OPEN
Optics and Photonics Education News
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Newsletter of the Optics and Photonics College Network
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LASER-TEC and NSF Assist OPCN Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
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From the Executive Director
Upcoming Events
LASER-TEC and NSF Assist OPCN Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
Jobs for Graduating Students
LASER-TEC Video Materials to Supplement Teaching Photonics Online
Online Platforms for Student-Instructor Communication
LASER-TEC Receives Funding to Operate as Resource Center
HI-TEC 2020 Update
Photonics Technologies Help Fight COVID-19
LASER-TEC Resources
Featured College: Gallatin College -
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT
OPCN Member Colleges
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Upcoming Events
04/26/20 - 04/30/20
Online Only
05/10/20 - 05/15/20
San Jose, CA
07/27/20 - 07/30/20
Portland, OR
08/10/20 - 08/12/20
Miramar Beach, FL
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Jobs for Graduating Students
Companies contacting
LASER-TEC for technicians:
Panasonic Corporation
3 Laser Technician openings
CO2 and Rebuild Manager
Coherent
Fiber Laser Manufacturing Tech openings
Product Line Manager
Brimose Corp of America
Optical technician openings - fiber coupling laser
Account Manager
Companies advertising openings on Indeed.com:
Electro optics technicians:
187 nationwide
Salary range:
$45,400 - $90,700
Companies:
Northrop Grumman (15), Reliance Test & Technology (14), Power Grid Engineering, LLC (12), Leonardo DRS (10), Coherent, Inc. (9), ASML (9), IPG Photonics Corporation (8), Applied Materials (6), Moore Nanotechnology Systems, LLC (6), Veterans Prime, Inc. (5), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (5), Karl Storz (3), Ball Aerospace (3), Facebook (3), L3Harris (3)
Location and number of jobs:
Eglin AFB, FL (14), Melbourne, FL (10), Wilton, CT (9), Santa Clara, CA (8), Oxford, MA (6), Swanzey, NH (6), Livermore, CA (5), Greenbelt, MD (5), Norfolk, VA (4), Burlington, MA (3), Boulder, CO (3), Rolling Meadows, IL (3), Springfield, IL (2), Danbury, CT (2), San Diego, CA (2)
Source:
www.indeed.com - April 2, 2020
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.
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From the Executive Director
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I hope this newsletter finds you well and safe during these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Almost all OPCN colleges are operating remotely to ensure the safety of their students and fellow co-workers. From my discussions with instructors from many colleges, everyone has quickly moved their instruction to online platforms that allow the students to do their studying, learning, and testing from home. However, one major issue that has not been resolved is the hands-on learning that was done in college laboratories with specialized parts, devices, and instrumentation. LASER-TEC is working with NSF to provide a solution for this problem for the beginning courses of Photonics programs by providing a free
Light and Optics Experiment Kit
(LOEK) to all OPCN students for home use. Please read the following article for more details and how to get the LOEK to your students.
Let’s work more closely together to help each other during these difficult times, and feel free to contact me if LASER-TEC can assist you in any other way.
Best wishes for health and safety,
Chrys
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LASER-TEC and NSF Assist OPCN Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
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To address the challenge of students’ laboratory practice during the spread of COVID-19, LASER-TEC will provide for free one
LASER-TEC Experiment Kit
per student to all OPCN colleges. This kit supports the majority of experiments in the textbook
Fundamentals of Light and Lasers
and will help students complete laboratories from the safety of their homes. The following experiments are supported by the LOEK:
1. Laser Safety
2. Care and Cleaning For High-Grade Optical Components
3. The Law of Reflection
4. The Law of Refraction
5. Finding the Speed of Light in an Acrylic Block
6. Total Internal Reflection
7. Laser Beam Steering with Right Angle Prism
8. Optical Filters
9. Diffuse and Specular Reflections
10. Optical Photometer Use and Stability
11. Measuring Laser Beam Diameter and Divergence
12. Measuring the Focal Length of Bi-Convex Lens
13. Measuring the Focal Length of a Bi-Concave Lens
14. Measuring the Focal Length of a Fresnel Lens
15. Beam-Expanding Collimators
16. Optical Alignment Techniques
17. Determining Laser Wavelength Using Grating
18. The Spectrum of White Light
19. Interference and Diffraction Through a Pinhole
20. Interference and Diffraction Through a Slit
21. Measuring Diameter of Human Hair Using Diffraction
22. Polarization of Light
23. Semiconductor Laser Diode Basics
Currently, our Center is working on developing videos which will guide students through the experiments supported by the kit. These videos will be available on LASER-TEC's
YouTube channel
. The progress and information about video uploads will be communicated through emails and our
Facebook page
.
If you are interested in receiving Light and Optics Experiment Kits for your students, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/WmRiQ8qHB2SETdNj8
. The kits will be mailed by LASER-TEC directly to the students’ home address.
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LASER-TEC Video Materials to Supplement Teaching Photonics Online
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We encourage all faculty transferring photonics courses to online format to visit LASER-TEC's
Resource page
and
YouTube channel
to find textbooks and video series developed by both OP-TEC and LASER-TEC.
Fundamentals of Light and Lasers
Laser Systems and Applications
- Textbook
- 8 videos complementing labs included in the Laser Systems and Applications textbook
Quality Assurance and Precision Optics
Essential Mathematics for Engineering Technicians
Fiber Optics for Technologists
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Online Platforms to Supplement Student-Instructor Communication
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Most colleges nationwide have shifted their operations online, which presents challenges to hands-on programs in photonics, lasers, and optics. Luckily, there are solutions that can be used to supplement the learning experience. Student team projects, instructor-student counseling, office hours, and most all face-to-face communication can continue by using online platforms.
Many learning management systems that are used by colleges support video conferencing and file sharing tools (Blackboard Collaborate, for example); however, if you need to supplement these tools, consider using some of these products that are available at no cost (some limitations apply):
Adobe offers a free 90- day trial, no credit card required, for its family of products of Adobe Connect for Learning, Webinars, and Meetings. This powerful and widely used solution will provide you and your students with a virtual classroom, live streaming management tools, file sharing, and many other tools necessary to expand your communication with students.
This company offers basic video and collaborative tools at no charge for up to 1,000 call participants and up to 5 web participants. During the COVID-19 epidemic, they are offering the Starter Plan free for two months (regularly $9.99/month).
Skype is well-known and popular software that allows you to make free conference calls anywhere in the world. Faculty and students can easily join Skype, download their software, and invite others to join. Skype supports video conferencing for up to 10 participants.
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LASER-TEC Receives NSF ATE Funding to Operate as Resource Center
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LASER-TEC has been awarded 1.65 million dollars by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Program to continue its operation as a resource center as of September 2020 for the next three years. Among multiple goals, LASER-TEC will focus on developing new photonics modules, updating existing and technically outdated materials, and ensure that available materials have all the necessary pedagogical features that will simplify their integration.
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Our Center will support participation for 18 OPCN coordinators at HI-TEC 2020 taking place July 27-30, Portland, OR. Moving forward with the conference planning, organizers and staff are closely monitoring the situation amid the spread of COVID-19. We recommend all OPCN members who would like to participate at the conference, register for the conference, make hotel reservations, but for now, refrain from purchasing airfare.
As a reminder, there are a lot of great professional development opportunities for OPCN members. If you are interested in attending, please
fill out this form
or
contact Natalia
at your earliest convenience.
LASER-TEC will be able to cover the following expenses:
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Conference registration – $500
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Airfare – up to $900
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Lodging for 3 nights – up to $660
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Meals – for meals not provided at the conference up to $200
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Participation in the Laser Safety Training Special Interest Group Meeting - $200
The conference schedule is now available on the HI-TEC
website
. Here are the highlights of the pre-conference events:
Monday, July 27, 2020 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
Fiber Optics for Beginners Workshop
This workshop is intended for instructors who want to learn more about the practical aspects of fiber optics so they can create and/or enhance courses with the latest technologies impacting the termination, connecting, and testing of fiber optic networks. In addition to learning about the theory of fiber operation, participants will terminate a single-mode fiber with the Corning Unicam System, create and test fusion splices, and use an OTDR for signal tracing and troubleshooting. Fiber-to-the-home, passive optical networks, and distributed antenna systems (DAS) will also be covered.
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Cost of attending: $200
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Open for all conference attendees
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Not covered by LASER-TEC
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 (8:30 am – 4:30 pm)
Laser Safety Officer Training Special Interest Group Meeting
During this session, KENTEK and LASER-TEC will clarify the ANSI standard governing laser safety, legal issues and liabilities of colleges that use lasers in their labs. Laser safety officer training, how to create standard operating procedures for students using these labs, and hazard calculations will be among the topics covered.
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Cost of attending: $200
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Closed group, by invitation only. For OPCN members
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Covered by LASER-TEC for all OPCN members
If an OPCN coordinator would like to attend the Fiber Optics Workshop or if a college would like to have 2 representatives,
contact Natalia
about funding availability.
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Photonics Technologies Help Fight COVID-19
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Photonics-enabled technologies are at the forefront of battling the novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 and it's resultant disease, COVID-2019. From structural molecular biology to the scaled-up laser material processing, photonics help fuel the necessary research, provide prompt and accurate testing, diagnose and monitor the disease, deliver solutions for public safety, and provide alternatives to personal protective and medical equipment.
Here are some of the examples of how photonics and optics technologies are used in this global fight:
- Using X-ray crystallography, researchers have identified the dataset for the virus’s main protease, enabling exploration of potential drugs
- CRISPR technology targets RNA viruses such as coronaviruses
- Laser tweezers help developing vaccines
- Thermal imaging provides solutions for public temperature monitoring systems
- Laser markers were used to battle against fake 3M n95 masks
- Laser sheet metal processing equipment (mainly Trumpf’s products) were used in building the hospital in Wuhan in less than 10 days.
- The FDA has already issued guidance about 3D-printed medical device equipment. This enabled laser-based materials processing companies to pitch in and address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment. Currently, there are a lot of 3D-printed consumables available on the market, such as face shields, the DX3010 valve, ventilators and their components.
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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
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.
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Featured College: Gallatin College / Montana State University - Bozeman, MT
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Montana offers one of the highest per capita densities of optics and photonics institutions in the U.S (
www.montanaphotonics.org)
. To meet the ever-growing technician workforce demands of this local cluster (and the nation), Gallatin College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Photonics and Laser Technology to develop highly-trained photonics/electro-optic technicians. Located in beautiful Bozeman, MT Gallatin College - MSU is Southwest Montana’s two-year college. Gallatin College complements the four-year programs at Montana State University and ensures access to workforce development that promotes a vibrant local economy. Since the Photonics and Laser Technology program’s recent inception in the Fall of 2016 two cohorts made up of 15 total technicians have graduated and all are working and excelling in the local photonics industry. Companies that have hired graduates of this program include: Lumibird/Quantel Laser, Aurora Innovations, Quantum Composers, FLIR Systems, Resonon and many more.
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Associate of Applied Science in Photonics and Laser Technology
Students completing the AAS in Photonics and Laser Technology from Gallatin College will learn the scientific principles of electronics, photonics and advanced manufacturing. This includes a focus on AC/DC, solid-state and digital electronics as well as the fundamentals of light and lasers, laser systems, and associated applications and advanced manufacturing techniques.
This training will prepare students to become photonics/electro-optic technicians who work on products or devices used in manufacturing, communications, defense, homeland security, medical, information technology, energy, environmental monitoring, lighting, displays, and entertainment.
A large portion of the electronics and photonics curriculum is hands-on where students spend a majority of their time working in a laboratory environment to apply their theoretical knowledge and master the use of relevant test and measurement equipment to construct and troubleshoot advanced electro-optic systems.
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Skills of AAS degree graduates
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- Demonstrate the ability to excel as technicians in the electronics, optics, laser, and photonics support fields.
- Students will have an overall knowledge in laser systems, electronics, optics and electro-optics/photonics.
- Student will have a demonstrated knowledge in the fundamentals of light and lasers that includes the nature of light, geometric optics, wave optics, optical components, opto-mechanical components and positioning equipment, physics of lasers and laser operation, fibers and fiber optics, and overall laser safety.
- Students will have a demonstrated knowledge in electronics that includes AC/DC electronics, electronic components and circuitry knowledge base.
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- Function in a professional manner in their field, and use, maintain and clean equipment and tools required in the field of optics, lasers, and photonics.
- Analyze, configure, test, measure, troubleshoot and assist with problems that arise in a professional optics, lasers, and photonics environment.
- Communicate technical ideas, procedures, and results with professionals in written, oral or graphic format.
- Graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers in design and manufacturing, materials processing, communications, medical applications, semiconductor fabrication, optical systems, electronics, and military applications.
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Contact Information
Name: Trenton Berg
Title: Program Director of Photonics and Laser Technology
Telephone: (406)994-5147
Address: 101 Hamilton Hall, P.O. Box 170515, Bozeman, MT 59717-0515
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How can I recruit from this college?
If you interested in recruiting students from Gallatin College, please reach out to our program director or come to our college to present your company and employment opportunities to our students. We will make available, free of charge, a private room to interview interested students. Please contact the person below to make arrangements for a recruiting visit. Current students are always seeking internship opportunities and graduates are available every May.
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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
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Please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone who may find it's contents valuable.
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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
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OPEN is published by the LASER-TEC Center for Laser and Fiber Optics Education
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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.
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