Meet the team (nuclear medicine physics)
Nuclear medicine physics is a small but effective team, comprised of seven permanent physicists (5.8 WTE), including four medical physics experts (MPEs). We work with multiple Scientific Training Programme (STP) trainees and also provide route 2 training.
Sofia Michopoulou (she/her)Head of nuclear medicine physics
Sofia is a consultant clinical scientist and medical physics expert (MPE). She leads the nuclear medicine physics team supporting the delivery of the routine clinical nuclear medicine and PET service and the introduction of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Sofia teaches medical imaging at BSc and MSc level at the University of Southampton and delivers part of the Fellows of Royal College of Radiology physics module. She supervises BSc, MSc and PhD students in projects focusing on clinical translation of imaging techniques.
Prior to joining the NHS, Sofia did a PhD in medical imaging at University College London where she developed expertise in image analysis and artificial intelligence. Sofia is currently an honorary senior lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. Her research portfolio focuses on developing imaging and fluid biomarkers and using artificial intelligence for dementia diagnosis and prognosis. She is an imaging theme lead for the Interdisciplinary DEmentia and Ageing Centre (IDEAC) and a member of the IPEM special interest group on artificial intelligence. Sofia has published approximately 30 articles in peer reviewed journals which received ~1000 citations and is a reviewer for journals such as European Radiology and Physica Medica.
Anna Chilcott (she/her)Deputy lead for nuclear medicine physics
Anna is a clinical scientist and one of the groups medical physics experts (MPE) for nuclear medicine. Anna provides MPE and general physics support to nuclear medicine. Anna is the training lead for nuclear medicine physics and deputy lead for training across medical physics. She has completed the Higher Specialist Scientist Training (HSST) scheme, which involved a PhD level project and training for leadership and management. Anna’s HSST project was on quantitative imaging for an isotope used for therapies on a solid-state gamma camera.
Email anna.chilcott@uhs.nhs.uk
Joel DunnClinical scientist
Joel joined the nuclear medicine physics team in December 2025 as a clinical scientist from King’s College London. He started at the KCL PET Centre (Guy’s & St Thomas’) in 2003 as a post-doctoral data analyst primarily working on brain research projects and later training as a medical physicist supporting the clinical and research PET service. He is looking forward to gaining broader experience in clinical nuclear medicine and getting stuck into new projects.
You can contact Joel on Joel.Dunn@uhs.nhs.uk
Gemma Lewis (she/her)Deputy lead for nuclear medicine physics
Gemma is a clinical scientist and a medical physics expert (MPE) for nuclear medicine. Gemma provides MPE and general physics support for the diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine service and is a radiation protection supervisor for nuclear medicine. She has experience in diagnostic nuclear medicine and radionuclide therapy and has a keen interest in dosimetry. Gemma is also involved in research trials and supports the training of clinical scientists and practitioners in nuclear medicine physics.
Email gemma.lewis@uhs.nhs.uk
Timothy Melhuish (he/him)Clinical scientist
Tim's role is split between the nuclear medicine department where he works as clinical technologist, and the medical physics department where he is training to become a clinical scientist. Tim has been involved in many clinical audits and optimisation work which he has gone on to present at various meetings, such as the BNMS. He has a keen interest in radionuclide therapies and dosimetry, writing software for clinical processing, teaching, and working on ways to improve the patient experience. Tim is also a radiation protection supervisor for nuclear medicine.
Amit Nautiyal (he/him)Clinical scientist
Amit is a clinical scientist providing physics and scientific support for nuclear medicine services, with expertise in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine including PET imaging. He holds a PhD in dosimetry and has a strong research focus on radionuclide therapy and internal dosimetry. He is currently an NIHR DSE fellow and actively contributes to translational research and clinical trials. His work centres on the development and implementation of advanced biokinetic models and patient-specific internal dosimetry approaches to optimise molecular radiotherapy. He supervises BSc and MSc student research projects, particularly in the development of biokinetic modelling and internal dosimetry methodologies. He also plays an important role in training and mentoring clinical scientists and nuclear medicine practitioners. At the University of Southampton, Amit serves as field lead for BM3 projects in medical physics and bioengineering. He is also an honorary senior clinical lecturer within the Faculty of Medicine. He is also deputy clinical effectiveness lead for medical physics at UHS, contributing to service quality and evidence-based clinical practice. Amit contributes to several national and European working groups focused on molecular imaging, dosimetry, and radionuclide therapy, supporting the advancement of evidence-based practice and standardisation across the field.
Jay Patel (he/him)Clinical scientist
Jay is a clinical scientist providing physics and scientific support for the diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine service. In the past he has helped calculate patient restrictions for new procedures such as Lu-177 PSMA therapy and assisted in training a wide range of clinical groups. He is the nuclear medicine physics lead for the ISO9001 accredited quality management system in nuclear medicine physics helping maintain quality management of documents and processes within the team.
Email Jay.Patel@uhs.nhs.uk
Rafael Mioduszewski (he/him)Clinical scientist
Rafael is currently undertaking the Scientist Training Programme (STP) specialising in imaging with ionising radiation. This specialisation spans both nuclear medicine physics and radiation protection, where he assists with daily tasks such as equipment testing, imaging processing and audits, to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best clinical practices. Drawing upon his experience, Rafael aspires to build a career in nuclear medicine physics and actively engage in scientific advancements, particularly within the field of molecular radiotherapy.
Thomas Gee (he/him)Tom joined the medical physics team after completing an integrated Masters in Physics, and has recently completed the Scientist Training Programme (STP), specialising in nuclear medicine. His role includes testing of equipment, processing of images and analysis of data to help improve the service we deliver. Tom has experience in scientific computing and looks to utilise these skills in optimisation projects, making use of Python to model imaging changes, alongside phantom imaging, to assess the effect of optimisation work before implementing it clinically.
Scientist Training Programme (STP)
Kyle ThomsonSTP trainee clinical scientist in nuclear medicine physics
Kyle joined UHS in September 2025 as part of the Scientist Training Programme (STP), initially training within radiation protection before moving into nuclear medicine physics, where he is now specialising.
He is currently completing his STP with a focus on nuclear medicine, building on his previous experience in image optimisation and dose reduction in SPECT/CT cardiac imaging, which he developed during his MSc at Swansea University. Before joining the STP, Kyle worked as a radiopharmacy technician, gaining hands‑on experience with radiopharmaceutical handling and quality processes.
Kyle has a strong interest in the preparation, clinical use and safety of radiopharmaceuticals, and is passionate about improving imaging quality and patient safety through evidence‑based practice.
You can contact Kyle on Kyle.Thomson@uhs.nhs.uk