1) Roberto Salvati completed his Master's thesis in physics on "Image quality in Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET)" at the University of Naples "Federico II", discussing it magna cum laude in December 2011. 2) His thesis analyzed laboratory PET scan data and Monte Carlo simulated PET data of torsos to assess the dependence of noise and contrast-to-noise ratio on count statistics and iterations when reconstructing with and without TOF information. 3) The letter's author, Paolo Russo, knows Salvati since 2010 and recommends him for a PhD position in medical physics, describing him as a motivated, reliable,

1. _________________________________________________________________________
Phone: +39-081-676 146/339 - Fax : +39-081-676352 - E-mail : paolo.russo@na.infn.it
Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche
Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo
Via Cinthia, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
www.fisica.unina.it
Naples, 2 November 2012
To Whom it may concern
Reference letter for PhD application of Mr. Roberto Salvati, MSc.
Roberto SALVATI was an undergraduate and, then, a graduate student in Physics at University of Naples “Federico II”.
He discussed her M.Sc. thesis in Physics on “Image quality in Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-
PET)”. His M.Sc. Physics diploma was discussed magna cum laude on December 2011.
His graduate program included university courses in Biophysics, Medical imaging, Nuclear techniques applied
to biomedicine, Image processing for biomedicine, Computational Physics.
The topic of his M.Sc. thesis was in the field of Medical Physics on TOF-PET, specifically, on the analysis of
laboratory PET scan data with NEMA torso phantom, as well as analysis of Monte Carlo simulated PET data of large
torso phantoms, reconstructed both with and without including TOF information. The scope of the thesis - made in
collaboration with Dr. M. Conti (Siemens Healthcare, Knoxville, TN, USA) who provided laboratory data with a TOF-
PET scanner and whose TOF-PET models were adopted – was to assess the dependence of noise and contrast-to-noise
ratio of varying-size phantom details, on the count statistics and on the iteration number, upon reconstructing iteratively
list-mode PET datasets in PET and TOF-PET modality, respectively. The thesis work gave indication of the
improvement of TOF vs. non-TOF reconstructions in terms of faster iterative convergence while showing image quality
limits at reduced count statistics.
I know Roberto Salvati since 2010 during his graduate courses in Medical Physics and as the supervisor of his
M.Sc. thesis. Roberto is a student with good basis in General Physics, with strong motivation in research in Medical
Physics. During his thesis work, particular skills were revealed in computer analysis and programming. He likes
research on experimental Medical Physics and, in particular, medical imaging applications. His research experience just
started during the successful thesis work, but I am sure that once introduced in a good scientific group, his contribution
will be soon evident, as a reliable, hard-working student.
He his polite and respectful of colleagues, supervisors and of group roles.
I recommend Roberto Salvati for a PhD position in Medical Physics studies as a young physicist, motivated for
research, reliable, with good general capacities and particular skill in data analysis and computer programming.
In faith.
Paolo Russo
Professor of Medical Physics