Niels Horsten serves as an Assistant Professor at KU Leuven within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science. His academic appointment is housed in the Applied Mechanics and Energy conversion (TME) research unit located at Celestijnenlaan 300 - box 2421, 3001 Leuven, where he maintains office room 02.51. His research program bridges computational physics with practical nuclear engineering applications, focusing on critical challenges in both fusion and advanced fission reactor technologies. Dr. Horsten's research expertise centers on plasma edge physics in magnetic confinement fusion devices, particularly tokamak divertor phenomena. His work employs advanced computational frameworks including SOLPS-ITER and EDGE2D-EIRENE to model plasma-neutral interactions, radiation transport, and detachment processes. He has made significant contributions to hybrid fluid-kinetic modeling approaches that balance computational efficiency with physical accuracy in plasma edge simulations. His research extends to Small Modular Reactor development, where he leads projects optimizing steam generators and heat exchangers for lead-cooled systems, demonstrating his ability to bridge fusion and fission reactor technologies. Analysis of Dr. Horsten's publication record reveals a consistent focus on improving the fidelity of plasma edge simulations through methodological innovations in numerical techniques. His recent work emphasizes sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, and code validation against experimental data from major facilities like JET. The publications show increasing involvement in EU-DEMO related research, indicating his growing role in preparing computational tools for next-generation fusion power plants. His collaborative approach is evident in numerous multi-author papers involving international fusion research teams. Dr. Horsten currently serves as promotor for two significant research projects: 'Optimization of the steam generators in lead-cooled Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)' (2025-2029) and 'Shape Optimization of Heat Exchangers for Lead-Cooled Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)' (2025-2029). These projects represent substantial research commitments that bridge his expertise in computational modeling with practical reactor engineering challenges. His work maintains strong connections to the EUROfusion consortium and ITER development efforts, as evidenced by his co-authorship on major program overviews and JET experimental campaign reports. Within KU Leuven's research ecosystem, Dr. Horsten contributes to the Applied Mechanics and Energy conversion unit, which focuses on sustainable energy systems and advanced mechanical engineering solutions. This environment provides interdisciplinary support for his work at the intersection of nuclear engineering, computational physics, and thermal-fluid sciences, enabling him to address complex challenges in both fusion and advanced fission reactor technologies.
