Program Faculty
The faculty of the Medical Physics Graduate Program are well known researchers and clinicians with national and international reputations. As in any interdisciplinary program that has been in existence for some time the active participation of the individual faculty varies. At the present time, there are 27 full and affiliate graduate faculty members. The most active participants in program governance on this list are in Radiology and Radiation Oncology and are most closely associated with the medical physics subject area.
Full members:
Gregor Adriany, PhD
![Gregor Adriany](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/gregor_adriany_a.png)
Gregor Adriany, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
Parham Alaei, PhD
![Alaei](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/screenshot_2024-03-13_105541.png)
Parham Alaei, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- Imaging dose assessment, measurement, and calculation
- Dose optimization during image guided radiation therapy
- Orthovoltage dosimetry in preclinical studies
- Treatment planning dose calculation accuracy and small field dosimetry
Patrick Bolan, PhD
![Patrick Bolan](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/patrick_bolan_a.png)
Patrick Bolan, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Development of quantitative MR imaging methods
- Integration of advanced imaging into clinical trials
- Computational methods for image analysis
Christina Brunnquell, PhD
![Christina Brunnquell](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/christina_brunnquell_a.png)
Christina Brunnquell, PhD
Radiology
Research Interests
- Testing and understanding the quality and robustness of newly implemented clinical imaging technologies, imaging software (including AI), and quantitative imaging approaches
- Analytics in imaging efficiency and radiation dose
- Improving the robustness and efficiency of clinical diagnostic physics quality control
- Imaging protocol optimization
- Development of novel targeted imaging agents for MRI and PET
Wei Chen, PhD
![Wei Chen](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/wei_chen_a.png)
Wei Chen, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Develop advanced MRI and metabolic imaging methods for brain applications at ultrahigh field
Eric Ehler, PhD
![Ehler](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/screenshot_2024-03-13_105601.png)
Eric Ehler, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- Pediatric Radiation Oncology
- 3D Printing
- Radiobiologic Dose-Response Modeling
- Total Body Irradiation
- Helical Tomotherapy
Yigitcan Eryaman, PhD
![Yitican Eryaman](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/yigitcan_eryaman_a.png)
Yigitcan Eryaman, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Radiofrequency Safety Issues in UHF MRI
- MRI of Neural Implants
- Radiofrequency Coil Design
Clara Ferreira, PhD
![Clara Ferreira](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/clara_ferreira_a.jpg)
Clara Ferreira, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- Eye Plaque Brachytherapy
- GammaTile Permanent Brachytherapy for brain tumors
- Superficial Brachytherapy for skin cancer
- MRI guided Brachytherapy
- Customized high-dose-rate Brachytherapy devices
Michael Garwood, PhD
![Michael Garwood](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/michael_garwood_a.png)
Michael Garwood, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Develop and validate technologies that enable the use of compact magnets (non-uniform B field) in MRI scanners
- Enhance MRI contrast and diagnostic specificity by exploiting rotating frame spin relaxation in tissues (eg, adiabatic T1rho and T2rho, and RAFF)
- Develop and translate new ways of performing electron magnetic resonance (LOD-EPR) using zero or very low magnetic field
Farhad Jafari, PhD
![Farhad Jafari](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/farhad_jafari_a.png)
Farhad Jafari, PhD
Radiology
Research Interests
- Sums of exponentials and their applications to diagnostic radiology
- Reducing IR dose
- Reconstruction of piecewise continuous functions using moment methods
Ngoneh Jallow, PhD
![Ngoneh Jallow](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/ngoneh_jallow_a.png)
Ngoneh Jallow, PhD
Radiology
Research Interests
Christophe Lenglet, PhD
![Christophe Lenglet](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/christophe_lenglet_a.png)
Christophe Lenglet, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Neuroimaging
- Diffusion MRI
- High-field MRI
- Brain connectivity and networks
- Biophysical and microstructure models
- Neurodegenerative disorders
Silvia Mangia, PhD
![Sylvia Mangia](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/silvia_mangia_a.png)
Silvia Mangia, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Functional studies of human brain metabolism under increased or decreased neuronal activity
- Neurovascular coupling and neuro-glia interactions
- Oxidative and non-oxidative brain metabolism; glucose and lactate metabolism
- Novel MR contrasts based on rotating frame relaxation measurements, magnetization transfer and chemical exchange
- MRI and MRS applications to aging, diabetes, and neurological diseases as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis
- Proton NMR Spectroscopy at high fields
- Resting state fMRI, especially in relation to brain metabolism
- Novel MRI contrasts for functional neuroimaging
- Zero echo-time MRI
Gregory Metzger, PhD
![Gregory Metzger](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/gregory_metzger_a.png)
Gregory Metzger, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Development of Enabling Technologies for Clinical Ultrahigh Field Body MRI
- Computer Aided Diagnostic System for Prostate Cancer Detection Using Quantitative Multiparametric MRI
- Technology to realize the full potential of UHF MRI
- Mapping of Molecular and Physiological Tissue Properties at UHF
- Advanced Imaging Platform for Microstructural and Functional Connectivity in Mild TBI
- Advanced 7 Tesla imaging of the knee for root cause of Osteoarthritis
Shalom Michaeli, PhD
![Shalom Michaeli](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/shalom_michaeli_a.png)
Shalom Michaeli, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
Joseph Moore, PhD
![Placeholder](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/placeholder.jpg)
Joseph Moore, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- Informatics
- Big Data
- Clinical Workflow Efficiency
- Quality and Safety
Kamil Ugurbil, PhD
![Kamil Ugurbil](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/kamil_ugurbil_a.png)
Kamil Ugurbil, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
Yoichi Watanabe, PhD
![Yoichi Watanabe](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/yoichi_watanabe_a.png)
Yoichi Watanabe, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- Three-dimensional dosimetry
- Mathematical Oncology for precision medicine through computational modeling
- Application of in-situ Cherenkov radiation for dosimetry and imaging
- Study on treatment effectiveness and improvement strategies of Gamma Knife radiosurgery
Jianling Yuan, MD, PhD
![Jianling Yuan](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/jianling_yuan_a.jpg)
Jianling Yuan, MD, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Research Interests
- N/A
As a clinician, I mostly see patients and do not have a research focus.
Xiao-Hong Zhu, PhD
![Xiao-Hong Zhu](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/xiao-hong_zhu_a.png)
Xiao-Hong Zhu, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Research Interests
- Developing 2H-MRS-based metabolic imaging technology at high/ultrahigh fields to quantitatively study cerebral glucose metabolism in human and animals under different conditions
Affiliate Members:
Laurence Gaalaas, DDS, MS
![Gaalaas](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/laurence-gaalaas-dds-ms.jpg)
Laurence Gaalaas, DDS, MS
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Bruce Gerbi, PhD
![Bruce Geri](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/bruce_gerbi_a.jpg)
Bruce Gerbi, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Bruce Hammer, PhD
![Bruce Hammer](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/bruce_hammer_a.png)
Bruce Hammer, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Susanta Hui, PhD
![Susanta Hui](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/susanta_hui_a.jpg)
Susanta Hui, PhD
Radiation Oncology
Osha Roopnarine, PhD
![Osha Roopnarine](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/osha_roopnarine_a.png)
Osha Roopnarine, PhD
Biochem, Molecular Biol, Biophysics
Essa Yacoub, PhD
![Essa Yacoub](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/essa_yacoub_a.png)
Essa Yacoub, PhD
Radiology (CMRR)
Daniel Vallera, PhD
![Daniel Vallera](/sites/med.umn.edu/files/images/daniel_vallera_a.jpg)
Daniel Vallera, PhD
Radiation Oncology