The SPIE Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences symbolizes the SPIE mission to partner with scientists, engineers, and educators to advance light-based research and technologies that enhance life around the globe.
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, founded in 1955, to help create a world where optics and photonics transforms everyday life. The Society strengthens the global optics and photonics community through meetings, knowledge-sharing, and professional development.
To bring technical professionals together, SPIE organizes more than 20 major conferences worldwide each year, where more than 35,000 scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs share their research findings, discuss innovation, and connect with collaborators.
The SPIE Digital Library is the world’s largest collection of optics and photonics applied research, with more than 550,000 publications, including papers from SPIE journals, conference proceedings and presentations, and eBooks. Research topics include lasers and optics, biophotonics, communications, sensors, defense and security, manufacturing, astronomy, clean energy, quantum applications, nanophotonics, and imaging.
Members of SPIE enjoy resources for professional development, opportunities for lifelong learning, and open connections throughout the global optics and photonics community. SPIE Corporate Members include several hundred of the world’s best suppliers and system developers who continue advancing what is possible with technology, while establishing international visibility among buyers. SPIE represents the professional interests of individual and corporate members and the optics and community at large on a global scale.
Over the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through its advocacy and support programs, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development.
SPIE is honored to help the Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona to attract and support exceptional professors who advance the field of optics and photonics with world-class research and educate thousands of students in the generations ahead.
“As a not-for-profit educational charity, SPIE is uniquely positioned to devote resources that create a larger pipeline of scientists and engineers knowledgeable about optics. We are keenly aware of the Wyant College of Optical Sciences’ commitment to emerging new leaders in optics – and are eager to support a faculty member who will teach future generations of leaders to excel."
Dr. Kent Rochford, SPIE, CEO
SPIE Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences Chair Holder
2022 - current
Dr. Matt Eichenfield, OSC Professor
Research Specialty: Photonics