Student Information

Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition
Student Travel Grants
Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Grant

Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition

The Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition recognizes the innovation and research excellence of students presenting their work during Frontiers in Optics (FiO) and honors Emil Wolf for his many contributions to science and the Optical Society.  This program is administered by the OSA Foundation.

Finalists are selected based on scores received during the standard FiO Technical Program Committee review. Status notification will be sent via email following the Committee’s decision. A separate notification regarding paper acceptance will also be sent. 

Finalists are judged based on their work’s technical advances and value to the technical community of interest, and their skill of public presentation. The Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition Review Committee will select one winner per submission category. Each winner will receive a complimentary OSA student membership, an award stipend of $300 USD and an award certificate.

Criteria for Eligibility

• The submitting author must be an undergraduate or graduate student of an educational institution of collegiate grade who is devoting more than half-time to studies within the institution, at the time the paper was written.
• The student must be listed as the presenting author of the paper, and if accepted must present the paper at the conference.
• The submitting author must opt-in to the competition during the regular submission process and follow all the instructions provided on the submission site.
• The paper must be submitted and accepted during the regular “call for papers” process. (Note: postdeadline papers are not part of this competition.)

An announcement of the winners will be posted on the FiO web site and in a press release.

Review/Selection Process

1. All papers submitted to the competition will be reviewed during the standard Technical Program Committee (TPC) review process.

2. Each subcommittee will select 2–3 finalists.

3. The Emil Wolf Outstanding Student Paper Competition Review Committee will attend the presentations of finalists in each subcommittee and select one winner per subcommittee.

4. Announcement of the winners will be posted on the FiO web site and in a press release.

OSA Foundation Student Travel Grants

The OSA Foundation is pleased to offer travel grants to students working or studying in a qualifying developing nation who plan to attend Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2009. Travel grants will average $1,000 US per award.

Application Deadline: August 3, 2009

All grant program applicants must:

1. Work or study in a qualifying developing nation
2. Be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program
3. Demonstrate need for travel support and state the value of attending the conference
4. Agree that if they are selected as a grant recipient the OSA Foundation (OSAF) may use their name, photo and the information provided in their trip report to promote OSAF programs and solicit donations. This information may be used online, in print and email and in other OSAF communication vehicles.

OSA Foundation Travel Grant Application

It is not required that the applicant is a conference presenter, but we encourage interested students to submit a paper for oral or poster presentation. You are not required to be an OSA Student Member to apply for a grant, but preference is given to members. View more information on OSA Membership.

Please note: Applicants must apply for a visa, if required. OSA can send a letter of invitation for US meetings, but has no influence on the process.

If you have any questions please contact us at foundationgrants@osa.org
The meeting chairs will review all qualified applications and applicants will be notified of the results via email.

Application Deadline: August 3, 2009

Incubic/Milton Chang Travel Grant

Application Deadline: July 27, 2009

Funded by an endowment from Milton and Rosalind Chang, this program provides 10 travel grants of $500 US each to students presenting  papers at Frontiers in Optics/OSA Annual Meeting. Travel grants are awarded to the presenter and usually the first author of the paper.

All of the following information MUST be included in the grant application:

• A letter of support from the student
• A letter of support from the student's advisor
• An estimated budget for the trip
• A copy of the paper abstract

Students should also include home mailing address and email address. U.S. students should include their social security number, which is required to process the check. Both letters of support should describe the importance of the student's work and must clearly demonstrate the need for the grant. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Grant applications for Frontiers in Optics must be submitted on or before July 27, 2009.

Email your application to:
IncubicMiltonChangTravelGrant@osa.org
If you do not have email access, you may mail your application to:
Incubic/Milton Chang Student Travel Grant Committee
Optical Society of America
2010 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20036 USA