The University of Kentucky has established an International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) student chapter, beginning in fall 2024.
The UK SPIE student chapter, housed within the F. Joseph Halcomb III, M.D. Department of Biomedical Engineering, is the first and only student chapter dedicated to optics and photonics in the state.
The newly established chapter connects students with a worldwide network of future changemakers in the field . The mission of the chapter is to foster leadership, technical expertise and professional development through hands-on projects, outreach activities and collaborations with academic and industry leaders.
The UK chapter aims to promote optics and photonics across the University and the Commonwealth, enriching the academic community and supporting the University’s mission to advance STEM education. Members engage with undergraduate and graduate students, and local high schools through workshops, research opportunities, and interactive events, empowering them to explore this innovative field.
SPIE offers students a chance to develop leadership, communication and networking skills while contributing to impactful innovations in optics, photonics, biomedical engineering and beyond.
The UK SPIE chapter was established by founding president, Faraneh Fathi, a Ph.D. candidate and researcher in Guoqiang Yu’s Biomedical Optics Lab, and and founding faculty advisor, Caigang Zhu, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering.
