OPEN
Optics and Photonics Education News
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Newsletter of the Optics and Photonics College Network
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Hollow-Core Optical Fiber Technology Breakthroughs
Upcoming Events
From the LASER-TEC Team
In the Spotlight
Jobs for Graduating Students
Student Engagement and Career Preparation Boosts Retention
Reminder: Professional Development Courses
Continued Partnership with Industry: Kentek
LASER-TEC Resources
Featured College: IHCC
OPCN Member Colleges
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Upcoming Events
01/13/20 - 03/06/20 (online)
03/16/20 - 03/18/20 (practical)
01/13/20 - 03/06/20 (online)
03/19/20 - 03/21/20 (practical)
01/29/20 - 01/31/20
Tucson, AZ
02/01/20 - 02/06/20
San Francisco, CA
02/20/20
Longmont, CO
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New Breakthroughs in Hollow-Core Optical Fiber Technology
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This year, scientists from Optoelectronics Research Centre, ORC, brought the commercial use of hollow–core fiber one step closer to being a reality. "Up to now, air-core fibers have struggled to match the losses exhibited by silica. These incredibly impressive results show we are now within stabbing distance of a challenge to conventional fibers,” Sir David Payne, director of ORC, said.
Conventional optical fibers are successful, but they have profound limitations. These include a finite spectral transparency, susceptibility to optical damage, dispersion — which restricts the ability to deliver short and ultrashort pulses. Such limitations are fundamental to conventional optical fibers because the light travels through a solid or a liquid material. Researchers are now demonstrating that an alternative optical fiber technology, based on the use of silica fibers but with hollow cores and using different optical physics, can substantially outperform standard fiber designs for numerous applications.
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As we come to a close of the fall semester and the year of 2019, we need to make sure we are ready for the new semester beginning in January 2020. This newsletter reminds and offers ideas for better student engagement, job search guidance, industry tours, and professional development workshops.
LASER-TEC had a very productive and fruitful 2019 and we are looking forward to the projects and challenges of the new year. We would like to express our sincerest appreciation for your support and making our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you and best wishes for the holidays and New Year!
Your friends at LASER-TEC
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In the Spotlight
Filling the Work Force Gap in Lasers and Fiber Optics:
LASER-TEC Center at Indian River State College -
Read more
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Jobs for Graduating Students
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Companies advertising openings on Indeed.com:
Electro optics technicians
: 202 nationwide
Salary range
: $45,300 - $90,200
Companies:
Power Grid Engineering, LLC (12), ASML (12), Coherent, Inc. (10), Northrop Grumman (9), General Dynamics Information Technology (8), Leonardo DRS (7), Collins Aerospace (6), Ball Aerospace (5), US Department of Veterans Affairs (3), Zeiss Group (3), Facebook (3), KLA-Tencor (3), JT4 (3), Applied Materials Inc. (3), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (3)
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Location and number of jobs:
Wilton, CT (12), Santa Clara, CA (7), Danbury, CT (6), Boulder, CO (5), Rolling Meadows, IL (4), Melbourne, FL (4), San Diego, CA (4), Chesapeake, VA (4), Albuquerque, NM (4), Norfolk, VA (4), Hebron, KY (3), Dallas, TX (3), Las Vegas, NV (3), Orlando, FL (3), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (3)
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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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Student Engagement and Career Preparation Boosts Retention
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Many students across photonics programs have jobs, family, social responsibilities, and many other obligations that introduce obstacles in reaching that finish line. Engaging students in college activities, career preparation, field trips and conference participation will boost their moral, help refocus, and continue moving forward with their studies.
If you haven’t yet, consider starting a professional student chapter with your students.
Among multiple benefits, your students will gain access to job banks exclusive to photonics professionals, funding for conference participation, guest lecturer programs, and access to magazine subscriptions to help them stay abreast with major developments in the technology. This initiative will also benefit the outreach for your academic program.
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Conduct a job preparedness workshop.
Help your students develop their professional resumes and cover letters. Advise and direct them on where and how to look for jobs and what are the best practices for searching, applying, and interviewing for a job. LASER-TEC can conduct a remote video session via Skype for your students in which we will unfold these and other career search topics.
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Schedule a field trip to a nearby photonics company.
Our experience shows that in the beginning, these initiatives often require an additional incentive for students to participate: e.g. extra credit or fulfillment of a course requirement, or just a discussion about the benefits of such needed exposure. At the end, this effort is very much appreciated by students as they learn more about their potential career paths.
Invite industry to present and interview your students.
This activity has one of the biggest impacts on your students' academic success and their future career advancements. Very often, students go through the motions during their time in college and are blindsided about the wonderful opportunities within the photonics or related fields. Consider inviting students from both the first and the second year of study.
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Reminder About Upcoming Professional Development Courses
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LASER-TEC
now offers
blended
courses in the “Laser-Photonics Series”. In a convenient and flexible format, dive in and learn about the interdisciplinary technology that drives the technological progress of the 21st century and fuels the cyber-physical revolution.
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Introduction to Photonics
Online: January 13 - March 6, 2020
Practical: March 16 - 18, 2020
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL
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Fundamentals of Fiber Optics
Online: January 13 - March 6, 2020
Practical: March 19 - 21, 2020
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL
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You will explore:
- Fundamental principles of light, its nature, and behavior in different media
- Concepts of light generation and manipulation
- Basic optical components and various mounts
- Importance of cleaning and techniques of optical components
- Fundamentals of laser operation and optical power meter use with emphasis on laser safety concepts
Hands-on experiments include:
Reflection, refraction, diffraction, and absorption of light, optical cleaning techniques, optical positioning and alignment, measurements of laser outputs, safe operation of low power lasers, diode and He-Ne lasers
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You will explore:
- Practical, real world perspective on the fundamentals of fiber optic technology and optical data communications
- How optical fibers work and total internal reflection
- Optical components and how those components fit into system-level applications
- All important elements of a fiber optic link such as transmitters, optical fiber, and receivers
- Types of optical fibers, connectors and splices,
- Various types of measurements
Hands-on experiments include:
Cleaning and visual inspection of the connector end face, installation of the connector on the optical fiber, and splicing of two fibers. Performance of various measurements using visual fault locators, optical loss test set (OLTS), and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) equipment.
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Continued Partnership with Industry: KENTEK
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Our LASER-TEC team works closely with companies developing and selling laser, fiber optics, and photonics equipment to bring the most relevant hands-on experience to our students. If you would like to expand your laboratories, take advantage of the special pricing and programs available exclusively to our college partners.
This month, we feature the partnership agreement reached with KENTEK, a worldwide supplier of laser safety eyewear, laser protective barriers and curtains, laser components, and replacement parts including laser accessories for industrial, research, and medical applications. All OPCN members can now enjoy a
30% discount
on KENTEK laser safety eyewear.
All OPCN members can also schedule a visit from KENTEK’s PHOTON1 van to your institution at no cost and learn about ANSI-compliant laser safety solutions.
To learn more about the PHOTON1 project,
view the flyer
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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
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
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Featured College: Indian Hills Community College (IHCC), Ottumwa, Iowa
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Indian Hills Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Laser and Optics Technology and has been doing so for 31+ years. More than 700 technicians have graduated from IHCC, and are working in the Laser/Photonics industry throughout the United States and internationally. Companies that hire graduates of these programs include: Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Raytheon, Mazak Corp., Northrop Grumman, IDEX Corp., LUMENIS, DRS Daylight Solutions, Rudolph Technologies, Medtronic, and many more.
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Associate in Applied Science degree program in Laser and Photonics Technology
21-Month program with the first nine months being the electronics core. Students will learn about electronic circuit analysis and troubleshooting throughout the core. This is also when the general education courses for the degree will be taken. In the last 12 months of the program, the students learn the basic properties of light, geometrical optics, optical devices, physical optics, photonics troubleshooting, and much more! Graduates of this program work as technicians in industrial, medical, and military production companies. In addition, graduates also go to work in research and development, national labs, field service, and system installation/repair. New employment opportunities are emerging every day!
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Skills of AAS degree graduates
• Troubleshoot integrated photonic/electronic systems using microscopes, oscilloscopes, pulse generators, power meters, beam analyzers, spectrometers, or energy measurement devices.
• Tune Nd:YAG, HeNe, and CO2 lasers for maximum
power and optimal beam quality.
• Align optical systems.
• Recognize and implement the components, equipment and hardware used in lasers & optics.
• Recognize, evaluate, and execute Laser Safety protocol per ANSI and OSHA standards.
• Properly clean, handle, maintain, and package precision optics.
• Recognize and employ equipment used for laser beam measurement, manipulation, and analysis.
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• Write and Implement S.O.P.’s for photonics experiments
• Perform preventive or corrective maintenance on lasers and optical systems.
• Write CNC programs for automated laser processing applications such as cutting, welding, and drilling.
• Understand and utilize knowledge of geometric ray and particle theory of light.
• Research, comprehend, evaluate, & execute specified photonics systems and related equipment.
• Maintain service and operation records for all laser/optical systems.
• Understand and utilize the wave theory of light.
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Contact Information
Name:
Michael Shay
Telephone:
(641) 683-5111 ext.: 1765
Address:
525 Grandview Ave, Ottumwa, IA 52501
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How can I recruit from this college?
Every year an event called, “Presentations and Interviews Weeks” takes place at Indian Hills Community College during the first 2-3 weeks of March. Companies have an opportunity to present to, and interview the entire graduating class of that year. Please contact the person below for details, or to set up a presentation time for the event. If the first few weeks of March do not work you, arrangements can be made to accommodate your company’s visit. A majority of the graduates are available every May with a few being available in November.
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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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