Foundation
Optica Women Scholars
Empowering the next generation of women leaders in optics and photonics.
Program Prize
- US$10,000
- One-year Optica Student Membership
- Access to mentorship platform and connection with a mentor
Foundation
20 Optica Women Scholars are selected annually and receive a merit and need-based grant. In addition to the funding, scholars gain access to our global network of mentors and the supporting companies.
Application Information
How To Apply
Application is now closed.
Important Dates
The submitting author must opt-in to the competition during the regular paper submission process and follow all of the instructions provided on the submission site.
Paper Submission Deadline: 31 January 2024
Applicant Requirements
- Self-identify as a woman.
- Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or Master's student at a university.
- Undergraduate Student: have a major in optics, physics, chemistry, math or engineering and a demonstrated interest in optics and photonics.
- Masters Student: have a major and/or concentration in optics or photonics demonstrated with your research and coursework.
- Demonstrate academic potential (GPA, publications, references, other awards/merits).
- Program requirements recognize and exclude career breaks from timelines (eg, eldercare; maternity or paternity leave).
Application Requirements
- CV or resume
- Personal statement describing academic/professional background and interest in optics and photonics in 500 words or less.
- What are your educational, research, and career goals?
- Describe your experiences and interests related to optics and photonics (e.g., laser science, fiber optics, lens design, vision science, imaging and sensing, electrical or mechanical engineering, biomedical optics, quantum theory, or applications.)
- Budget reflecting anticipated academic expenses and other sources of funding.
- Copies of academic transcripts from the last 2-3 years demonstrating competence in physics or engineering.
- Two letters of recommendation addressing your interest in optics as well as merits for receiving this scholarship.
Previous Recipients:
2023 | 2022
2024 Recipients
Julia Bertero Di Tella
Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ernestina Domey
University of Rochester,
USA
Leah Frackleton
University of Ottawa,
Canada
Alejandra Gómez Ramírez
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
Carolyn Hokin
University of Arizona,
USA
Nuri Hong
Cornell University,
USA
Petra Ivatović
University of Zagreb,
Croatia
Yewon Kim
Yonsei University,
South Korea
Inbal Kom Betzer
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
Zhamila Kulchukova
Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan
Mariia Leontieva
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University,
Taiwan
Sydney Lepard
Institut national de la recherche scientifique,
Canada
Lily McKenna
University of Arizona,
USA
Maria Vitoria Moura Cabrera
Wellesley College,
USA
Anulia Mykhaelian
Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Eleanor Richard
Cornell University,
USA
Malley Richardson
University of British Columbia, Canada
Maisie Russell
University of Auckland,
New Zealand
Gabrielle Vaz
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
Jacqueline Yang
Columbia University,
USA
Contributors
Founders US$100,000+
Contributors US$10,000+
2024 Selection Committee
| Name | Affiliation | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Imrana Ashraf | Quaid-I-Azam University | PAKISTAN |
| Lisa Bickford | Google LLC | UNITED STATES |
| Frank Chang | Source Photonics | UNITED STATES |
| Prathmesh Deshmukh | City University of New York | UNITED STATES |
| Janet S Fender | UNITED STATES | |
| Maninder Kaur | QURECA | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Madison Rilling | OPTONIQUE | CANADA |
| Danuta M Sampson | University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Lydia Sanmarti | ICFO | SPAIN |
| Hui Su | Corning Inc | UNITED STATES |
| Anna Tatarczak | Coherent Corp | UNITED STATES |
