Physics and Astronomy Congress
/
Spotlight
2025 Plenary Speaker

Julianne Pollard-Larkin

APR 30, 2024
Julieanne Pollard-Larkin

Julieanne Pollard-Larkin

Julianne Pollard-Larkin is the Physics Section Chief of Thoracic Service within the Department of Radiation Physics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She grew up in Miami, Florida, and an early childhood fascination with science developed into a fascination with the stars when she saw a famous photograph of groundbreaking NASA astronaut Mae Jemison floating in space. Her path set, she earned dual BS degrees in Physics and Mathematics at the University of Miami — but a chance encounter with a medical physicist opened her eyes to a new, fascinating course. She went on to become the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Biomedical Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, and began her career at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2008.