Each year, ten Black undergrad and master's students receive a US$10,000 scholarship to help ease the financial burden of college. Additionally, other benefits include a one-year membership to Optica, access to mentors, and an invitation to the 2025 Amplify Optics Immersion Program.

Application Information

Important Dates

Invited speakers will be reviewed by the chairs and a recipient will be determined based on the criteria of the award.

Opens 25 September 2024
Closes 14 November 2024

Applicant Requirements

1. Self-identify as Black

2. Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or master's student at a university with one or more years left to complete your education.

• Undergraduates: have a major in physics, math, chemistry or engineering and a demonstrated interest in optics and photonics.
• Master's: have a major and/or concentration in optics or photonics demonstrated with your research and coursework (If you are a master’s student who plans to continue on to a Ph.D. but have not yet finished your master’s you are eligible).

3. Demonstrate academic potential (GPA, publications, references, other awards/merits)

4. Program requirements recognize and exclude career breaks from timelines (eg, eldercare; maternity or paternity leave) 

Application Requirements

1. CV or resume: Must not exceed four (4) pages

2. Student response:

Undergraduate students: (300 Word limit per/question)

• Describe your experiences and interests related to physics, math, chemistry and engineering.
• Describe your interests in optics and photonics including but not limited to laser science, fiber optics, lens design, vision science, imaging and sensing, electrical or mechanical engineering, biomedical optics, quantum theory or applications.

Master's students: (300 Word limit per/question)

• Describe any research, lab or classroom work related to optics and photonics including but not limited to laser science, fiber optics, lens design, vision science, imaging and sensing, electrical or mechanical engineering, biomedical optics, quantum theory or applications. 
• Describe your goals related to optics and photonics (pursuing a Ph.D., working in industry, etc.).

3. Budget reflecting anticipated academic expenses and other sources of funding.

4. Copies of academic transcripts from the last 2-3 years demonstrating competence in physics or engineering.

5. Two letters of recommendation addressing your interest in optics as well as merits for receiving this scholarship.

2024 Recipients

Oluwatoyin Atikekeresola 

North Carolina Central University, USA

Ana Júlia Barbosa Tomé

University of São Paulo, Brazil

Ernestina Domey

University of Rochester, USA

Kaleb Felefele

University of Waterloo, Canada

Winny Kameni

Carleton University - Algonquin College, Canada

Ifeanyichukwu Umeadi Okonkwo

Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Diego França de Oliveira

University of São Paulo, Brazil

Brian Osoro 

Maasai Mara University, Kenya 

Jordan Simmons

Norfolk State University, USA

Chandler Stevenson

Brown University School of Engineering, USA 

Past Recipients

2023

2022

Contributors

Founders US$100,000+

Contributors US$20,000+

Contributors US$10,000+

Contributors US$1,000+

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Fundraising Committee

• Antigone Marino, Chair, Institute of Applied Science & Intelligent Systems (CNR), National Research Council
• Aline Dinkelaker, Co-Chair, Leibniz Institut fur Astrophysik Potsdam
• Arti Agrawal, University of Technology Sydney
• Yaseera Ismail, University of KwaZulu-Natal
• Yoshitomo Okawachi, Columbia University
• Danuta Sampson, University of Surrey

About the Endowment

This program was developed by the Optica Ambassadors in response to the lack of Black representation in optics and photonics.

“Science lives in a society affected by, and in many ways built upon, systemic racism. As Optica Ambassadors, we are committed to fighting for justice, equality, integrity and inclusivity in the scientific community and beyond. We recognize we need to do more by sustainably supporting, amplifying and promoting Black scientists, engineers and students. Black lives matter.”

2016 – 2020 Optica Ambassadors