OPEN Optics and Photonics Education News
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Newsletter of the Optics and Photonics College Network |
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Upcoming Events
Jobs for Graduating Students
From the Executive Director
Less Expensive, More Compact LiDAR Systems Triumph Automotive and Smartphone Markets
LASER-TEC Professional Development Courses Now Approved by BLS for Recertification
SPIE is Accepting Applications for Grants Celebrating IDL2021
Time for Students to Apply for Scholarships - Deadlines Approaching Fast
LASER-TEC Resources
Featured College: The Puerto Rico Photonics Institute (PRPI) - San Juan, PR
OPCN Member Colleges
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Upcoming Events
Theory (Online): Open-entry, self paced
Practical Session: TBD
Indian River State College, FL
01/19/2021 - 01/22/2021
Online
03/06/2021 - 03/11/2021
San Francisco, CA
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Jobs for Graduating Students
Companies contacting
LASER-TEC for technicians:
Renesas Electronics America Inc.
FAB Tech openings
Equipment Maintenance Tech openings
Recruiter
Companies advertising openings on Indeed.com:
Electro optics technicians: 188 nationwide
Companies:
SIG SAUER, Inc. (17), Ball Aerospace (6), Applied Materials (6), Northrop Grumman (5), Veterans Prime, Inc. (5), nLIGHT (5), Power Grid Engineering, LLC (5), ASML (4), Areté (4), Reliance Test & Technology (4), Corning (4), MKS Instruments (4), HENSOLDT Inc. (4), Clear Align (3), IPG Photonics Corporation (3), General Dynamics Information Technology (3), Leonardo DRS (3), Moore Nanotechnology Systems, LLC (3), Department of Veterans Affairs (3), U.S. Air Force (3), S2 Corporation (2), CONMED (2), Honeywell (2), Dominion Energy (2), AFL Telecommunications LLC (2), CooperVision (2), SAIC (2), L3Harris (2), Luminar (2), Tyto Athene (2), Elbit Systems (2), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2), Crane Co. (2), AEye, Inc (2), IGT (2), Ciena (1), VulcanForms (1), NCI Information Systems, Inc. (1), MIT Lincoln Laboratory (1), IAS Technology (1), City of Santa Ana (1), Arthrex (1), Lumenis (1), SA Photonics, Inc. (1), Schwan Cosmetics USA (1), US Department of the Interior (1), PepsiCo (1), Palomar Technologies (1), Specific Diagnostics (1), DWFritz (1)
Location and number of jobs: Jacksonville, AR (6), Santa Clara, CA (6), Wilsonville, OR (5), Ridgecrest, CA (4), Eglin AFB, FL (4), Wilton, CT (4), Boulder, CO (4), Newington, NH (4), Melbourne, FL (3), Westminster, CO (3), Exeter, NH (3), Largo, FL (3), Orlando, FL (3), East Hartford, CT (3), Hillsboro, OR (3), Keene, NH (3), Fort Lewis, WA (3), Concord, NC (2), Livermore, CA (2), Nashville, TN (2), Robins AFB, GA (2), San Diego, CA (2), Bozeman, MT (2), Albuquerque, NM (2), Manassas, VA (2), Salt Lake City, UT (2), Merrimack, NH (2), Tucson, AZ (2), Nashua, NH (2), Oxford, MA (2), Dublin, CA (2)
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 |
Thanksgiving is approaching and fast signaling the closing of this semester and reminding us to prepare for the spring semester starting in January 2021. Make sure you have all the text and lab books you will need for your photonics classes.
As you know, LASER-TEC has a rich collection of Open Education Resources (OER). Visit the following page that lists all the available books for free download. Are your labs stocked with the materials and equipment your students will need? Visit the following page that lists all the LASER-TEC affiliated companies that will provide you with a substantial discount.
We have received thank you videos from students from different colleges that have been using the Light and Optics Experiment Kits (LOEK) during the pandemic. Please click here to watch these videos. More than 220 students are using LOEK’s thanks to the NSF ATE program and Dr. Celeste Carter.
In this issue, you will find an article on LiDAR that has made great strides in the reduction of size and cost and its many applications. Our online, self-paced courses on photonics technology have been approved by the Board of Laser Safety for the recertification of Laser Safety Officers. Also, please remind your students about the availability of scholarships and relevant deadlines.
As always, we scan the laser-photonics-optics openings for technicians nation-wide and post them on the left column of this newsletter. Share this information with your students, and contact the companies with openings and invite them to come to your school to recruit graduating students.
From all of us at LASER-TEC,
Best wishes for a healthy and relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!
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Less Expensive, More Compact LiDAR Systems Triumph Over Automotive and Smartphone Markets |
LiDAR – the innovative Light Detection and Ranging system that uses light to measure the exact distance of an object – found its numerous applications in automotive, defense, agriculture, environmental protection, astronomy, and forestry, just to name a few. Recently, this technology has undergone multiple improvements to boost quality, optimize cost, and enable high-volume production.
The use of vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and an array of single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) photodetectors reduced the size and simplified the design and fabrication techniques of LiDAR systems.
This advancement helped many companies adopt and integrate this technology, especially in autonomous vehicles and smartphones. A decade ago, a spinning 3-D LiDAR unit cost around $75,000 and until recently was considered too expensive for the automotive market. Today, many companies are promising LiDAR sensors for less than $1,000 in the next few years.
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LASER-TEC Professional Development Courses Now Approved by BLS for Recertification |
In September 2020, LASER-TEC’s online professional development courses were certified for the Board of Laser Safety Certification Maintenance (CM) points. The CM points are awarded as follows:
Introduction to Photonics – 6 CM points
Geometrical and Physical Optics – 6 CM points
Fundamentals of Fiber Optics – 6 CM points
Laser Systems and Applications – 6 CM points
These courses are also eligible for educators as continuing education/professional development hours.
The series of laser-photonics courses, developed and offered by LASER-TEC, are designed to investigate and strengthen technical knowledge of laser, photonics, and fiber optics technologies in a convenient online and self-paced format. Full-tuition scholarships are available for college faculty and K-12 teachers.
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SPIE is Accepting Applications for Grants Celebrating IDL 2021 |
The International Day of Light, celebrated every year on May 16, aims to raise awareness of the critical role that light-based technologies play in our lives.
Traditionally, colleges with photonics programs use this opportunity to host public and student events to inform local communities and communities at large about multiple educational paths available nowadays to prepare students for exciting careers in light-enabled industries.
SPIE is now accepting applications for micro-grants to help support and fund IDL outreach events in May 2021. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2020.
Learn more and apply here.
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Time for Students to Apply for Scholarships - Deadlines Approaching Fast |
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Despite all of the hardships many have experienced this year, it could be one of the best times to start pursuing a college degree. Many states have launched a more flexible path to public college entrance exams, waiving certain placement tests, and providing financial tools to minimize expenses. Many colleges received funding to help those who were misplaced by the pandemic get back in the saddle and obtain new skills through fast-track credentialing programs. The U.S. Department of Education announced temporary 0% interest rates on all of its loans.
Encourage your prospective and current students to learn about all programs (federal, state, and private) available to them. In addition to multiple opportunities available through college financial aid and foundation offices, optics and photonics- specific opportunities are available through SPIE ( deadline Feb. 15th) and OSA (deadlines vary).
The Federal Student Aid website provides a great toolkit about different kinds of aid, eligibility, and the application process.
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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: The Puerto Rico Photonics Institute (PRPI) - San Juan, PR |
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The Puerto Rico Photonics Institute (PRPI) is an initiative of the School of Science, Technology and Environment at the Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM), Cupey Campus. PRPI is the only institute of its kind in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. It is dedicated to education and training, research, outreach, and workforce development for industries in Puerto Rico that utilize lasers, fiber optics, imaging systems and other optics and photonics technologies. PRPI’s laboratories are located in the business incubator at the Barceloneta Science Park in the municipality of Barceloneta, about a 30 minute drive west of San Juan. Academic activities are at the Cupey Campus, just south of San Juan within the metropolitan area.
In addition to the academic program (which we describe in more detail below), PRPI conducts a variety of research activities. We work in lidar remote sensing for both atmospheric research and, more recently, hard target detection and dynamics measurements. We work on photonic inertial sensor research and electromagnetic wave propagation from first principles (available on our website).
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Associate in Engineering Technology Degree in Photonics and Lasers
PRPI’s main program is an Associate in Engineering Technology Degree in Photonics and Lasers. The curriculum aligns with the knowledge, skills and abilities requirements of local industry. It consists of a general optics course, two lasers courses, two electronics courses, a photonics-enabled technologies course, and a fiber optics course. In addition, a course in entrepreneurship and business development is also required. Students receive instruction in the following technologies:
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1. Optical instruments
- Power meter
- Spectrometer
- Wavemeter
- Spectrum analyzer
- Beam profiling
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M2 measurement
- Power vs. current measurement
2. Lasers
- HeNe
- Nd:YAG
- Semiconductor
- Fiber
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CO2
- Argon
- Laser Safety
3. Photonics-enabled technologies
- Optical coating design and deposition
- Laser engraving
- Optical dimensional metrology
- Specify and installation of a photovoltaic system backup power
- 3D printing
- Safety
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4. Electronics
- National Instruments Elvis platform
- Introductory LabVIEW®
- DC and AC circuits
- Oscilloscope
- Digital multimeter
- Safety
5. Fiber optics
- Theory
- Safety
- Overview of fiber optics telecommunications systems
- Terminations
- Measurements (power, attenuation, OTDR)
- Inspection, cleaning and maintenance
- Splicing
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Certification FOI from ETA-International.
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Knowledge and skills of graduates: |
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· General optics
· Lasers
· Electronics
· Fiber Optics
· Photonics Enabled Technologies
· Safety
· Business management
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Contact Information
Name: Jonathan Friedman, PhD, Director
Telephone: 787-766-1717 x6617
Address: 1000 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623
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Program Website
Social Media (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube): @prphotonics
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How can I recruit from this college?
Industries can meet our students at the annual Jobs Fair at our university, usually held in March. To be notified about this event, companies can contact our Employment Center (Centro de Empleo) at 787-766-1717 x6524 or centroempcupey@uagm.edu.
In addition, PRPI faculty maintain contact with our graduates and provide notifications of employment opportunities. Companies can contact us directly at the email addresses below. We welcome companies to invite our students for information and interview sessions, and we are working with some local companies to do mock interview sessions to help prepare our students for job hunting.
Our students graduate in early June and prospective graduates complete their spring course work by mid-May. Some start to work part-time before graduation.
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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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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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