ITER is the world’s largest experimental fusion reactor in the world.

Based in Provence, France, the facility – comprising more than one million elements – is probably the most complex construction project on the planet.

A construction manager at ITER, Laura first trained at Ecole des Mines de Saint Etienne, before spending five years within the CEA Marcoule nuclear research centre, which allowed her to consolidate her technical knowledge with practical experience in the nuclear sector.

Initially, Laura worked as an apprentice engineer on the Alpha decontamination process of liquid waste optimisation in Atalante.

She then became a consulting and works engineer, working on the dismantling of nuclear installations, specialising in nuclear fuel reprocessing.

These experiences opened the doors of the ITER project where, for the last five years, Laura’s career has turned towards construction/assembly, working within Momentum’s consortium (Assystem).

Laura joined the project as site coordinator, before becoming deputy area construction manager.

Working closely with the client and contractors, she participated in first-of-a-kind activities including the tooling installation and the lifting/assembly of complex components such as the cryostat, vaccum vessel and the toroidal/poloidal field coils.

Currently, Laura works as construction manager for sector module assembly on dedicated tools (called SSAT) and lifting operations in the assembly pit.

With a strong presence on site, she is an integral part of the team leading the reactor’s assembly sequence.