Prof Sarah Bohndiek

Biography

Sarah Bohndiek completed her PhD in Radiation Physics at University College London in 2008 and then worked in both the UK (at Cambridge) and the USA (at Stanford) as a postdoctoral fellow in molecular imaging. Since 2013, Sarah has been a Group Leader at the University of Cambridge, where she is jointly appointed in the Department of Physics and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

Sarah’s team develop novel imaging approaches that can be applied to understand the role of the tumour microenvironment in cancer progression. They are also are active in translating their findings into clinical trials. Sarah was recently awarded the CRUK Future Leaders in Cancer Research Prize and SPIE Early Career Achievement Award in recognition of her interdisciplinary research innovation.

In addition to her research programme, Sarah also takes an active role in teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists. She has acted as an ambassador for public engagement and interdisciplinary research training throughout her career and acknowledging her generosity in this regard, Sarah has received the MSCA Award for Nurturing Research Talent and been invited to deliver numerous talks on career development at both national and international workshops.

CV positions:

From 2020: Professor of Biomedical Physics, Department of Physics, Cambridge, U.K.

From 2017: Reader in Biomedical Physics, Department of Physics, Cambridge, U.K.

From 2014: Group Leader, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Cambridge, U.K.

From 2013: Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, U.K.

2013 – 2017: University Lecturer in Biological / Biomedical Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, U.K.

2011 – 2013: Postdoctoral Scholar, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, U.S.A. (Advisor: Prof. Sam Gambhir)

2009 – 2011: Junior Research Fellow (Non-stipendiary), Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, U.K.

2008 – 2011: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge, U.K. (Advisor: Prof. Kevin Brindle)

2005 – 2008: PhD Radiation Physics, Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London (UCL), London, U.K. (Advisors: Prof. Robert Speller and Prof. Gary Royle)

Research

The overall mission of the Bohndiek lab is to advance our understanding of tumour evolution using next-generation imaging sciences. We are particularly interested in developing new methods to interrogate tumour vascular biology. We focus our research efforts on creating new technologies and enabling their application for cancer studies in mouse models and patients. Our pioneering research in biomedical optics is delivered in two complementary strands: going directly to the organ of interest via endoscopy; and enhancing penetration depth through the use of photoacoustic imaging.