Medical Physics Residents

Meet the current and past residents in the medical physics residency program at Moffitt Cancer Center:

Eduardo Cisternas Jimenez, PhD (2025-2027)

Eduardo Cisternas Jimenez earned his PhD in Medical Physics from Duke University, where his research focused on the development and application of an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to improve the accuracy and robustness of radiotherapy treatment planning by integrating data-driven modeling with fuzzy logic and neural networks. Originally from Chile, Eduardo developed a strong interest in physics and mathematics during high school. He pursued two undergraduate degrees at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC): one in Natural Sciences and Mathematics with a major in Economics, and another in Physics. His undergraduate thesis involved Monte Carlo simulations of an X-ray tube for cone-beam CT, aimed at estimating the risk of secondary cancer induction. Motivated by the clinical potential of his undergraduate work, he pursued a dual Master’s degree in Medical Physics through a joint program between Heidelberg University and PUC Chile. At the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), for his master thesis he developed the first version of matRad, the first open-source 3D treatment planning system capable of supporting photon, proton, and carbon ion therapy using the same code base. Outside of work, Eduardo enjoys hiking, cooking, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.

Nour Nasser, PhD (2024-2026)

Nour Nasser completed her undergraduate degree in Physics at Saint Joseph University, Lebanon, and her master’s degree in medical physics at the Paul Sabatier University, France. She pursued her doctoral degree in Applied Physics with a concentration in medical physics at the University of South Florida. During her PhD, Nour’s research focused on the evaluation of applications of Ethos, the newly developed CBCT-Guided ring gantry online adaptive radiotherapy system, for head and neck and polymetastatic disease in stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. In her free time, Nour enjoys spending time with family, traveling and exploring new countries/cultures.

Jihye Koo, PhD (2023-2025)

Post-Residency Employment: Faculty Physicist, Radiation Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center

Jihye Koo was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. She attended Korea University for her undergraduate degree in Radiologic Science, followed by a master’s degree in Bio-convergence Engineering, where she found her passion in the medical application of physics in treating cancer patients. She received her PhD degree in physics with an emphasis on medical physics at the University of South Florida and Moffitt Cancer Center. For her PhD research, she participated in the development and evaluation of a deep-learning-based auto segmentation algorithm for head and neck OARs that offers consistency and efficiency in the treatment planning process. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, water activities and spending time with friends and family.  

Ibrahim (Abe) Oraiqat, PhD (2022-2024)

Post-Residency Employment: Faculty Physicist, Radiation Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center

Abe Oraiqat received his Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering followed by a dual Master's in applied physics and electrical engineering at the University of Michigan. Afterward, he finished his PhD in applied physics at the University of Michigan where he studied the uses of ultrafast lasers in the synthesis of nanomaterials that were subsequently used in energy storage and energy harvesting applications, which lead to his founding a startup company. Upon graduation, he started a medical physics postdoc where he began to investigate the use of spectroscopic analysis of Cerenkov emission as a tool to interrogate the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, he investigated the use of radiation acoustics for real-time dosimetry and radiation beam localization during external beam radiotherapy. During his postdoc, he completed his medical physics graduate certificate to kickstart his career in medical physics. Abe was able to continue this research as a research scientist at Moffitt before starting his medical physics residency. Outside work, he is an avid amateur astronomer and a barbecue connoisseur.

Joseph Weygand, PhD (2021-2023)

Post-Residency Employment: Faculty Physicist, Radiation Oncology, Dartmouth College

In high school, Dr. Weygand was a national champion wrestler. He then went on to do a B.A. in physics at Columbia University, an M.S. in medical physics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and a PhD in physics at Heidelberg University in Germany. For his PhD research, he applied parallel imaging to accelerate magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. His interests include MR-guided radiation therapy and the application of medical physics in developing countries. Outside of work, Dr. Weygand is an avid traveler and is attempting to visit every country in the world.