Erika Jank

About

I am a third-year PhD student in the Physics and Biology in Medicine graduate program at UCLA. My research focuses on bridging the gap between data science innovations and clinical implementation in radiation oncology. By applying informatics and deep learning to real-world clinical datasets, I am working to develop proactive patient monitoring tools, including automated soft-tissue segmentation pipelines to track nutritional decline in head and neck cancer patients. I am also constructing population-based atlases to improve disease characterization and risk stratification. Ultimately, my goal is to transform reactive clinical workflows into data-driven, precision patient care. When I have some free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors, either surfing in the ocean or doing any sport on dry land!

Education and Degree(s)

UCLA MS 09/2023 09/2025 Physics and Biology in Medicine

Creighton University BS 08/2019 05/2023 Biomedical Physics

Honors and Awards

2025, AIM-AHEAD Bridge2AI for Clinical Care Training Program, National Institute of Health (NIH)

2025, Poster Presentation - Annual Meeting, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2025, Poster Presentation - Scientific Abstract Award Winner - Annual Meeting, American Association of Radiation Oncologists (ASTRO)

2025, Cyberinfrastructure and Machine Learning Summer Institute, University of California, San Diego

2025, Southern California Chapter Norm Baily Award - First Place, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2025, Southern California Chapter MedPhys Slam Competition - Second Place, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2025, Project Exhibition - Bladder Cancer Brachytherapy, Prototypes for Humanity (Dubai, UAE)

2024, Southern California Chapter MedPhys Slam Competition - Second Place, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2024, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Fellowship Award, University of California, Los Angeles

2024, Oral Presentation, Radiological Society of North America

2024, Poster Presentation - Blue Ribbon Poster - Annual Meeting, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2024, Southern California Chapter Norm Baily Award - First Place, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2023, Poster Presentation - Annual Meeting, American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM)

2023, Academic Scholarship & Physics Award for Scholarship and Research, Creighton University