Optica Women Scholars
Foundation
Optica Women Scholars
Empowering the next generation of women leaders in optics and photonics.
Application Dates
13 October 2025 - 30 November 2025Program 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
Apply on apply.optica.org.
Important Dates
Opens 13 October 2025
Closes 30 November 2025
Eligibility Criteria
- 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
2025 Recipients
Violeta Acosta University of Guadalajara, Mexico
Rana Akyazi
Middle East Technical University, Turkey
Daniela Arellano Haro Grenoble INP - UGA, France
Sofiia Baletska V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine
Natalia Bednarek
University of Warsaw, Poland
Nikolina Bratic University of Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro
Eden Chen Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel
Emily Eadie
Concordia University, Canada
Jenna Epstein University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Kimberly Guzman
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Katherine Indyk Ohio State University, USA
Angéline Lafleur University of Ottawa, Canada 
Carolina Salgado do Nascimento University of São Paulo, Brazil 
Miraidh Reid University of Strathclyde, UK
Eliana Hara Stilson
University of Arizona, USA
Adeline Tai
University of Arizona, USA
Hazuki TakahashiCornell University, USA
Anjolie Tuazon University of Maryland, College Park, USA
Manasa Vannadil Surendran Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
Maria Vasileva Vrije Universiteit Brussels, BelgiumContributors
Founders US$100,000+
Contributors US$10,000+
Selection Committee
| Name | Affiliation | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet S Fender | UNITED STATES | Chair | |
| Imrana Ashraf | Quaid-I-Azam University | PAKISTAN | Member |
| Lisa Bickford | Google LLC | UNITED STATES | Member |
| Frank Chang | UNITED STATES | Member | |
| Prathmesh Deshmukh | Reality Labs Research,Meta Platforms Inc | UNITED STATES | Member |
| Maninder Kaur | Qureca | UNITED KINGDOM | Member |
| Danuta M Sampson | University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA | Member |
| Lydia Sanmarti | ICFO -Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques | SPAIN | Member |
| Hui Su | Corning Inc. | UNITED STATES | Member |
| Anna Tatarczak | Coherent Corp | UNITED STATES | Member |
| Olivia Frances Wheeler-Williams | Edmund Optics Inc. | UNITED STATES | Member |
