Newsletter of the Optics and Photonics College Network
October 2019
Safety of 1550 nm LiDAR on Autonomous Vehicles

Doubts have been raised about the widespread assumption that 1550 nm would be an inherently safer wavelength for automotive LiDARs than the 905-nm wavelength used in the current generation of systems. As often happens with laser safety, the matter is not as simple as it might seem, and in some cases 1550 nm light may be able to cause eye injuries or be detected by -- or damage -- silicon sensors.

View the complete article about this topic at laserfocusworld.com  Safety questions raised about 1550 nm lidar
From the Executive Director 
The October newsletter is a reminder to industry seeking technicians with laser-photonics and opto-electronics skills that a new group of graduates will be available for hiring in December 2019 - the end of this semester.

Our OPCN partner colleges would be delighted to host your recruiters or employment representatives on their campuses. This is the time to contact the program managers and make arrangements for a visit and a recruiting event at the college of your choice before the end of the fall 2019 semester.

For a complete list of the contact persons and college information, please visit this webpage:  www.laser-tec.org/opcn

Take advantage of this free service provided by the colleges of our network, and give us your feedback.

If you have difficulty connecting with any one of our members, please don't hesitate to contact me for assistance: (772) 462-7621 or cpanayio@irsc.edu

All the best,

Chrys Panayiotou
FREE WEBINAR
Integrated Nanophotonics: The Transition to High-Volume Manufacturing and Implications for Workforce Education
Integrated Nanophotonics refers to the integration of photonic systems (e.g. optical devices, laser sources, and optical detectors) on a silicon or silicon compatible chip that can be interfaced with conventional integrated circuit technology. By leveraging recent advances in Si chip technology, integrated nanophotonics is currently transitioning to high-volume manufacturing. This presentation provides an overview of integrated nanophotonics technology and several key aspects of manufacturing and quality control (testing). The implications of this technology regarding relevant skill standards for technicians is described as well as core elements of potential technician education modules required to support this exciting new field. Register for this webinar here.
Hiring our Graduates

We would like this to be a reminder for our industry partners to search for qualified opto-electronic technicians among our second-year students and graduates. The majority of students will be graduating in spring 2020 and will be prepared to be a great contributor to your company.

Over 250 students will be graduating with strong fundamental knowledge and hands-on training in electronics, photonics, lasers, and fiber optics. Many will have specializations in biomedical equipment, automation, spectroscopy, or solar technology.  Please use this opportunity to arrange meetings with faculty and administrators, visit colleges, and set-up face-to-face interviews with your potential talent.

If you need any help identifying the best suited colleges or pool of students for your hiring needs, please contact Dr. Chrys Panayiotou at (772) 462-7621, or  cpanayio@irsc.edu
Monroe Community College Awarded $4.4M to Train More Optics Technicians
Monroe Community College (MCC) has been awarded a $4.4 million grant by the Office of Naval Research for its Defense Engineering Education Program in Optics (DEEP OPS). The program will increase the national optics workforce through innovative training programs that prepare students for these high-demand jobs that support the Department of Defense. Alexis Vogt, Ph.D., the endowed chair and associate professor of optics at MCC, was instrumental in securing the $4.4 million grant.  Read the full article here:  Monroe Community College Awarded $4.4M by Naval Research Office for Training Optics Techs
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
10/23/19 - 10/25/19
Washington, DC
12/03/19
Lillington, NC
02/01/20 - 02/06/20
San Francisco, CA
03/28/20 - 03/30/20
National Harbor, MD
Jobs for Graduating Students
Companies advertising openings on Indeed.com:

Electro optics technicians: 215 nationwide

Salary range: $40,600 - $90,600

Companies: Collins Aerospace(14) Leonardo DRS(12) Power Grid Engineering, LLC(11) General Dynamics Information Technology(8) ASML(8) Coherent, Inc.(6) Coherent Germany(6) Northrop Grumman(6) Ball Aerospace(5) Applied Materials Inc.(4) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory(4) Salvo Technologies(4) Mars(3) JT4(3) Facebook(3)

Location and number of jobs:  Danbury, CT(14) Wilton, CT(8) Santa Clara, CA(8) Dallas, TX(6) East Granby, CT(6) Orlando, FL(5) Livermore, CA(5) Boulder, CO(5) Norfolk, VA(4) Chesapeake, VA(4) Tucson, AZ(4) Melbourne, FL(4) Las Vegas, NV(3) Santa Barbara, CA(3) Fitchburg, MA(3)

Source:  www.indeed.com - October 14, 2019

NOTE: Very few companies use photonics as a job title for technicians. When searching, use the job title electro optics to get the best results. 
OPCN Member Colleges
The Optics and Photonics College Network (OPCN) is an association of postsecondary photonics technician educators operated by LASER-TEC. To learn more about the OPCN and to view the list of member institutions, please visit www.laser-tec.org/opcn
LASER-TEC Resources

Whether you are looking for support with your college program's outreach, curriculum design, academic-business partnerships, or student placement, LASER-TEC has resources for you. Visit the Resources tab on our website www.laser-tec.org to browse textbooks, kits, laboratory manuals, and informational and outreach materials. The current collection is comprised of both LASER-TEC and OP-TEC materials. Don't forget to check this page often, as we will constantly upload additional resources. 

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who may find it's contents valuable.



Join the Conversation
We hope you enjoyed this edition of the OPEN newsletter. We would really like to hear from you. If there is some subject that you would like us to discuss or look into, please let us know at info@laser-tec.org
OPEN is published by the LASER-TEC Center for Laser and Fiber Optics Education

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DUE-1700352. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.