Director of Photon Physics

It's a transformational time to be a part of the University of Wisconsin! The Radiation Oncology Physics Section at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Human Oncology is seeking a dynamic and collaborative Director of Photon Physics to join the Physics and departmental leadership team. This is your chance to lead and innovate within a dynamic team of 25 physicists, 6 physics residents, 2 clinical engineers, and medical physics assistants. As the Director of Photon Physics, you will spearhead clinical operations and strategic initiatives, driving excellence and growth in our expanding physics team. Your role will encompass project management and clinical physics oversight, ensuring our team continues to thrive and advance the field. We highly encourage and support scholarly activities and research, providing candidates with growth and developmental activities.
Our department is vibrant and growing with the Fall 2024 opening of our dual-hub UW Health Cancer Center, Eastpark Medical Center location, located on Madison's east side. The 469,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility introduced two new Varian TrueBeams, a Varian Edge, and an Elekta Flexitron Remote Afterloader coupled with Siemens multi-energy CT on rails. The proton program opening in 2026 includes a Hitachi synchrotron, high-energy beam transport, intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) capability, a gantry room with 360-degree rotation, and a fixed beam room with a first-of-kind upright patient positioning system provided by Leo Cancer Care coupled with on-board CT. Each proton room is equipped with high-precision patient positioning and volumetric x-ray-based image-guidance systems including real-time image gated particle therapy in the gantry room.
The UW-Madison university campus currently includes a Viewray MRIdian Linac with daily online adaptive radiation therapy, three Varian TrueBeams (one STx), an AccuRay Tomotherapy HDA, and two Elekta Flexitron Remote Afterloaders. We offer a broad range of special procedures, including SRS/SBRT, TBI, TSE, and brachytherapy for a wide range of treatment sites (e.g., GYN, breast, prostate) with MRI-guided planning and BodyTom CT for image verification. Advanced simulation capabilities are routinely integrated into clinical practice including Siemens dual-energy computed tomography and 1.5 T GE MR-simulator units. Aria Record and Verify systems and advanced treatment planning via RayStation are fully integrated with central planning and chart checking between our two major hubs.
The Director of Photon Physics will serve in a departmental leadership capacity to develop best practices to ensure high quality patient care and cutting-edge implementations in our external beam program. Additional academic opportunities, based on the candidate's interests and accomplishments, in research, education, and service are fully encouraged and supported. UW is a state-of-the-art integrated clinical, research, and training facility, ranked number 1 in Wisconsin in the U.S. News & World Report for the 11th consecutive year, that continually invests in the latest technological advancements. Access to ample preclinical/clinical research imaging and therapeutic systems (Xstrahl SARRP, FLASH, etc.) are available. We are committed to fostering innovation through investigator-initiated research and industry collaborations, offering comprehensive support to turn visionary ideas into practice. Current active research programs include theranostics, artificial intelligence, adaptive radiation therapy, advanced imaging, and automated treatment planning.
The UW-Madison campus, located in the heart of the City of Madison, spans 936 acres along the scenic southern shore of Lake Mendota. Madison is consistently ranked as one of the top cities in the nation to live. The city encourages fitness with 61 miles of designated bike trails, and over 146 miles of roads with marked bike lanes. Madison is surrounded by the beauty of four local lakes, has a lively culinary and festival scene, and promotes a healthy work life balance. UW Faculty and Staff also enjoy robust benefits such as the State of Wisconsin benefits package, a diverse campus setting, and a competitive salary.

Principal duties:
- Lead clinical coordination and adoption of new technologies and programs
- Strategically plan and optimize the allocation of radiation oncology resources, including equipment usage, scheduling, budget preparation, radiation safety, and operations
- Liaise with vendor colleagues to spearhead industry relations and collaborations
- Champion the maintenance of policies and procedures for the external beam clinic, aligning with national guidelines and accreditation programs to uphold the highest standards of care.
- Facilitate and oversee the physics team's coordination with hardware and software vendors, ensuring routine maintenance, upgrades, and repairs are performed
- Lead initiatives to integrate and optimize physics software and hardware with hospital systems, ensuring data security, compliance, and seamless operation while fostering safe patient care, operational efficiencies, and supporting research and innovations
- Oversee the established comprehensive ongoing Quality Assurance (QA) program for our external beam program and computational equipment to assure accurate delivery of prescribed dose to patients
- Participate in clinical mentoring and didactic teaching of medical physics residents and other trainees
- Contribute to the department's research mission through studies, publications, and grants including engagement with clinical trials.
- The successful candidate will also participate in professional, public, and university service
The chosen candidate will teach medical students, residents, and fellows.
The chosen applicant will participate in administrative and committee work to support the clinical and scholarly missions of UW Health and the School of Medicine and Public Health. An essential part of these duties will be working in a collegial relationship with other faculty members.

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Required
PhD degree in Medical Physics or related field.

Candidates must be certified in Therapeutic/Radiation Oncology Medical Physics by the American Board of Radiology, the American Board of Medical Physics, or the Canadian College of Medical Physics.
Highly qualified candidates are expected to have at least 5 years of clinical experience. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in a team-oriented, multi-disciplinary environment are essential. Candidates with demonstrated implementation of new programs and advanced technologies are highly desirable. The role requires a commitment to patient safety and continuous quality improvements in operations and efficiency.
For appointment at Associate Professor or Professor rank on CHS Track, candidates will meet criteria established by the department and as outlined in the School of Medicine and Public Health guidelines for promotion or appointment to Associate or Professor on the CHS Track.
For an appointment at Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor rank on CT Track, candidates will meet criteria established by the department and as outlined in the School of Medicine and Public Health guidelines for promotion or appointment to Associate or Professor on the CT Track.

Full Time: 100%
It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Ongoing/Renewable

JULY 07, 2025

Negotiable
ANNUAL (12 months)
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/ ).
SMPH Academic Staff Benefits flyer: (https://uwmadison.box.com/s/r50myohfvfd15bqltljn0g4laubuz7t0 ).

This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.
This vacancy is being announced simultaneously with Position Vacancy (Job #) 315047; please note that only one vacancy exists. Having two position vacancy listings allows the School of Medicine and Public Health to consider candidates with both PhD credentials and Master's degree credentials for this position.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is June 30, 2025, however, this position will remain open and applications may be considered until this position is filled.
Your application must be received through the Jobs at UW portal to be considered as a candidate. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button and use the online UW Job Application system to submit the following:
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A cover letter describing 1) your interest in this position, 2) what you would bring to the Department of Human Oncology, and 3) how the Department could contribute to your career.
- List of contact information for three (3) references, including your current/most recent supervisor. References will not be contacted without prior notice.

Kirsten Gragg
kgragg@wisc.edu
608-265-3357
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Clinical Professor(IC009) or Clinical Associate Professor(IC010) or Clinical Assistant Professor(IC011) or Professor (CHS)(IC014) or Associate Professor (CHS)(IC015) or Assistant Professor (CHS)(IC016)

A53-MEDICAL SCHOOL/HUMAN ONCOLOGY/HUMAN ONCO

Academic Staff-Renewable

315046-AS