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Hello, I'm

Gia Jadick

PhD Candidate @ UChicago

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About Me

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Hello! I’m Gia Jadick. I am a medical physics PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, where I research novel x-ray imaging techniques in the lab of Patrick La Rivière. I focus on x-ray and CT imaging with propagation-based phase contrast. My goal is to develop a quantitative solution to the spectral phase retrieval problem, which would broadly benefit biomedical researchers seeking a convenient, micron-resolution, 3-D modality for soft-tissue imaging.

I build and share quantitative tools, including a phase-contrast Cramér–Rao lower bound model and large-scale, GPU-accelerated, automatic-differentiable Python simulator for projection and tomographic imaging. I am in the process of leveraging my simulator's forward model to solve the spectral phase retrieval problem via an iterative material decomposition approach with phase-contrast physics-informed regularization strategies.

I graduated cum laude from Duke University in 2020 with my BS in physics and BA in political science. There, I researched mechanosensing of E. Coli bacteria, vintage saxophone mouthpiece acoustics, and the physics of realistic CT simulation.

All of my research code (and more!) is publicly available on Github for anyone to use and build upon. I've linked some key repositories in the "Research" section below. My PhD studies are funded by the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program with additional support from the AAPM/RSNA Graduate Fellowship. I anticipate graduating in spring of 2026.

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Ongoing Research Projects

X-ray phase contrast

MV-kV dual energy imaging

We are exploring the potential utility of spectral x-ray imaging with propagation-based phase contrast. I've developed an estimation theory approach to compare spectral and multi-distance phase-contrast imaging techniques in the context of basis material decomposition. I am also assessing the limits of traditional approximations made in XPCI forward models.

Multi-material decomposition

Figure of the multi-material decomposition method.

Dual-energy CT

MV-kV dual-energy imaging on the cover of JMI.

We assessed a novel dual-energy CT approach: combining a megavoltage (MV) and kilovoltage (kV) source in "MV-kV" imaging for use on radiotherapy systems that are conveniently already equipped with the two x-ray sources. Our publication was featured on the cover of JMI.

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Publications & Presentations

Peer-reviewed articles

  1. E. Abadi, W. Segars, N. Felice, S. Sotoudeh-Paima, E. Hoffman, X. Wang, W. Wang, D. Clark, S. Ye, G. Jadick, M. Fryling, D. Frush, E. Samei. “AAPM Truth-based CT (TrueCT) reconstruction grand challenge.” Medical Physics, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.17619
  2. G. Jadick, M. Ventura, P. La Rivière. “Utility of photon-counting detectors for MV-kV dual-energy computed tomography imaging.” Journal of Medical Imaging 11(S1): S12811–S12811, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.11.S1.S12811
  3. H. DeBrosse, G. Jadick, L. Meng, P. La Rivière. “Contrast-to-noise ratio comparison between x-ray fluorescence emission tomography and computed tomography.” Journal of Medical Imaging 11(S1): S12808–S12808, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.11.S1.S12808
  4. G. Jadick, G. Schlafly, P. La Rivière. “Dual-energy computed tomography imaging with megavoltage and kilovoltage X-ray spectra.” Journal of Medical Imaging 11(2): 023501–023501, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.11.2.023501 Featured on journal cover
  5. E. Abadi, G. Jadick, D. Lynch, W. Segars, E. Samei. “Emphysema quantifications with CT scan: Assessing the effects of acquisition protocols and imaging parameters using virtual imaging trials.” Chest 163(5): 1084–1100, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2022.11.033
  6. G. Jadick, E. Abadi, B. Harrawood, S. Sharma, W. Segars, E. Samei. “A scanner-specific framework for simulating CT images with tube current modulation.” Physics in Medicine & Biology 66(18): 185010, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6560/ac2269
  7. D. Downs, G. Jadick, F. Swaid, S. Ross, A. Rosemurgy. “Age and achalasia: how does age affect patient presentation, hospital course, and surgical outcomes?” The American Surgeon 83(9): 952–961, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/000313481708300931
  8. A. Rosemurgy, D. Downs, G. Jadick, F. Swaid, K. Luberice, C. Ryan, S. Ross. “Dissatisfaction after laparoscopic Heller myotomy: The truth is easy to swallow.” The American Journal of Surgery, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2017.03.043

Conference proceedings

  1. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Optimization-based phase retrieval for material decomposition with multi-energy computed tomography.” 18th International Meeting on Fully 3D Image Reconstruction in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 2025 (May). https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.12509
  2. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Accuracy of propagation-based phase-contrast CT under the projection approximation.” 8th International Conference on Image Formation in X-Ray Computed Tomography, 2024. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.12505
  3. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Modeling propagation-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging: validity of the projection approximation.” Proc. Virtual Imaging Trials in Medicine: 68–72, 2024. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2405.05359
  4. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Cramér–Rao lower bound in the context of spectral X-ray imaging with propagation-based phase contrast.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12925, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3006282
  5. G. Jadick, I. Reiser, P. La Rivière. “Sensitivity analysis of dual-energy computed tomography multi-triplet material decomposition.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12925, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3006548
  6. H. DeBrosse, G. Jadick, L. Meng, P. La Rivière. “Comparing x-ray fluorescence emission tomography and computed tomography: contrast-to-noise ratios in a numerical mouse phantom.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Clinical and Biomedical Imaging 12930, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3006795
  7. M. Ventura, G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Comparison of energy-integrating detectors and photon-counting detectors for MV-kV dual-energy imaging on a tomographic therapy system.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12925, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3006854
  8. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Optimization of MV-kV dual-energy CT imaging for tomographic therapy.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12463: 557–566, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2653674
  9. S. Shankar, G. Jadick, E. Hoffman, J. Atha, J. Sieren, E. Samei, E. Abadi. “Scanner-specific validation of a CT simulator using a COPD-emulated anthropomorphic phantom.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12031: 953–960, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2613212
  10. F. Ria, G. Jadick, E. Abadi, J. Solomon, E. Samei. “Comparing two different noise magnitude estimation methods in CT using virtual imaging trials.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 12031: 729–734, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2612219
  11. G. Jadick, E. Abadi, B. Harrawood, S. Sharma, W. Segars, E. Samei. “A framework to simulate CT images with tube current modulation.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 11595: 22–30, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2580983
  12. E. Abadi, G. Jadick, E. Hoffman, D. Lynch, W. Segars, E. Samei. “COPD quantifications via CT imaging: ascertaining the effects of acquisition protocol using virtual imaging trial.” SPIE Medical Imaging: Physics of Medical Imaging 11595: 160–166, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2581965

Oral presentations

  1. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Material decomposition of weakly absorptive structures with spectral x-ray phase-contrast CT.” IEEE Medical Imaging Conference, 2025 (November). Will present in November
  2. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “A tale of two techniques: multi-energy versus multi-distance material decomposition with x-ray phase-contrast imaging.” AAPM Midwest Chapter Meeting, 2025 (April). 2nd place, Young Investigator Symposium
  3. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Modeling propagation-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging: validity of the projection approximation.” Virtual Imaging Trials in Medicine, 2024. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2405.05359
  4. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Cramér–Rao lower bound in the context of spectral X-ray imaging with propagation-based phase contrast.” SPIE Medical Imaging, 2024. doi:10.1117/12.3006282
  5. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Dual energy CT imaging with a megavoltage spectrum.” AAPM Midwest Chapter Meeting, 2023 (April). 2nd place, Young Investigator Symposium
  6. E. Abadi, G. Jadick, C. McCabe, S. Sotoudeh, M. Fryling, B. Harrawood, E. Samei, S. Havadej, M. Sedlmair, J. Ramirez, K. Stierstorfer. “Development and Application of a Virtual Imaging Trial Platform to Evaluate and Optimize State-of-the-art Photon-Counting CT.” Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting, 2021.
  7. G. Jadick, E. Abadi, B. Harrawood, S. Sharma, W. Segars, E. Samei. “A framework to simulate CT images with tube current modulation.” SPIE Medical Imaging, 2021. doi:10.1117/12.2580983

Posters

  1. G. Jadick, C. Riggs, P. La Rivière. “Quantitative Forward Modeling of Propagation-Based X-Ray Phase-Contrast Imaging at Clinical Scale.” AAPM Annual Meeting, 2025 (July). link Blue ribbon poster award
  2. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Material decomposition with propagation-based x-ray phase contrast: a comparison of multi-energy and multi-distance imaging.” AAPM Annual Meeting, 2025 (July). link
  3. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Optimization-based phase retrieval for material decomposition with multi-energy computed tomography.” 18th International Meeting on Fully 3D Image Reconstruction in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, 2025 (May). doi:10.48550/arXiv.2508.12509
  4. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Accuracy of propagation-based phase-contrast CT under the projection approximation.” 8th International Conference on Image Formation in X-Ray Computed Tomography, 2024. doi:10.48550/arXiv.2508.12505
  5. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “An estimation theory approach to assessing spectral x-ray phase-contrast imaging.” Gordon Research Conference on Image Science, 2024 (June).
  6. G. Jadick, I. Reiser, P. La Rivière. “Sensitivity analysis of dual-energy CT multi-triplet material decomposition.” SPIE Medical Imaging, 2024. doi:10.1117/12.3006548
  7. G. Jadick, P. La Rivière. “Optimization of MV-kV dual-energy CT imaging for tomographic therapy.” SPIE Medical Imaging, 2023. doi:10.1117/12.2653674
  8. G. Jadick, M. Bartlett, M. Busch, J. Socolar. “The art and craft of saxophone mouthpiece design.” Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase, 2020 (May). Runner-up poster award
  9. G. Jadick, R. Garces, C. Schmidt. “Physiology of E. coli bacteria in high external osmotic pressure.” Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (University of Maryland), 2020 (January).
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Get in Touch

Contact Me

giavanna [at] uchicago [dot] edu