His research in high intensity laser physics spans the fields of plasma and high energy density physics, advanced particle accelerators and light sources, atomic physics, nonlinear optics, and structured light.
He is the recipient of the APS John Dawson Award for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research (2005) and the APS Arthur Schawlow Prize in Laser Science (2024). Three of his PhD students have received the APS Marshall Rosenbluth Dissertation Award in Plasma Physics and one a finalist for the APS Division of Laser Science Dissertation Award. Outside of the lab, Milchberg is at loose ends.