The Next Step

Greetings!

As the semester is quickly coming to a close, I am getting excited for the next steps in my life. I will be starting research at the University of Michigan in nonlinear optics under the UM Rackham Summer Institute research program in June. I am very excited to be taking my optics education to the next level.

• University of Michigan – I will be pursuing a PhD in Electrical Engineering with a focus in optics and photonics. I will be researching with Dr. Stephen Rand in the areas of laser cooling and magneto-optic interactions such as the one shown here.
• National Science Foundation GRFP – I have received a 3-year fellowship from the National Science Foundation. I was selected as one of 2000 recipients out of over 20,000 applicants.
• Rackham Merit Fellowship – I have also received a fellowship from the UM Rackham College of Graduate Studies. This fellowship will support me after NSF.
• Professional Societies – I will be continuing my involvement in SPIE, OSA, IEEE, and SWE. Ann Arbor has a local chapter of OSA. UM has graduate section of SWE. I hope to start up a student chapter of SPIE on campus before the end of the year. My professional involvement will greatly help my research.

Well, that gives a broad overview. I will try to update my blog more frequently with all of the exciting academic and social happenings in Ann Arbor, MI. Until then, T-19 days until graduation!

~ Liz