Per Helander is one of four directors at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP in Greifswald, Germany, where he leads the Stellarator Theory Division. His predecessor Jürgen Nührenberg, who pioneered the science of stellarator optimization still works in the Division. IPP is home to the world’s largest and most advanced stellarator, Wendelstein 7-X, which is the first full-scale testbed of stellarator optimization. The Stellarator Theory Division is deeply involved in the planning and evaluation of experiments in W7-X as well as in the development of fundamental theory of stellarator plasmas.

Per Helander’s personal research portfolio spans most aspects of fusion plasma physics, including neoclassical transport theory, magnetohydronamic, microinstabilities and turbulence. In addition to his role at IPP, he is also a professor of theoretical physics at Greifswald University, where he teaches plasma physics, electrodynamics, fluid mechanics and general relativity.