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
2026 Recipients
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Paige Beltz Texas A&M
University, USA
University, USA
Cayeros Parra
Cayeros Parra, Mexico
Abby ChapmanUniversity of Prince
Edward, Canada
Anabel Chen Weizmann Institute ofScience, USA
Ruth Kooaka
Dorgbaa
University of Nigeria
Nsukka, Nigeria
Charlotte FingerMaximilians-Universität München, Germany
Parnian Ghapandar Kashani University of California,
Los Angeles, USA
Hannah Patricia
Gonzales
University College
Dublin, Ireland
Patricia GonzálezPiquero
Complutense University
of Madrid, Spain
Amanda Huang
Cornell University, USA
Natasha KarlikDuquesne
University, USA
Parisa Kashi Ruhr University
Bochum, Germany
Zeynep EceKorkmaz
Hacettepe University,
Turkey
Natalia Carolina LaraDavila
Instituto Tecnológico,
Colombia
Colombia
Jia Yi Lian
OTH Regensburg
Germany & USM
Malaysia, Germany
Larissa
Luna-González
Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México,
Mexcico
Aylin OrejarenaOspino
Universidad del
Atlántico, Colombia
Marta RodríguezLorenzo
Universidade de
Santiago de Compostela,
Spain
Yu-Chen Tseng Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Camille Unger Universidade Federal do
Paraná, Brazil
Contributors
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 |
| Danuta M Sampson | Lions Eye Institute | 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 |
