Postdoctoral Researcher

Chansoo is a new postdoctoral researcher from South Korea. He recently received his PhD in nuclear engineering with a dissertation on development of International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)’s pediatric reference phantoms in a high-quality mesh format. During his PhD years, he also conducted research to develop body-size-dependent adult phantoms and Korean adult reference phantoms and participated in research to develop various other phantoms such as ICRP’s adult and pregnant reference phantoms. Currently, he is highly eager to include more detailed organ/tissue models in phantoms and to further improve the quality of phantoms themselves, thereby more accurately evaluating radiation doses delivered to the human body.

Away from research, he used to enjoy boxing, hiking, and watching movies. Recently married and settled in Gainesville, he is looking for new hobbies to enjoy with his wife.

Medical Physics PhD Student

Jared is a first year PhD student. He graduated with his MS from UF in 2022. He found his interest for medical applications of physics during his biomedical optics class as an undergraduate. After researching the topic and shadowing a medical physicist, Jared knew that medical physics was perfect for him.

Always wanting to help those in need, Jared hopes to use his experience from UF to work with therapeutic treatment of cancer patients.

Aside from school, Jared enjoys playing sports, working out, and having a good time with his friends. He has a soft spot for animals and is always willing to stay inside for a movie night.

Medical Physics PhD Student

Bobby is a first year PhD student, having graduated with his MS in 2022. He graduated with his BS in 2019 and returned to his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida to begin working as a medical physics assistant at Ackerman Cancer Center. He is interested in research geared toward optimizing radiation therapy, specifically proton therapy.

Bobby became interested in medical physics after touring UF’s Proton Therapy Institute in high school and later spending a summer working as an undergraduate researcher at Cornell’s high energy synchrotron source. 

In his free time, Bobby enjoys DIY home improvement projects, weightlifting, music festivals, and 3D printing.

Biomedical Engineering PhD Student

Laura is a second year PhD student who was recently awarded her ME degree in Biomedical Engineering. During a freshmen undergraduate course in the engineering department, she heard of Medical Physics and became interested in learning more about how a biomedical engineer can play a role within the field. As an ME student, Laura was researching the creation of large-scale anthropomorphic computational phantom libraries for radiation dosimetry simulations.

In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, rock climbing, hiking, and taking care of her many house plants.

Medical Physics PhD Student

Bonnie is a PhD student who was recently awarded her MS degree. As a MS student, Bonnie was researching alpha particle doses to the lacrimal glands and the various sub-regions of the brain.

Bonnie became interested in Medical Physics during her Sophomore year in college when choosing an engineering discipline as part of a dual-degree program between UF and the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI).

Medical Physics allows Bonnie to pursue a career in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in both pediatric and adult patients. Research done in this field could pave the way for safer and more efficient radiative procedures in the future.

Originally from St Lucia, where the cancer mortality is very high and treatment resources are sparse, Bonnie plans to create an avenue for future generations to minimize this medical deficiency.

An avid book reader, Bonnie also enjoys travelling.

Biomedical Engineering PhD Student

Yitian is a second year PhD student in the ALRADS lab. He graduated with his BS in 2019 and came to America to become a biomedical engineer. After studying in the UF BME department for 2 years, he knew that he wanted to continue his research in the ALRADS lab.

Yitian always wants to help those in need, and he hopes his experience from UF can help clinicians in cancer and other disease therapy.

Yitian enjoys playing piano, swimming, world history, DIY projects and learning new languages.

Medical Physics MS Student

Madison is a first year MS student. She learned about medical physics through a simple renal scintigraphy conducted on her in 2016. Through working at a Reactor Engineering co-op at Plant Hatch, she was able to gain first-hand experience with detector systems. The University of Florida’s Medical Physics Undergraduate Internship program allowed her to observe the clinical aspects of the field and interact with more experienced medical physics staff.

Outside of school, Madison runs a small business developing film photography out of her home. Other hobbies of Madison’s include crocheting, gardening, playing with her three cats, working out, and cooking.

Medical Physics MS Student

Natalia is a second year MS student. She became interested in medical physics after talking with her aunt, who is a medical physicist. After shadowing her aunt, Natalia’s interest grew and she was certain that she wanted to study medical physics, specifically, therapeutic medical physics.

In her free time, Natalia enjoys listening to music, going out with friends, and traveling. She also has a dog that she loves and misses very much, but she knows that her mom is taking great care of her back home. And coffee – she loves coffee!

Medical Physics MS Student

Carlos is a first year MS student. He earned his degree in biomedical engineering with a minor in physics in May 2022. Because of his keen interest in radiology, he learned about the field of medical physics through the Medical Physics Undergraduate Internship program at UF under the direction of Dr Barreto; and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Diversity Recruitment through Education and Mentoring program, where he was exposed to a wide variety of medical physics related research. His current research pursuits comprise dosimetry studies for alpha-particle radiopharmaceutical therapy at the cellular level.

Carlos is originally from Puerto Rico and moved to Florida to become a University of Florida Gator. Due to the lack of medical physics programs on the island, one of his goals is to collaborate with academic institutions in Puerto Rico to create awareness of this field to improve radiation safety protocols and regulations.

Since the start of his academic career at UF, Carlos has also developed his musical skills as a university carillonneur, offering music to the college community in his participation of weekly recitals at the Century Tower Carillon and occasionally performing in various other keyboard instruments like piano and organ. During his free time, he likes to practice swimming, study music, and read and write poetry.

Medical Physics MS Student

Andrew is a first year MS student that has been interested in medical physics since high school. Born and raised in Panama City Beach, Florida, he was introduced to the field by a local pathologist and maintained that interest all the way through his time an an undergraduate. During that process, he became interested in dosimetry studies and worked under Dr Bolch making phantoms for radiation dosimetry where he remains today.

His interests include classic Russian literature, science fiction, writing, rocketry, 3D modeling, and hiking.

Medical Physics MS Student

Wyatt is a second year MS student who found his interest in medical physics through conducting undergraduate research to model anthropomorphic phantoms with Monte Carlo computational simulations. Medical physics will allow him to work closely with the treatment of cancer patients.

In his free time, Wyatt enjoys running, reading, and writing music.

Medical Physics MS Student

Stefan is a first year MS student who is interested in optimizing radiation oncology, as well as studying the effects of cosmic radiation on astronauts.

Stefan’s interest in medical physics originally came from his interest in nuclear physics and radiation interactions followed by efforts to combine nuclear and biomedical sciences into a single area of study.

Stefan’s personal interest include playing a variety of instruments, rollerblading, cooking, and fun socks.

Medical Physics MS Student

Julia is a first year MS student. She discovered her interest in medical physics through introductory courses in biomedical engineering and nuclear engineering as she was deciding her major during her undergraduate studies. She found medical physics to be the ideal mix of her interest in both fields. Soon after, Julia began research in the effects of adding vasculature to computational phantoms for dosimetry applications.

In her free time, Julia enjoys writing, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family.

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Student

Lauren Ellis is a third-year Biomedical Engineering BS student. She is specifically interested in the areas of medical physics and biomechanics. 

Lauren also plays trombone in the Gator Marching Band and works to create adaptive devices to help those with limited mobility play musical instruments. 

Nuclear Engineering Undergraduate Student

Lazaro is a second year BS student. Originally interested in nuclear energy, he learned about medical physics from introductory undergraduate classes explaining nuclear medicine. Professors helped him reach out to understand the opportunities and help medical physics provides.

Out of class, Lazaro enjoys drumming, tennis, and growing tabasco peppers.

Physics Undergraduate Student