BELLINGHAM, WASH -- SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) announced the establishment of the SPIE-CDE Fellowship in Optical Science and Engineering during SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco. The US$500,000 gift from SPIE is matched by an equivalent US$500,000 contribution from the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at NUS to form a US$1-million endowed fund.

Part of the SPIE Endowment Matching Program, this new endowed fund will support a PhD student working in the field of optics and photonics at NUS CDE. This is the 13th major SPIE gift to universities and institutes as part of the Society's ongoing program to support the international expansion of optics and photonics through increased educational capacity, funding of research, and the development of talent pipelines for industry.

“Recipients of the SPIE-CDE Fellowship in Optical Science and Engineering will help build the future of optics and photonics,” said SPIE CEO Kent Rochford. “Investing in optical engineering students pursuing their PhDs will have a critical impact on the field, and we are delighted to work with NUS to create exciting opportunities for these students.”

“The mission of SPIE, which is to partner with researchers, educators, and industry to advance light-based research and technologies, is one that NUS CDE wholeheartedly supports. The SPIE-CDE Fellowship formalizes our mutual commitment to developing young talent in this field,” said Professor Kie-Leong Teo, Dean of NUS CDE.

Associate Professor Aaron Danner from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who played a key role in the development of the Fellowship within NUS CDE, expressed his hope that it would foster closer ties between NUS CDE and SPIE through the students supported by the program.

The SPIE Endowment Matching Program was established in 2019 to increase international capacity in the teaching and research of optics and photonics. With this latest gift, SPIE has provided over $5 million in matching gifts, resulting in more than $13 million in dedicated funds. The SPIE Endowment Matching Program supports optics and photonics education and the future of the industry by contributing a match of up to $500,000 per award to college, institute, and university programs with optics and photonics degrees, or with other disciplines allied to the SPIE mission.