New Faculty Q&A: Dr. James Sohn
Welcome James Sohn, PhD, incoming assistant professor.
Hometown:
Originally from Busan, South Korea; most recently Chicago, IL.
Educational background:
Residency, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2022
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Emory University, 2020
Visiting Student, Stanford University, 2018
Visiting Student, University of Florida, 2020
MS and PhD, Catholic University of Korea, 2018
When, and how, did you develop an interest in the field of Medical Physics?
My background is in engineering, and I have always been drawn to the moment when a technology crosses over from an engineering journal into the clinic. Early on I noticed that many of the tools we now take for granted in radiation therapy, from imaging to motion tracking, started out in venues like IEEE publications long before they touched a patient. Medical physics turned out to be exactly that bridge, and I have been hooked ever since.
What attracted you to UW-Madison and the Department of Radiation Medicine?
I was fortunate to be selected for the Emerging Leaders in Academic Medical Physics program in 2024, which brought me to the department for the first time, and the visit left a lasting impression. The history, the scale, the alumni network, and the department’s ability to actually execute on big ideas all stood out. But what stayed with me most was the team culture. Since that visit, I kept coming back to the thought that I wanted to grow in a place led by Dr. Morris and Dr. Glide-Hurst, and being here now feels like the natural next chapter of that aspiration.
What are you most excited about during your first year with the department in this role?
Being part of the effort to bring BNCT to the United States for the first time, right here at UW-Madison, is what excites me most. It comes with a real sense of pride and responsibility, and I look forward to building that research program step by step during my first year.
What hobbies or special activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I love hunting down great restaurants, especially Michelin-starred or Michelin-worthy spots. I am always taking recommendations.