---
title: UMD Astrophysicist Awarded $875K Packard Fellowship
date: 2024-10-16T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/umd-astrophysicist-awarded-875k-packard-fellowship"
section: Articles
---
# UMD Astrophysicist Awarded $875K Packard Fellowship

*October 16, 2024* — by [Emily C. Nunez](/author/emily-c-nunez)


> Sasha Philippov Becomes 7th Faculty Member to Receive Award for Early-Career Researchers

*Armory Detail Fall Leaves 11022006 09 1920x1080 — Assistant Professor Sasha Philippov, the second UMD physics researcher to receive the Packard Fellowship, uses computational astrophysics to study some of the most mysterious objects in the universe, including neutron stars and black holes.*

A University of Maryland astrophysicist was named Tuesday to the [2024 class of Packard Fellows for Science and Engineering](https://www.packard.org/insights/news/the-david-and-lucile-packard-foundation-announces-the-2024-class-of-packard-fellows-for-science-and-engineering/), an honor for early-career researchers that comes with a $875,000, five-year award “to take risks and explore new frontiers in their fields of study,” according to the sponsoring organization, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Assistant Professor Sasha Philippov is the seventh UMD faculty member to receive this competitive award since its launch in 1988.

“I am delighted to see the recognition Sasha is receiving with the awarding of the Packard Fellowship,” said UMD Physics Chair Steven Rolston. “His outstanding work places our excellent plasma theory group at the center of multi-messenger astronomy, with multiple connections to efforts in physics and astronomy both within and beyond the university.”


*Sasha Philippov headshot*




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Physics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/physics), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences)