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Ivan Kaminow Outstanding Early-Career Professional Prize

Foundation

Ivan Kaminow Outstanding Early-Career Professional Prize

Recognizing leadership and service to the community.

Application Dates

01 April 2026 - 12 June 2026

Program Prize

USD 2,000 grant, travel expenses to attend Frontiers in Optics (FiO), and advancement to the interview round of the Optica Ambassadors program.

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The Ivan Kaminow Outstanding Early-Career Professional Prize recognizes an early-career Optica Member for their leadership and volunteer efforts with Optica and the optics and photonics community at large. The Prize was established in honor of Ivan P. Kaminow for his many contributions to the field of optics and photonics, as well as his dedication to mentoring and inspiring early career researchers.

The recipient will receive USD 2,000, travel expenses to attend Frontiers in Optics (FiO), and advancement to the interview round of the Optica Ambassadors program.

The Prize is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Kaminow family, Intel Corporation and personal donations from the community.

Application Information

How To Apply

Applications available at apply.optica.org.

Important Dates

Opens 01 April 2026
Closes 12 June 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Must be an Optica member.
Must be an early career professional (1-5 years post highest degree*)
Must be able to demonstrate exceptional service contributions to Optica and the optics and photonics community, including but not limited to Student Chapter activities, youth outreach programs, community service, service on Optica committees, volunteer activities for meetings and/or publications.

* Program requirements exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; military service, long-term illness, or inability to work due to Covid-19 or lab closures).

Application Requirements

Applicant name, affiliation, gender, and contact information
CV/Resume (no more than four (4) pages)
Overview of your volunteer contributions (no more than two (2) pages) covering:
1. Description of volunteer work and roles, including but not limited to Student Chapter activities, youth outreach programs, community service, service on Optica committees, volunteer activities for meetings and/or publications.
2. Motivation for volunteering and goals for future volunteer opportunities/roles
3. Impact of volunteer contributions to Optica or the community
Two (2) letters of recommendation

If you have questions, please contact prizes@optica.org

Recipients

2025

Himadri Tanaya Sahoo

University of Twente, Netherlands

For her dedication to advancing STEM education and inspiring curiosity in underprivileged and marginalized youth.

2024

Guillermo Ezequiel Sánchez Guerrero

Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México

For his dedication to fostering a global community of optics researchers through impactful local science education and outreach.

2023

Justus C. Ndukaife

Vanderbilt University, USA

For unwavering commitment to teaching, mentoring and community service by fostering the growth and development of students within his local community and in Africa.

2022

Sejeong Kim

University of Melbourne, Australia

For her dedication to the Nanophotonics Technical Group and youth outreach in Australia and South Korea.

2021

Brandon Buscaino

Infinera Corporation, USA

For his ongoing support for Optica student chapters and public policy initiatives as well as his commitment to advancing the impact of Optica Foundation opportunities.