Dan Wik

Dan Wik is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Utah. His research focuses on observational X-ray astronomy, particularly galaxy clusters, inverse Compton scattering, X-ray binaries, and the X-ray background. He has extensive experience in data calibration, analysis tool development, and mission collaborations such as NuSTAR, Chandra, and XRISM.

Wik holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Virginia (2010) and a BS in Astrophysics from Ohio University. His research interests span galaxy cluster mergers, nonthermal emission processes, high-energy astrophysics, and cross-calibration studies between X-ray observatories.

Recent articles highlight his work on NuSTAR observations of galaxy clusters, X-ray binary populations in M31 and M33, inverse Compton emission constraints, and stray light background analysis techniques. His studies often integrate multiwavelength data and address cosmological implications of X-ray observations.

Wik has received multiple grants from NASA for projects like Time Domain X-ray Studies of AGN and Hard Bandpass Extension of XRISM Cluster Observations. He supervises undergraduate and graduate researchers and teaches courses from general education to advanced graduate levels, including Foundations of Astronomy and High Energy Astrophysics.