Three scholars awarded 2021 Women in Optical Communications scholarships

WASHINGTON D.C. –The OSA Foundation and Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) are pleased to announce the third annual recipients of the Women in Optical Communications Scholarships.

The merit-based scholarships, each totaling USD 5,000, support women graduate students studying optical communications and networking. This year’s recipients are driving innovation and the emergence of new technologies to find solutions to challenges in the field.

The 2021 Women in Optical Communications Scholarship recipients are Jingyi Yang, University of California, Irvine, U.S.; Deesha Shah, Purdue University, U.S.; and Elizaveta Yelistratova, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Russia. Their research covers advances in dynamic metasurfaces and zero-index optics on optical fibers and planar platforms, development of plasmonic thin films, and optimization of hollow-core anti-resonant fibers.

In addition to the scholarship, each winner’s registration fees will be waived for the all-virtual Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition (OFC), taking place 06 – 11 June, where they will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Tuesday, 08 June. In total, up to 90 registration grants will be provided to women attendees. The OSA Foundation and Corning established OFC registration grants for women engaged in graduate or postdoctoral study or in the first five years of their careers.

“Our collaboration with Corning Incorporated has made it possible to offer these opportunities to women innovators and underscore our commitment to diversity and inclusion,” said Eric Mazur, chair, OSA Foundation Board of Directors. “The three scholarship recipients have demonstrated the level of ingenuity and creativity that continues to transform optical communications. We look forward to the contributions these extraordinary researchers will make in the coming years.”

“At Corning, we celebrate diversity of thought, experience, and background. A diverse and inclusive culture is a true enabler of innovation and growth,” said Dr. Aleksandra Boskovic, research director for Optics, Surfaces and Integration Technologies, Corning Incorporated. “Working with the OSA Foundation to increase gender diversity in Optical Communications directly aligns with one of Corning’s seven core Values – the Individual – and we are excited to afford opportunities for these talented women.”

Candidates for the Women in Optical Communications Scholarship must meet all the following criteria:

• A woman who is currently enrolled as a graduate student at a university and is a member of The Optical Society (OSA)
• Field of study/research focused on optical components, devices and fiber, networks, applications and access or photonic systems and subsystems
• Demonstrated academic excellence, for example, GPA, publications, references or other awards/merits.

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For more details on the scholarship, including how to apply, visit

osa.org/corningscholarship

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About The OSA Foundation

The OSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established by the Optical Society (OSA) in 2002 to carry out charitable activities that support the society’s mission of promoting the generation, application, archiving and worldwide dissemination of knowledge in optics and photonics. The Foundation helps cultivate the next generation of leaders and innovators in the optics and photonics community as they move through advanced degree programs and become active members of research, engineering and business communities around the globe. The Foundation also works to secure OSA Awards and Honors program endowments. For more information, visit

osa.org/foundation

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About Corning Incorporated

Corning (

http://www.

corning.

com

) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping our customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, and life sciences.

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