Schedule
27 - 29 September 2026
Rochester Convention Center
Rochester, NY UNITED STATES
Programming for Student Leadership will be announced soon.
| 7:15 |
Breakfast |
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| 8:30 - 9:30 |
Welcome, Optica Staff; and Opening Remarks |
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| 9:00-10:45 |
Sustainable Networking |
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| 1045-11:15 |
Break (with Group Photo) |
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| 11:15-12:00 | Keynote 1: Teaching Computers to Design Light: Automation in Illumination Engineering and Freeform Optics William Cassarly |
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| 12:00- 13:00 |
Lunch |
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| 13:15-14:00 | Workshops Sessions I Theme: Mental health, community building Optica Ambassadors |
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| Building Your Scientific Community: Mentors, Sponsors, Peers, and Networks Saheer Cheemadan |
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| Developing Empathic Leadership for Science Management and Collaboration Lewis Hill |
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| Under Pressure: Under Pressure: Navigating Personalities and Team Dynamics Tatjana Pladere |
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| 14:00 - 14:10 | Break | |
| 14:10- 14:55 |
Workshops Sessions II |
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From Defense to Dialogue: Translating Your Research to Any Audience Four speakers TBC: hybrid bonding, glass or panel-level substrates, wafer-level photonic assembly, micro-transfer printing or heterogeneous integration. |
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| The Art of Saying Yes (and When to Say No) Juan Rafael Alvarez |
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Speak So People Listen: Presenting with Impact & Advocating for Yourself |
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| 14:55 - 15:05 | Break | |
| 15:05 - 15:50 |
Workshops Sessions III |
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| Lab to Launch: Evaluating the Commercial Potential of Your Research Amol Delmade & Mariia Zhuldybina |
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| Ethical and Efficient uses of AI Travis Sawyer |
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| Applying for grants and scholarships Aisha Bibi |
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| 16:00-17:00 | Keynote 2: Many Shapes of Light and Life Jacquiline Romero |
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| 17:00 - 17:30 | Closing Remarks Sai Kanth Dacha, 2026 Optica Ambassador |
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| 18:00-19:30 | Closing Reception Together with Women's Scholars and AMPLIFY |
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