Chen Shi, PhD

Chen Shi, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Physics
    • (334) 844-4264
    chs0090@auburn.edu
    Leach Science Center 2134
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    Chen Shi's Homepage

    Dr. Chen Shi is an assistant professor working at Department of Physics of Auburn University. His research interests include onset and evolution of fast magnetic reconnection, theory of solar wind turbulence, and heating and acceleration of solar corona and solar wind. His work includes developing magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theories, building and running parallelized MHD simulation programs, and analysis of satellite (Parker Solar Probe, WIND, etc.) data.

    Education

    • PhD Geophysics and Space Physics University of California, Los Angeles 2020

    • BS Space Science & Technology Peking University 2015

    Professional Experience

    • Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Auburn University, August 2025-present
    • Assistant Researcher, Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, UCLA, April 2023-July 2025
    • Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, UCLA, July 2020-March 2023

    Innovation

    My research focuses on space plasma physics and solar physics, with particular emphasis on solar wind turbulence, magnetic reconnection and the origin of the solar wind.

    My recent work focuses on three areas: analyzing satellite observations from missions such as Parker Solar Probe, WIND and MMS to investigate dynamic processes in the solar wind; developing high-performance magnetohydrodynamic simulation codes to study plasma turbulence, magnetic reconnection and solar wind dynamics; and advancing fundamental theories on current sheet instabilities, solar wind generation and magnetohydrodynamic turbulence.

    I am also interested in applying machine learning techniques to predict space weather from remote-sensing observations of the Sun.

    Engagement

    • Auburn University Summer Science Institute 2026.
    • Auburn University STEM EXPO 2026. Table: The Sun and Solar System
    • Lead the booth Our Magnetic Sun at Explore Your Universe, a UCLA-organized outreach event, from 2022 to 2024.

    Grants

    • NSF GEM, Co-PI, "Cusp Ion Precipitation Process in Response to Solar Wind Transients", 2026-2029
    • NASA Early Career Investigator Program, PI, “Properties and Origins of Magnetic Switchbacks and Switchback Patches in the Solar Wind,” 2023-2027
    • NSF SHINE, PI, “Structures in the Solar Corona and Solar Wind and Their Interaction with the Turbulence,” 2022-2025
    • NSF GEM, Co-I, “How Upstream Solar Wind Conditions Determine the Properties of the Foreshock Backstreaming Ions,” 2023-2026

    Awards

    • Vincenzo Ferraro Award for Best Ph.D. Thesis, 2021
    • Physics of Plasmas Early Career Collection, 2022
    • NASA Group Achievement Award, Parker Solar Probe Team, 2023
    • Kamide Award Lecture, Asia Oceania Geosciences Society, 2026