Optica Foundation announces 2026 Optica Ambassadors
About Optica
13 January 2026
Optica Foundation announces 2026 Optica Ambassadors
Ambassadors provide mentorship and support student and early-career professional engagement worldwide, building our community's next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists and leaders.
WASHINGTON – The Optica Foundation announces ten exceptional early-career members who will serve as the 2026 class of Optica Ambassadors. Following a competitive application process, Ambassadors are chosen for their outstanding dedication to the Optica community. These emerging leaders are set to provide guidance and support to youth worldwide, helping to promote and enable successful careers in optics and photonics.
“Since 2016, our dedicated Ambassadors have offered mentorship for career paths and professional and technical expertise,” said Eric Mazur, Chair, Optica Foundation Board of Directors. “This upcoming class evokes Optica’s core values of innovation, integrity, inclusivity and impact and will offer fresh perspectives to our global community.”
Supported by the Optica Foundation's annual fund, Ambassadors engage with Optica Student Chapters, offering training and sharing insights through virtual meetups and in-person programs. Their role extends to nurturing early-career researchers, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose in optics and photonics. Ambassadors play an essential role in demonstrating career opportunities in academia, industry and government roles and helping to ensure inclusion among our global community.
“Graduate training builds expertise through independent focus, but strong science also depends on interpersonal skills,” said Begüm Kabagöz, 2025 Optica Ambassador. “Working with my cohort of Optica Ambassadors helped me balance approachability and professionalism, communicate more confidently and lower barriers for early-career researchers through shared experience.”
The 2026 Optica Ambassadors are:
- Juan Rafael Alvarez Velasquez, Telecom Paris, France
- Garima Bawa, CREOL, University of Central Florida, USA
- Aisha Bibi, Salience Labs Ltd, UK
- Saheer Cheemadan, Bee Lab School, India
- Sai Kanth Dacha, Columbia University, USA
- Amol Delmade, Pilot Photonics, Ireland
- Lewis Hill, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, Germany
- Tatjana Pladere, University of Latvia, Latvia
- Travis Sawyer, University of Arizona, USA
- Mariia Zhuldybina, École de Technologie Supérieure, Canada
Optica Foundation
Established in 2002, the Optica Foundation carries out charitable activities in support of the society’s student and early career members. We cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators as they navigate advanced degree programs and become active members of research, engineering and business communities worldwide. The foundation also works to secure the endowments for Optica’s awards and honors programs. The foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. For more information, visit optica.org/foundation.
About Optica
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the Society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more at: Optica.org
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