Julie Roche

Julie Roche is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Ohio University, within the College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as Director of the Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics (INPP) and as Undergraduate Chair for the department. Her research is centered on experimental nuclear and particle physics, particularly the internal structure of protons and neutrons governed by the Strong force. She conducts experiments at major national facilities such as Jefferson Lab (JLab) and MAMI in Germany, with future involvement at the Electron-Ion Collider.

Her research interests include the 3D tomographic imaging of nucleons via Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) and exclusive meson production. She is the spokesperson for three JLab experiments with scientific grading A. Her work aims to test models of the Strong force and explore physics beyond the Standard Model through precision measurements. Supported continuously by the National Science Foundation since 2007, her research has led to over 77 peer-reviewed publications and nearly 4,000 citations.

The trends in her recent publications highlight a strong focus on generalized parton distributions (GPDs), high Q² and high Bjorken-x physics, DVCS, and exclusive reactions. These studies are instrumental in mapping quark and gluon dynamics inside the proton, with implications for quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and nucleon structure. Her work bridges experimental data with theoretical models to advance understanding of hadronic matter.

Scientific Service and Leadership:

• Chair, DNP Education Committee, APS (2024–Present)
• Co-convenor, Working Group 5: Spin and 3D Structure, DIS2024 Conference
• Chair, JLab Users Organization (2018–2019)
• Chair, Photonuclear Reactions Gordon Conference (2018)
• Member, Executive Committee, APS Division of Nuclear Physics (2019–2021)
• Chair, Hall A/JLab Coordinating Committee (2013–2014)
• Chair, Jefferson Lab/Hall C Steering Committee (2008)

Julie Roche is actively involved in mentoring and advising. She serves as academic advisor to approximately ten undergraduate physics students annually and has been a faculty advisor for the Women in Physics and Astronomy (WIPHA) group. She has received teaching buy-outs and sabbatical support from JLab and JSA, reflecting her research productivity. She teaches a range of courses, including advanced undergraduate laboratories and graduate-level nuclear physics, and is passionate about physics education and equity in STEM.

She leads the Nucleon Electro-Weak Structure research group at Ohio University, which includes graduate and undergraduate researchers. Her lab collaborates extensively with JLab and international partners, contributing to major collaborations such as the Hall A Collaboration. Her group’s work is supported by multiple NSF grants, including awards #2209199, #1913170, #1614479, and others dating back to 2007.