This three-story-tall vertical shock tube will allow scientists to perform experiments on instabilities at gas interfaces accelerated by shock waves. (40K JPG) Research Highlight Nearly $3.25 million in new funding from the Department of Energy will keep faculty, staff and students in the college's fusion programs busy over the next three years. A combination of nine grants will support 10 to 12 new graduate students working toward PhDs in nuclear engineering and engineering physics. In addition, fusion programs will be looking for about 10 undergraduates to work on special projects, said Fusion Technology Institute (FTI) Director and Professor of Engineering Physics Gerald Kulcinski. The research falls into three broad areas: design of magnetic fusion power reactors; analysis of fusion targets for inertial confinement fusion; and design of chambers that contain small thermonuclear explosions.