The Milton and Rosalind Chang Pivoting Fellowship provides early-career professionals the opportunity to advance science and engineering through non-traditional career paths such as public policy, government, philanthropy, or journalism.

The program is intended to encourage talented optical scientists and engineers to pursue their passion and leverage their expertise and knowledge outside of the traditional career paths for the betterment of the field and society.

The recipient receives USD 50,000 to support their career pivot and travel expenses to attend Frontiers in Optics (FiO).

The Fellowship is funded by Milton and Rosalind Chang.

Application Information

How To Apply

Applications available at apply.optica.org.

Important Dates

Opens 27 March 2026
Closes 15 May 2026

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be an Optica Member and an early career professional (1 – 5 years post highest degree*).
• Must be able to demonstrate passion for proposed career pivot, and the intent to leverage expertise to advance science and engineering through non-traditional career paths such as public policy, government, philanthropy, or journalism.

* Program requirements exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; military service, long-term illness, or inability to work due to Covid-19 or lab closures).

Application Requirements

1. Applicant name, affiliation, gender, and contact information
2. CV/Resume (no more than four (4) pages)
3. Career Pivot Proposal Title and 150-word Proposal Summary
4. Career Pivot Proposal (no more than four (4) pages) covering: 
   • 1. Outline of your intended career pivot, highlighting your goals and objectives and the strategy you will use to achieve them, what skills will be applied or gained, how you will leverage your science/engineering expertise, and what metrics will define success.
     2. Potential impact of your pivot on the field of optics and photonics and society as a whole
     3.  Clear financial, operational, and administrative plans to bring your proposal to fruition and sustain it.  
5. Budget - using the template provided.
6. Two (2) letters of recommendation.

Note - Applications should be clear and focused with well-defined goals, metrics, and strategies. The intent of this program is to support a full career pivot, not fund a side project or a research project. Ensure your budget aligns with goals, strategy and intended outcomes. 

Evaluation Process

The Selection Committee reviews and discusses all the applications and selects 3 – 4 finalists. The finalists will participate in an interview session with the Selection Committee. Details regarding the interview will be shared via email with finalists.

If you have questions, please contact prizes@optica.org.

Recipients

2025

Lu Wang

University of Ottawa, Canada

For her commitment to bridging science and art to improve scientific communication, share scientific knowledge, and inspire creativity effectively.

2024

Elvin Chizenga

Lightaceutics, South Africa

For his plans to promote biophotonic healthcare solutions by educating the public on the proper use of devices and commercializing academic innovations.

2023

Fabian Ruf

Helping Hands Network, Germany

For his vision and dedication to creating practical teaching tools and fostering a passion for science through optics in Liberia and other African countries, inspiring teachers and students alike.

2022 

Victor Ochoa-Gutierrez

University of Glasgow, United Kingdom

For his dedication to making oximetry more accessible to diverse populations.

2021

Madison Rilling

OPTONIQUE, Canada

For her commitment to bring science, industry, and government together to address critical challenges including climate change and healthcare through evidence-based policy and programs.

2020 

Nirmal Punjabi

Sensing and Monitoring Foundation, India

For his vision for closing the gap between the lab environment of sensor development and real-world implementation of sensors for environment and health care applications.

2019 

Araceli Venegas-Gomez

QURECA, United Kingdom

For her plans to explore the current state of quantum physics research and the potential emerging technologies, and share her findings with the general public.