Sam Beddar
Professor
The University of MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department of Radiation Physics
My lab is actively engaged in the rapidly-growing field of scintillation dosimetry - the use of scintillating materials to measure radiation dose. Our work ranges from basic research on scintillator properties to detector development, clinical applications, and commercialization. We are currently using scintillation detectors to perform in-vivo dosimetry for prostate cancer patients and to acquire three-dimensional dosimetric data for proton beams, and we have recently developed fiber optic-based detectors capable of simultaneously measuring the dose delivered to multiple points in space.
Students coming to my lab could pursue a variety of projects, including temperature-dependence or linear energy transfer-dependence of scintillators, three-dimensional dosimetry with liquid scintillator detectors, and clinical applications of miniature plastic scintillator detectors, such as in vivo patient dosimetry. Depending on the project, the student may become familiar with one or more radiation therapy modalities, including external beam therapy, brachytherapy, and proton therapy. Students will also have the opportunity to observe the application of scintillation dosimetry in the clinic.
In addition to my research, I am a lecturer for many courses within the GSBS, I serve as the gastrointestinal service chief in the Radiation Physics department at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and I have served as mentor for more than 20 graduate students and 10 post-doctoral research fellows in the last 5 years. My lab collaborates with scientists all over the world, including Canada, Australia, and France. I have successfully received funding for more than 20 grant proposals, and I have published over 100 peer-reviewed papers on clinical and research-oriented topics, including scintillation dosimetry, MOSFET dosimetry, Intraoperative Radiation Therapy, 4D-Computerized Tomography, Image Guided Radiotherapy and Proton Radiotherapy.
Education & Training
Ph.D. - University of Wisconsin - 1990