Driving innovation in the global communication network requires bringing a diverse group of people together to tackle challenges such as enabling 5G and the Internet-of-Things. To support gender diversity in the optical communications industry, The Optica Foundation and Corning, Inc. are pleased to present the Women in Optical Communications Scholarship.

This scholarship is a merit-based prize recognizing outstanding women studying optical communications and networking. Three $3,000 USD scholarships will be distributed annually to supplement tuition, mandatory fees, and other expenses.  Additionally, winners will receive up to $2,000 USD in travel expenses, housing, and registration fees to attend the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exposition (OFC). Recipients will be recognized at OFC.

Applicants Must:

• Be an Optica member 
• Be a woman currently enrolled as a graduate student at a university.
• Have a field of study/research focused on one of the following areas: Optical Components, Devices and Fiber, Networks, Applications, and Access or Photonic Systems and Subsystems.
• Demonstrate academic excellence (GPA, publications, references, other awards/merits).
• Program requirements recognize and exclude career breaks from career timelines (e.g., elder care, maternity or paternity leave). 

The Application will Include:

• Essay Response:
  • How would attending OFC support your career advancement and goals?
• CV/Resume
• Personal Statement
• GPA certification (Unofficial Transcript)