Foundation
Optica Women Scholars
Empowering the next generation of women leaders in optics and photonics.
Application Dates
13 Dec 2023 - 31 Jan 2024Program 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
Check back soon! The 2024 application period will begin this fall.
Important Dates
Opens 13 December 2023
Closes 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:
2022
2023 Recipients
Isabella Aguilera
Universidad del Valle, Colombia
Jewel Ashbrook
Middlebury College, USA
Manon Bart
Tulane University, USA
Gloria Davidova
Cornell University, USA
Alexis Guidi
University of British Columbia, Canada
Christabel Isagi
Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenya
Dana Kachman
Johns Hopkins University, USA
Paula Kirya
University of California San Diego, USA
Linda Lin
University of Pennsylvania, USA
Rebecca Mac
University of Waterloo, Canada
Viviana Maldonado Estrada
Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico
Mathu Mathi Murugavel
Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India
Svenja Nerreter
University of Regensburg, Germany
Sofía Obando-Vásquez
Universidad EAFIT, Colombia
María Sánchez-Hernández
Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
Lucía Camila Tasende Rodríguez
Ghent University, Belgium
Jenna Veugen
University of Waterloo, Canada
Yingchu Xu
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Mina Yoo
The University of Arizona, USA
Amanda Younes
University of California, Los Angeles, 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 |
| Janet S Fender | UNITED STATES | |
| Sylvain D Gennaro | Meta Reality Labs | UNITED STATES |
| Jessica Pastor | Coherent Corp | UNITED STATES |
| Madison Rilling | OPTONIQUE | CANADA |
| Danuta M Sampson | University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| Lydia Sanmarti | ICFO | SPAIN |
| Katharine E Schmidtke | Meta Platforms Inc | UNITED STATES |
| Hui Su | Corning Inc | UNITED STATES |
