Faculty and Staff - Staff / Faculty Member
Photo of John R. Votaw

John R. Votaw, PhD

Title: Director of Physics and Computing in Radiology Professor of Radiology and Physics


Division: Research

Focus Area: PET Physics

Other Focus: Kinetic Modeling of PET and MRI Data


Doctorate: University of Wisconsin, Experimental Nuclear Physics


Current Organization: Society of Nuclear Medicine Computer and Instrumentation Counsel, Society of Nuclear Medicine – Treasurer PET Operations Committee, Emory University PET Research Committee, Emory University Appointments and Promotions Committee, Emory University


Career Sketch: Dr. Votaw received his degree in experimental nuclear physics from the University of Wisconsin in 1988 where he produced radionuclides useful for PET imaging under the direction of R. Jerry Nickles. He joined the faculty at Emory University in 1993 after 5 years in the radiology department at Vanderbilt University. His research has been centered on calculating physiologic parameters of interest by modeling the kinetic behavior of PET, and more recently MRI, ligands. Current projects include measuring: monoamine transporter density in the brain, amino acid transport rates in tumors, absolute myocardial blood flow and coronary flow reserve, and using rapid MRI to measure absolute renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. Dr. Votaw enjoys teaching graduate and post-graduate students and would be more than happy to discuss science while walking down the fairway of the golf course.