and nonlinear optics measurements in the CERN LHC
E.H. Maclean et al (including E. Waagaard)
16th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Future challenges for CERN’s ion injector complex
M. Slupecki et al (including E. Waagaard)
16th International Conference on Heavy Ion Accelerator Technology Proceedings
Paper ↗2024
Expanding the CERN ion injector chain capabilities: new beam dynamics simulation tools for future ion species
E. Waagaard, R. Alemany Fernandez, H. Bartosik, R. Bruce and F. Soubelet
15th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗2023
Exploring space charge and intra-beam scattering effects in the CERN ion injector chain
E. Waagaard and H. Bartosik
68th ICFA Advanced Beam Dynamics Workshop on High-Intensity and High-Brightness Hadron Beams, pp. 515–518
Paper ↗Designing a new CERN SPS injection system with numerical optimization
E. Waagaard, M. J. Barnes, W. Bartmann, V. Bencini, J. Borburgh, L. S. Ducimetière, T. Kramer, T. Stadlbauer, P. Trubacova, F. M. Velotti
14th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Performance of the Ion Chain at the CERN Injector Complex and Transmission Studies During the 2023 Slip Stacking Commissioning
M. Slupecki et al (including E. Waagaard)
68th ICFA Advanced Beam Dynamics Workshop (HB2023) Proceedings
Paper ↗2022
Emittance Growth of Kicked and Mismatched Beams Due to Amplitude-Dependent Tune Shift
E. Waagaard & V. Ziemann
Physical Review Accelerators and Beams 25, 054001
Paper ↗A Response Matrix Approach to Skew-Sextupole Correction in the LHC at Injection
E. Waagaard and E. H. Maclean
13th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗Overview of the Machine Learning and Numerical Optimiser Applications on Beam Transfer Systems for LHC and Its Injectors
F. M. Velotti et al (including E. Waagaard)
13th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗2021
MATLAB Simulations of the Helium Liquefier in the FREIA Laboratory
E. Waagaard, R. Ruber & V. Ziemann
12th International Particle Accelerator Conference Proceedings
Paper ↗2020
Cryogenic Copper Surfaces: A Comparative Study in High Electric Fields
E. Waagaard
FREIA Report 2020/05, Uppsala University
Report ↗2019
Identified Multiplicity Dependence Of Primary Strange Particle Production
E. Waagaard
Student Project Report, Uppsala University and Università degli Studi di Torino
Report ↗Theses
Beam Dynamics Limitations for Future Ions in the CERN Injector Complex
E. Waagaard
PhD Thesis, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (2025)
Thesis ↗Designing a New SPS Injection System With Numerical Optimisation
E. Waagaard
Master’s Thesis, Uppsala University (2022)
Thesis ↗Benchmarking a Cryogenic Code for the FREIA Helium Liquefier
E. Waagaard
Bachelor’s Thesis, Uppsala University (2020)
Thesis ↗Outreach and Talks
I started my science outreach as an official guide at CERN, having guided hundreds of students across many of the CERN experiments. From personal experience, I know how much such a student visit can change the career trajectory for a lifetime.
For a long time, Swedish students and staff have been far underrepresented at CERN. Together with Big Science Sweden, I have given multiple inspirational lecture tours across Swedish universities and made video content (in Swedish) to promote student internships at CERN. For this work, I was awarded the 2024 Big Science Sweden Inspiration Award.
I have also appeared in several popular science podcast, for example:
- Decoding Accelerators w/ CERN physicist — Podcast “Spacebites w/Benny”
- CERN - Research, Nobel Recipients and Myths — Podcast “Traineepodden”
- Do we know anything about dark matter yet? — Podcast “Har vi åkt till Mars än?”
I have also visited some of the largest telescopes in the world: The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory at La Palma (Canary Islands) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescope sites in the Chilean Atacama desert. Some of these have appeared in my YouTube videos.
Awards and Scholarships
2027 EUROfusion Bernard Bigot Researcher Grant
European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy · 2026
Inspiration Award
Swedish Big Science Forum, Lund, Sweden · 2024
2nd award for best start-up pitch
EPFL/ETH Sciencepreneurship Summer School, Switzerland · 2024
Leman Scholarship
Uppsala University, Sweden · 2017 — 2021
Honorary Prizes
Mathematical Society of Uppsala, Sweden · 2018 & 2019
Third Award, Physics and Astronomy
Taiwan International Science Fair, Taipei · 2018
K. T. Li Special Award
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), Los Angeles, USA · 2017
First Award
Swedish Federation of Young Scientists’ Science Fair, Stockholm, Sweden · 2017
Research Science Institute (RSI) Scholarship
Boston (MA), USA · 2016
National Scholarship for the European Southern Observatory Astronomy Camp
Astronomical Observatory of St-Barthélemy, Italy · 2015
Embassador Award
Riverside Regional High School, Jonquière (QC), Canada · 2015
Odd Fellows' Scholarship for the United Nations Pilgrimage for Youth
New York (NY), USA · 2014
Commitments
Leadership and volunteering
Technology scout · Positron Ventures · 2024 — 2025
Outreach collaborator · Big Science Sweden · 2022 — 2025
CERN guide and Junior Liaison Officer · CERN · 2022 — 2025
Student representative · Uppsala University · 2021 — 2022
Board president · Gästrike-Hälsinge Student Nation · 2020 — 2021
Camp counsellor · Space Summer School, KTH · 2018
Vice president · Swedish Astronomical Youth Association · 2016 — 2018
Co-founder and project manager · Stjärnguiderna - Swedish Astronomical Youth Association · 2015 — 2016
Passions
Skiing
I really enjoy skiing, both downhill and cross-country. Saas-Fee, Vallée Blanche and the Aosta Valley are favorites.
Scuba diving
I'm a certified PADI Open Water and CMAS two-star diver. The Fakarava South Pass “shark wall” (French Polynesia) and the Agincourt Reef (Australia) are my favorites so far.
Sailing
On Lake Geneva, where I was active in the Yachting Club CERN. I mostly sailed Hobie Tiger catamarans and frequently taught dinghy sailing during Thursday practice. The Whitsunday Islands (Australia) also proved to be a good sailing spot.
Book Club
Founder of the Innovator's Solution Book Club Munich— we meet regularly downtown to discuss the ideas of Clayton Christiansen, Jim Collins and other great business thinkers. Reach out if you are interested in joining the circle!
I read a lot. Below are selected favourite titles in various areas:
Entrepreneurship
The Innovator’s Dilemma
Clayton Christensen
Inside the Tornado
Geoffrey Moore
Good To Great
Jim Collins
The Lean Start-up
Eric Ries
The Idea Factory: Bell Labs
Jon Gertner
How Big Things Get Done
Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
High Output Management
Andy Grove
Build
Tony Fadell
Non-fiction
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen R. Covey
The Singularity is Near
Ray Kurzweil
The Lessons of History
Will and Ariel Durant
Chip War
Chris Miller
The Culture Map
Erin Meyer
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Bill Gates
Guns, Germs and Steel
Jared Diamond
Empires of the Word
Nicolas Ostler
How Asia Works
Joe Studwell
Scale
Geoffrey West
Fiction
The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follet
The Three-Body Problem
Liu Cixin
The Days of His Grace
Eyvind Johnson
La Peste
Albert Camus
The Betrothed
Alessandro Manzoni
The Emigrants
Vilhelm Moberg
The Ring of the Löwenskölds
Selma Lagerlöf
On the Road
Jack Kerouac
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
Jules Verne
The Catcher in the Rye
J. D. Salinger
Philosophy
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Discourses
Epictetus
Letters from a Stoic
Seneca
The Republic
Plato
Discipline is Destiny
Ryan Holiday