Wyant College of Optical Sciences News

Congratulations to Daewook Kim, associate professor of optical sciences, and Xiushan Zhu, research professor of optical sciences, who were elected as 2025 Fellow Members of Optica. Fellow membership in Optica is limited to no more than ten percent of the membership and is reserved for members who have served with distinction in the advancement of optics and photonics. 

Arizona Photonics Days continues to be a standout event, and this year was no exception. The Wyant College of Optical Sciences was honored to participate on the final day, hosted at the Grand Challenges Research Building. Dean and Professor Tom Koch delivered an insightful talk and was honored with a special recognition for his outstanding contributions to the Optics Valley community. His leadership continues to inspire growth in our field. A big thank you to all those who took part in the tours of the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab and the GCRB. These tours provided an incredible behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking work happening in optics and photonics, sparking rich discussions and new ideas among attendees.

Wyant College of Optical Sciences, in collaboration with Nanoscribe, invites students worldwide to participate in the Optical Design Competition for 3D Printed Optical Systems. Open to individuals or teams of up to three, this competition challenges participants to create innovative designs using two-photon polymerization (2PP) printing technology. Winners will receive cash prizes, have their designs fabricated, and contribute to advancing optical research. Submissions are due May 1, 2025, with winners announced September 15, 2025.

The Wyant College of Optical Sciences welcomes three new faculty members to the college’s ranks. The incoming faculty bring a diverse collection of exciting research to the college and are looking for students interested in joining their labs. Learn more about Asst. Profs. Weimin Zhou, Yeran Bai and Cris Panda.

The University of Arizona Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement office has announced Dr. Joseph A. Shaw as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year for the Wyant College of Optical Sciences. The Alumni of the Year luncheon will be hosted by the University on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

Before the semester ended Optics for All (OFA) hosted Travis Sawyer, assistant professor of optical sciences, as a community speaker Dec. 9th. Sawyer has a unique experience with the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, because he began at the college as a student. So his talk, "Finding the right advisor and lab: a guide to undergraduate and graduate" hit just right relying on his academic and professional experience! This is a great talk to listen to to learn more about how you can aim for a lab and faculty research advisor that will be just right for you.

Wyant College of Optical Sciences is excited to support the Big Idea Challenge. The Office of Research, Innovation & Impact launched this new initiative to address pressing global challenges through groundbreaking, transdisciplinary research. With a focus on areas like Defense and National Security; Energy and Environmental Sustainability; The Future of Health and Biomedical Sciences; Space Sciences; and Data, Information Systems and Artificial Intelligence, this challenge brings together innovative minds to drive impactful solutions. Selected teams will receive seed funding of up to $125,000 annually for up to two years to catalyze their big idea. This is your opportunity to take part in game-changing research and innovation that tackles regional, national, and global challenges.

Stop by the Meinel building and you will find a stunning mural in the 4th floor hallway! This vibrant masterpiece, designed by undergraduate art student, Nina Garcia, is a testament to the incredible collaboration between students from the College of Fine Arts and the Wyant College of Optical Sciences.

The new year began with the 10th annual 2025 Optical Sciences Winter School running from January 7 - 10 at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences. More than 50 undergraduates from across the country attended. Students visited from institutions including the American University, Colgate Univ., Delaware State Univ., Illinois Weslyan Univ., Rochester Institute of Technology and many more!

Graduating students and their loved ones, along with Wyant College staff and faculty, gathered on Friday, Dec. 20 to celebrate the Wyant College of Optical Sciences' Winter Convocation. The intimate ceremony was followed by a light spread and cake in the Meinel 3rd floor lobby.