Spotlight | PhD Program in Medical Physics

Hadley DeBrosse

PhD candidate - La Rivière Lab

I came to the University of Chicago in 2019 after graduating in 2018 from the University of Dayton with a BS in physics. By joining the GPMP, I knew my doctoral research would contribute to technology that makes a positive difference for human wellbeing. I am now a PhD candidate in the La Riviére lab, where I work on the development of imaging geometries and reconstruction algorithms for a new x-ray fluorescence emission tomography (XFET) system. Beyond my research, I have enjoyed learning about clinical diagnostic medical physics through coursework, practicums, and clinical shadowing. My favorite part of being in the GPMP is the opportunity to organize fun outreach events for the South Side community; I love bringing medical physics to community members and to those who wouldn’t otherwise experience it. Outside of work, I enjoy bouldering, hiking, ballet, and fostering cats.

Natalie Baughan

PhD candidate - Giger Lab

I joined the program in 2019 after graduating from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences. As an undergrad, I beganresearch in radiation therapy physics which inspired me to pursue medical physics as a career. Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Giger lab, and my research focuses on breast cancer risk assessment in mammography and statistical methods for dataset balancing and distribution sampling in the Medical Imaging and Data Resource Center (MIDRC). My favorite part of being in the GPMP has been working with many renowned physicists and being involved with really impactful research. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the Chicago food scene, spending time on Lake Michigan, and bouldering.

Benjamin Preusser

PhD candidate - La Rivière Lab

I joined the GPMP in 2018 after completing a double major in physics and mathematics at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. I discovered medical physics after graduating college while shadowing a medical physicist in a radiation clinic. I saw the field as a great focal point for my passions of computer technology, physics, and imaging science. I joined the La Rivière research group because of the wide exposure to different forms of imaging research being done, ranging from microscopy to CT to imaging the great pyramids of Giza. My research primarily focuses on applying a new optical imaging modality, light-field imaging, to clinical settings. Light-field cameras allow volumetric reconstructions from a single picture by recording the incident light field instead of a traditional camera image. Applying this technology to scintillator imaging could improve image quality, dose-sparing imaging, and better material identification in megavoltage images. Through this work, I was able to collaborate with medical physicists in the clinic and researchers from other institutions and attend AAPM conferences. Outside work, I enjoy walks along the lake, volunteering, playing the piano, playing video games with friends, and diving into various tech rabbit holes on the web.

Lindsay Douglas

PhD candidate - Giger Lab

I joined the GPMP in 2018 after earning a bachelor’s degree in physics with minors in biology, math, and computational science. I discovered medical physics late in my undergraduate career, so the first-year rotations through multiple labs in the GPMP played a large role in my decision to come to the University of Chicago. Now I am a member of the Giger lab, and my research involves machine learning for background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in cancer risk assessment from breast DCE-MRI. More specifically, I have investigated techniques for lesion and breast segmentation and developed a novel method for automatic scoring of BPE from DCE-MRI. Over the last few years, I have been able to attend conferences, including AAPM, SPIE Medical Imaging, and RSNA, to present my work and learn even more about the different fields in medical physics. I am pursuing a career as a clinical diagnostic physicist, so an aspect that I appreciate about our program is the potential for collaboration with radiologists; their input has supported my interest in projects that may fulfill clinical needs. I enjoy participating in STEM outreach programs and organizing volunteer opportunities for our students and faculty to do together. Outside of work, I love to explore Chicago, bake, travel, attend concerts, and attempt to keep all my plants alive.

Jordan Fuhrman

Recent graduate from the laboratory of Maryellen Giger

I joined the GPMP in 2017 after graduating from the University of Alabama with a physics and mathematics double major. After discovering a passion for artificial intelligence and its applications in medical imaging, I joined the Giger Lab with research focus in computer-aided diagnosis and prognosis techniques for CT scan evaluation. Through this work, I was able to collaborate with expert scientists across the globe, including groups in China, New York, Argonne National Laboratory, and UChicago. I recently defended my dissertation at the beginning of November and plan to continue my work with the Giger Lab in the coming year. Outside of the lab, I enjoy watching and playing sports (football, soccer, and basketball), reading fantasy and sci-fi novels, and playing board games with friends.

Daniela Olivera Velarde

Graduate student in the laboratory of Bulent Aydogan

I am a student from Bolivia who joined the GPMP in 2020 after earning my bachelor’s degree in physics with a minor in math. As an undergraduate, I did research in nuclear physics. As a first-year student in the medical physics program, I did research in therapy and imaging labs. Now I work on developing an implantable resonator to measure the oxygen levels in tumors to potentially aid in the treatment of cervical cancer. What I love the most about our medical physics program is how hard faculty work on improving the courses based on students’ suggestions.

Jennie Crosby

Graduate student in the laboratory of Maryellen Giger

I joined the program in 2016 after graduating in Dec. 2015 from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a nuclear engineering degree. As an undergrad I did brachytherapy research which led me to consider a future career in medical physics. Now my research involves the application of deep learning to chest radiographs for the detection of disease. My favorite aspect of our program is how much the faculty cares about the students and our success. I love Chicago’s beaches and all the world class museums.

Sam Hendley

Graduate student in the laboratory of Kenneth Bader

What drew me to the University of Chicago was the rigor of both its academics and research. I earned my B.Sc in Physics with a minor in math and music performance from the University of Florida, and having come from a condensed matter background, I had never worked specifically in a medical physics research setting before. Because the medical physics program here offers chances to rotate through different labs during one’s first year, I got to explore the different areas in medical physics and see which research questions interested me. Currently I work with biomedical acoustics and therapeutic ultrasound in the Bader lab, and am interested in the mechanical fractionation of tissue, especially as it relates to chronic deep vein thrombosis. Outside of the lab I play the cello and practice with some chamber groups around Hyde Park. I also volunteer with STEM Scouts, a program which helps girls and boys learn about science, technology, engineering and math through creative, hands-on activities, field trips and interaction with STEM professionals.