Celena Michaud is an Electrical Engineer at Avalanche Energy, a nuclear fusion startup developing a compact fusion device capable of providing clean, renewable energy for use in distributed and remote systems such as underwater vehicles and satellites. Her work includes designing experimental hardware, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems to support fusion research and experiments.

While studying Computer Systems Engineering at the University of Georgia, Celena discovered her fascination with the intersection between low-level systems hardware and software. She completed an undergraduate co-operative education program at Gulfstream Aerospace, where she gained experience in real-time flight simulation and experimental flight test instrumentation. Driven by her commitment to sustainability, she later joined Avalanche Energy, drawn to the company’s innovative approach to fusion technology and renewable energy.

When the work day is done, Celena enjoys participating in endurance sports including triathlons and half marathons, motivated mostly by her enjoyment of making pasta from scratch. She is also dedicated to making STEM careers more accessible to underrepresented groups. She advocates for greater awareness of the opportunities available with STEM degrees and encourages open conversations around building confidence among women in engineering.