Foundation
Gapontsev Prize for Innovations in Fiber Lasers
Be recognized for excellence in fiber laser technologies.
Application Dates
22 May 2024 - 30 Jun 2024Program Prize
US$20,000 stipend and travel expenses to be recognized at an Optica managed event
Foundation
The Gapontsev Prize for Innovations in Fiber Lasers provides recognition and funding for early-career professionals engaged in exciting and innovative projects with the potential to make a meaningful and positive impact on the science and applications of fiber laser technologies.
In honor of Valentin Gapontsev's groundbreaking work, this award champions emerging researchers passionate about advancing fiber laser technology. By empowering early-career talent, it fosters the potential for groundbreaking innovations and real-world applications. Recognizing the ciritcal role of innovative research, the prize underscores the importance of pushing the boundaries of fiber lasers, in line with Gapontsev's vision for technological advancement.
Application Information
How To Apply
Applications will be available at apply.optica.org
Important Dates
Opens 22 May 2024
Closes 30 June 2024
Applicant Requirements
- Must be an Optica member.
- Must be an early-career professional (1-5 years post highest degree) pursuing a compelling project that has a meaningful global impact.
- Demonstrate the unique nature and global reach of the project.
- Conducting research in fiber laser technology.
- Examples of some, but not all, eligible areas include: fundamental and theoretical advances; advanced manufacturing and materials processing; medical applications and biophotonics; energy production and nuclear fusion; art, conservation and cultural heritage preservation. (you can read more about these areas in the applicaiton portal)
Program requirements recognize and exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; inability to work due to Covid-19 and lab closures; long-term illness).
Application Requirements
- Applicant name, institution and contact information
- Applicant CV/Resume* - no more than four (4) pages
- Proposal* covering:
- Current research and the intended goals
- Potential impact of your project to advance the field of Fiber Laser Technologies
- Potential for your research to solve real-world challenges and/or have a global impact
- An overview of how the US$20,000 prize would benefit your research and career
- Proposals should be no more than two (2) pages
- One (1) example of published work
- Two (2) references
*These documents must adhere to the following formatting requirements.
Formatting Requirements
- Paper size should comply with the international standard of A4 (8.3" x 11.7"; 210mmx297mm)
- Arial, Times New Roman or Courier New at a font size of 11 points or larger
- A font size of less than 11 points may be used for mathematical formulas or equations, figures, table or diagram captions and when using a Symbol font to insert Greek letters or special characters
- Margins, in all directions, must be at least 1" (2.54cm)
- Use a standard single-column format for text
- Regardless of font, readability is vital
If you have questions, please contact apply@optica.org.
Contributors
This prize is endowed by the VPG Foundation.
About the Endowment
Valentin Gapontsev's groundbreaking work in fiber lasers has revolutionized the photonics industry, setting new standards for performance, efficiency, and applications across various sectors. Honoring him with this prize celebrates his monumental contributions and inspires the next generation of scientists and engineers to pursue innovation with similar passion and determination. Establishing this prize in his name is a tribute to pioneering excellence and encourages continued advancement in fiber laser technology.
2024 Selection Committee
| Name | Affiliation | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Aleksandra Boskovic | Corning Optical Communications | UNITED STATES |
| Regina Gumenyuk | Tampereen Yliopisto | FINLAND |
| Jeffrey W Nicholson | OFS | UNITED STATES |
| Igor Samartsev | IPG Photonics Corp | UNITED STATES |
| Thomas Schreiber | Fraunhofer IOF | GERMANY |
| Wei Shi | Tianjin University | CHINA |
| Irina T Sorokina | Norwegian University of Science and Tech | NORWAY |
| J. Roy Taylor | Imperial College London | UNITED KINGDOM |
