Dr. Phillip Hagen earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Idaho, where he also received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering. His doctoral research focused on applied electromagnetics and radio-frequency (RF) systems, with an emphasis on developing reconfigurable and adaptive electronic devices.

His research interests broadly involve applied electromagnetics, RF and microwave systems, reconfigurable electronics, and the application of machine learning to electromagnetic design. His recent work has included using machine learning to model nonlinear RF components, investigating the stability and component tolerances of non-Foster circuits, and developing mechanically reconfigurable RF components using soft robotic structures. His broader interests include reconfigurable antennas, wearable and sensing technologies, and new approaches for integrating computational methods with electromagnetic systems

Prior to joining Cooper Union, Dr. Hagen taught circuit analysis, signal processing, and electromagnetism at the University of Idaho and worked extensively with students on undergraduate capstone engineering design projects. His approach to engineering education emphasizes developing physical intuition alongside mathematical proficiency and encouraging students to evaluate not only whether an answer is mathematically correct, but whether it makes physical sense.

At Cooper Union, Dr. Hagen looks forward to involving undergraduate students in research and creating opportunities for students to apply concepts from the classroom to open-ended engineering problems.

Outside of the classroom and lab, Dr. Hagen can often be found painting miniatures, playing tabletop games, experimenting in the kitchen, or exploring New York City.

"I am excited to join The Cooper Union because of its strong focus on undergraduate education and the opportunity to work closely with students both in the classroom and through research. I have always viewed teaching, research, and engineering design as complementary parts of an engineering education, and I look forward to collaborating with students on research projects as well as open-ended classroom and design projects. I am particularly excited to help students take concepts from their coursework and apply them to challenging problems that do not have predetermined answers, while developing the confidence, independence, and engineering judgment needed to pursue their own ideas. Cooper’s highly engaged student community makes it an especially exciting place to build those kinds of collaborative experiences."