From Swimming to Nuclear Engineering: Mines Student Heads Across the World to Study in Tokyo

John Wonka’s path to nuclear engineering was not a linear one.

It went from high school science classes to competitive pools in Wyoming and North Carolina to cutting-edge research labs at South Dakota Mines and now exploring fusion energy in Japan.

Wonka, a Mines senior mechanical engineering major, has been accepted into the nuclear engineering graduate program at the University of Tokyo. His acceptance follows his participation last summer in the University of Tokyo’s Research Internship Program (UTRIP), a highly competitive program in which he was one of 14 students worldwide chosen from more than 1,100 applicants.

Originally from Buffalo, Wyo., Wonka initially had a different career path in mind. After graduating high school, he pursued competitive swimming on scholarship at a private college in North Carolina and planned to study theatre arts. After a semester, he realized his long-term interests lay elsewhere, and he returned home to a community college before finding a home at Mines.

“I prepped all through high school to do engineering but had a last-minute decision that I wanted to swim,” Wonka said.

It didn’t take long before the pull brought him back to engineering.

He looked at many schools; however, Mines checked all his boxes.

“I am so glad I took the opportunity to come to Mines. It has been such a great decision,” Wonka said. “My mechanical program and faculty have been amazing.”

At Mines, Wonka immersed himself in research and internships focusing on plasma physics and nuclear technologies under the guidance of Sonya Dick, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Leslie A. Rose Department of Mechanical Engineering. His undergraduate research examines hydrodynamic instabilities in high-energy density plasmas, work directly tied to inertial confinement fusion, a promising pathway toward carbon-free energy and long-term energy security.

That research experience helped open the door to Tokyo. During his summer internship, Wonka conducted astrophysics-related plasma research alongside leading Japanese scientists, gaining international research experience that solidified his desire to pursue graduate study abroad.

“John’s path really reflects what we hope students gain from doing research at Mines,” Dick said. “He developed strong technical skills, genuine curiosity and the confidence to pursue opportunities on a global scale. His acceptance into the University of Tokyo speaks to both his drive and the preparation he received here.”

Wonka will graduate from Mines in May and begin his graduate program in Tokyo in October. Right now, his long-term goal is to work in nuclear energy technologies, a field he believes will be game-changing in the near future.

“I hope I can definitely be part of that niche group of engineers that bring this technology into modern-day society,” he said. “It will be such a cool thing to be a part of.”

Wonka credits the Mines faculty and the emphasis on exploration as the catalyst for him to look beyond the borders of the United States to expand his education. “One of the big driving things was the push for internships,” he said. “I loved going to career fairs and meeting with people, learning engineering in the commercial and career settings. The internships and working with companies really opened my eyes to the opportunities that arise from a school that pushes you to do stuff like that.”