A $500k gift from the SPIE Endowment Matching Program will be matched 100% by the University and will be used to support both early-career and returning researchers from the University’s Photon Science Institute in partnership with the Royce Institute, the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation. The partnership was announced during the SPIE Photonics West conference in San Francisco.

With a goal of increasing diversity in photonics, the scholarship will have a particular focus on funding individuals returning to research following a career break or time in industry, and those pursuing unconventional career pathways or part-time study – situations often necessitated by caring responsibilities, for example.

Aligning current research and industrial needs for a robust training pipeline, an additional unique feature of the scholarship is an optional final-year placement of up to twelve months, during which students can develop industry-relevant skills in collaboration with local optics and photonics companies.

“This announcement holds special significance as it coincides with the University’s bicentenary year. We take great pride in using this generous donation to not only advance research and education but also to solidify our existing partnerships and forge new industrial collaborations to deliver a doctoral training program that will ensure a sustainable workforce for the North West of England,” explained Dr Patrick Parkinson, department head of research for physics and astronomy, The University of Manchester.

SPIE CEO Kent Rochford, added: “For many researchers and engineers, the traditional educational paths are barriers to their success. The scholarship aims to remove those barriers and provide exciting opportunities for early-career researchers and those who may be pursuing unconventional career paths. Working internally at the University’s Photon Science Institute with the option of an industry-focused placement, promises to benefit young researchers as well as our future diverse workforce.”

The scholarship is the 11th major SPIE gift to universities and institutes as part of the society’s ongoing program to support the expansion of optical engineering teaching and research. The SPIE Endowment Matching Program was established in 2019.