Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) granted tenure effective December 1, 2008, to eight Brookhaven scientists. They are Elaine DiMasi, National Synchrotron Light Source; Rita Goldstein, Medical Department; Yangang Liu, Environmental Sciences Department; Hong Ma, Physics Department; Cedomir Petrovic, Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department (CMPMS); Triveni Rao, Instrumentation Division; Tonica Valla, CMPMS; and Paul Vaska, Medical. Tenure appointments are granted by action of the BSA Board after a rigorous selection procedure overseen by the BSA Science & Technology Steering Committee. In making tenure decisions, the BSA Board is advised by members of the Brookhaven Council, an elected body that advises the Director on matters affecting the scientific staff. This is the eighth and last in this series of tenure profiles.

Paul Vaska Receives Tenure

Paul Vaska

Paul Vaska

Paul Vaska, a scientist in the Medical Department, has been awarded tenure for his outstanding contributions to the field of medical imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) and for his strong support of Laboratory facilities.

Vaska earned his B.S. from Clarkson University in 1989, and an M.S. in physics, 1994, and a Ph.D. in nuclear physics, 1997, both from Stony Brook University (SBU). He joined Medical as an assistant scientist in 2000, rising to associate scientist in 2003. In 2001, he also became an adjunct professor in SBU's Department of Biomedical Engineering. He was named head of PET Physics in 2004 and promoted to scientist in 2006.

Among Vaska's major achievements was his key role in developing and validating one of the world's first small-animal PET systems, the microPET R4. For his effective solution to a problem he discovered involving background interference in this kind of device, he was awarded the 2004 Concorde Microsystems Novel Application of the Year.

Vaska played a pivotal role in developing a new miniature PET device, the RatCAP, which allows an animal to be studied while awake and moving. He built on this technology to develop multimodality imaging using both PET and magnetic resonance imaging - a breakthrough in the field. He also applied this technology to detecting nuclear materials for homeland security.

In 2004, Vaska was honored with a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. In 2007, he received an Outstanding Young Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Long Island Section. He holds four patents and has another pending.

Said Gene-Jack Wang, Medical Chair, "Paul's work has had an important impact on the advancement of medical imaging. He is clearly one of the best among a handful of young imaging physicists. He has demonstrated outstanding scientific rigor, creativity, and leadership, portending even greater achievements for the future."

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