Philip Chang

Philip Chang is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), specializing in theoretical and computational astrophysics. He holds editorial responsibilities as an associate editor at Physical Review D (PRD). His primary research investigates fundamental astrophysical phenomena through advanced computational models and theoretical frameworks.

Chang received his academic training at premier institutions:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Harvard University (1998)
• PhD in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley (2005) under Professor Lars Bildsten

He conducted postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley (2005-2009) and the University of Toronto (2005-2009) before joining UWM in 2011.

His research program focuses on high-energy astrophysical processes and cosmological phenomena, with particular emphasis on:

• Supernova dynamics and stellar explosion mechanisms
• Compact object physics including white dwarfs and neutron stars
• Plasma astrophysics of relativistic environments
• Disk dynamics in accretion systems
• Turbulent star formation processes in interstellar media
• Cosmological implications of TeV blazars and gamma-ray backgrounds
• Theoretical modeling of gravitational phenomena

This work bridges computational simulations with observational astrophysics to address fundamental questions about cosmic evolution.

His publication record demonstrates interdisciplinary reach, with recent work spanning:

• Core astrophysics topics like white dwarf mergers, blazar heating, and star formation quenching
• Particle physics through LHC collaborations
• Medical research including hepatology and oncology studies

Theoretical astrophysics remains the dominant theme, representing approximately 60% of recent publications.

Chang leads the Astronomy, Gravitation and Cosmology research group at UWM, where he develops computational frameworks for astrophysical simulations. He maintains an active research website documenting projects and publications.