Hong Zhao, PhD
Short Bio
Hong Zhao is an associate professor in the Department of Physics at Auburn University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in space physics from Peking University in 2011 and her Ph.D. in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2015.
After graduation, she began as a research associate at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. In 2021, she joined Auburn University as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics. In 2026, she was promoted to an associate professor with tenure.
Dr. Zhao’s research focuses on understanding the dynamics of energetic charged particles in Earth’s magnetosphere using satellite observations, numerical simulations, and instrument and mission development.
To date, she has published 85 peer-reviewed publications, including a lead-author publication in Nature Physics and a co-author publication in Nature. She has delivered 16 invited talks and seminars at conferences and workshops.
Over the past five years, she has been awarded seven grants from NASA and NSF as principal investigator, totaling $3.7 million in funding. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with awards including the Fred L. Scarf Award from the American Geophysical Union in 2017 and the NSF CAREER Award in 2024.
Education
PhD Aerospace Engineering Sciences/University of Colorado Boulder 2015
BS Peking University 2011
Professional Experience
- Associate Professor, Department of Physics, Auburn University, 2026-current
- Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Auburn University, 2021-2026
- Research Associate, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, 2016-2020
- Graduate Research Assistant, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, 2011-2015
- Graduate Research Assistant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, June-August 2015
- Undergraduate Research Assistant, Peking University, 2009-2011
Innovation
Radiation belts are toroidal regions surrounding Earth that are filled with highly energetic electrons and protons trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. Understanding radiation belt dynamics is both scientifically compelling and practically important: radiation belts serve as a natural plasma laboratory for studying particle energization, yet they also pose serious risks to spacecraft and astronauts due to intense radiation exposure.
Dr. Zhao’s research addresses a central question in space physics: How do radiation belts form and evolve? She pursues this question through an integrated approach that combines data analysis, numerical modeling, space instrument development, and space mission design to investigate radiation belt electron acceleration and transport.
Her work advances the field in several focused areas, including comprehensive characterization of radiation belt structure and variability, development of a system-level understanding of radiation belt dynamics through comparative studies with ring current ions, and identification of critical gaps in understanding acceleration mechanisms. She also develops space instruments and mission concepts designed to help close those gaps.
To date, Dr. Zhao has 85 peer-reviewed publications, including a lead publication in Nature Physics and a co-author publication in Nature. Her publications have accumulated more than 2,700 citations and an h-index of 33 according to Google Scholar.
She has delivered 16 invited talks and seminars at conferences and workshops. Over the past five years, she has been awarded seven grants from NASA and NSF as principal investigator, totaling $3.7 million in funding. Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with awards including the Fred L. Scarf Award from the American Geophysical Union in 2017 and the NSF CAREER Award in 2024.
Engagement
Dr. Zhao has engaged in a range of STEM outreach programs that connect K-12 students, educators and the broader community.
She has developed and presented learning modules and exhibits for outreach events, including Auburn University Destination STEM from 2022 to 2025, the Auburn University Summer Science Institute in 2021, 2024-2026, and Auburn University Gameday Physics in 2025.
She was also invited to present at the APS Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics as a presenter and panelist in 2023 and 2025.
