Dr. Jerzy Bodurka, passed away on Friday, August 13, 2021. He was born on November 2, 1964, in Poland. He was always a curious child and his aptitude in the sciences was apparent from a young age, as he voraciously studied and devoured information. He attended the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, where he completed his undergraduate work and graduated with his doctorate in Physics in 1995. He came to the United States in 1997 to serve as a post-doc at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He was a pioneer and a world-renowned expert in the fields of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI and enjoyed a storied scientific career and many prestigious awards. He worked as a staff scientist at The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and received the NIH Director's Award in 2007 for his advancements in MRI imaging technology. In 2009, he joined the Laureate Institute for Brain Research (LIBR) in Tulsa, OK, where he worked to build an international reputation in magnetic resonance imaging physics and its applications to improving mental health. He also taught as an adjunct professor at The University of Oklahoma, where he loved working with his students and was a passionate advocate for science and innovation. He was active in research on PTSD in combat veterans, with support from the Department of Defense as well as a researcher on many other state and federal grants.

He cared deeply about people – those in his group, in his work and in his family. He was a thoughtful and engaging collaborator who advocated for new researchers. He was a loving husband, father, brother, son, mentor and colleague with a knack for technology and tinkering – his wife and daughter joke that they always had a willing IT professional on call. He loved World War II history, space exploration, hiking, tennis, movies, walking with the family dog and most of all, his family.

He was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his devoted loving wife of 32 years, Gosia; daughter Ola Bodurka Kirk and her husband, Brady; mother; brother and his wife; nieces and other loving family members as well as countless friends and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider donations to Laureate Institute for Brain Research to continue Jerzy's life's work in advancing interventions for mental health.