UCF College of Optics and Photonics: A Hub for Innovation in Light-Based Technologies

The University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Optics and Photonics (COP), also known as CREOL (Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers), stands as a prominent institution dedicated to advancing the fields of optics and photonics. Established in 2004, the college has quickly risen to international recognition for its pioneering research, cutting-edge facilities, and comprehensive academic programs.

Origin and Evolution

The foundation for CREOL was laid in the mid-1980s with the formation of the Florida High Technology and Industry Council (FHTIC). Recognizing the potential for growth in Florida's high-tech sector, Ron Phillips from UCF's Electrical Engineering Department advocated for the creation of a research center focused on electro-optics and lasers. This vision materialized in January 1987 with the arrival of MJ Soileau as the center's first director, along with colleagues Eric Van Stryland and David Hagan.

In 2004, UCF's board of trustees granted the School of Optics and Photonics full college status, marking a significant milestone as the first college in the United States dedicated specifically to optics and photonics at a public university. Until 2013, the college exclusively offered Master's and Doctoral degrees in Optics. However, in March 2013, the Board of Trustees approved the Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering, expanding the college's academic offerings to the undergraduate level.

This undergraduate program is a collaborative effort between the College of Optics and Photonics and UCF's College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). Students who graduate with this degree are awarded a single degree from both COP and CECS and are therefore alumni of both colleges.

Leadership and Structure

The current dean of the College of Optics and Photonics is David J. The college is comprised of various research centers and institutes, including CREOL, the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), and the Townes Laser Institute (TLI), each contributing to the college's diverse research portfolio.

Academic Programs

The College of Optics and Photonics offers a range of academic programs designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the field of optics and photonics. These programs include:

Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering: This undergraduate program provides students with a strong foundation in the principles of optics and photonics, as well as hands-on experience in the design and development of photonic devices and systems. The Bachelor of Science in Photonic Science and Engineering requires the successful completion of 128 credit hours distributed across the General Education Program, Common Program Prerequisites made up primarily of Calculus and Physics courses, an Electrical Engineering Core, the Photonics Major coursework, and ending with a capstone 2-semester Senior Design. All UCF students must complete a 36 semester hour General Education Program (GEP). This requirement is automatically satisfied if the student received a B.S. degree from an accredited institution, or an A.A. degree from a Florida public college or university. PSE students must complete 128 semester hours total (of which 36 hours are GEP requirements) and must satisfy all University and Photonic Science and Engineering program requirements to earn a B.S.
Master of Science in Optics: This graduate program provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in various areas of optics, including laser physics, optical engineering, and photonics. 72 hours are required for completion of the PhD degree and 30 hours are required for the MS degree.
Doctor of Philosophy in Optics: This doctoral program is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in research and development in the field of optics and photonics. The Optics and Photonics Ph.D. Students should be enrolled full time (9 credit hours). Students should begin determining which faculty they will select as their dissertation advisor. Students must meet with the Associate Dean to discuss their plan of study in their second semester and submit it to the Graduate Program Office. A hold will be placed preventing registration until this is submitted. In the first year, students spend more time on courses in preparation for the qualifying exam, but must also meet research obligations as required by their advisor. At the end of the first year, all full-time students must take the qualifying exam. Qualifying Exam: All students are given 2 opportunities to pass the qualifying exam. Students are required to take the Qualifying Exam at the first opportunity after all of the above listed courses have been taken. Those students failing on the first attempt must retake the exam at the very next attempt. The exam is waived for students earning an average GPA of 3.5 or higher in the four core courses. Second year students are usually expected to devote a large fraction of their time to research, while typically also taking about 6 hours of formal coursework per semester. After completing the core requirements, students should take their candidacy exam by the end of the second year. Prior to scheduling a candidacy exam, the PhD dissertation advisory committee should be formed. Once committee members are selected from the approved graduate faculty, the student is responsible for completing the “Request to Form PhD Advisory Committee” form and submit it to the Graduate Program Office. By the third year, a PhD student should be primarily involved with dissertation research and substantially done with courses except for upper level courses that are taught infrequently. Within one year of passing the candidacy exam, the dissertation proposal should be written and examined by the dissertation advisory committee. After passing the dissertation proposal, students should be entirely engaged in their research. Students must arrange annual progress meetings with their dissertation advisory committees. Students must complete a mandatory annual review with their advisor each subsequent year to document their progress towards dissertation defense and graduation. The announcement of dissertation defense is due to the Graduate Program Office at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled oral defense date. After the defense, an exit interview must be scheduled.

Admission and Enrollment

To enroll in classes, click on “Add a Class” and then choose your term. Either search for classes using the “Search” button or enter the 5 digit Class Number in the box provided. Click on “next”. You will see a list of the courses that you are trying to enroll in. Now click the green button that says “Proceed to step 2 of 3”. At step 2, you will want to confirm the classes that you want to enroll in. You must first be enrolled before you can obtain a student ID. Student ID cards may be obtained at the UCF Card Office located in the JT Washington Center, across from the Student Union. If you have obtained your student ID prior to orientation, please bring it with you and present it to Amy Perry in CREOL Room 105 or Gail Drabczuk in 106 to validate for building access. International students who do not have a social security number (SSN) will be assigned a temporary number by ISC until a permanent one is provided. ISC will organize transportation to the Social Security Administration Office in downtown Orlando for students to apply for their card. International students need to wait at least 10 days after they arrive in the US or input in SEVIS before applying. There is a prerequisite in place for the course you are attempting to register for. If you have taken the prerequisite at another institution please discuss this with your instructor so that he may authorize the override. If you have not taken the prerequisite, please speak with the instructor to discuss your background and other similar classes that may be considered as a prerequisite. Once you have been advised by the Associate Dean you can choose your option at that time.

Academic Progress Policy

Students in the Photonic Science and Engineering major are expected to make consistent good progress toward their degrees to remain enrolled in, or eligible for, any major in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) or the College of Optics and Photonics (COP).

There are two parts to this policy:

Any student majoring in Photonic Science and Engineering who repeats any UCF course and does not earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better on the second attempt will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation does not receive a grade of “C” (2.0) or better by the third attempt in the same UCF course, the student will be excluded from all CECS and COP majors.
Any student majoring in Photonic Science and Engineering who has accumulated 7 or more unsuccessful attempts (i.e., grades below “C” (2.0) and withdrawals) over all courses taken at UCF will be placed on Lack of Progress Probation and remain on Lack of Progress Probation as long as the student is enrolled in a CECS or COP major. If a student on Lack of Progress Probation has a tenth unsuccessful attempt over all courses taken at UCF, the student will be excluded from all CECS and COP majors.

A student who is excluded from CECS and COP majors may seek readmission to a major in CECS or COP after at least one full year has passed since exclusion. Readmission is not automatic and is dependent upon a high probability of success after readmission. It is highly recommended that a prospective or pending student meet with an academic advisor prior to registering for courses. Mike McKee, the PSE program advisor is located in CREOL A213.

Read also: Phoenix Suns' New Center

Financial Support

To ensure students are successful no matter their financial situation, CREOL offers several fellowship opportunities to provide financial aid. CREOL Graduate Fellowships are college-funded. Applicants for the PhD program will automatically be considered. Stipends are competitive and awarded in the amount of a minimum of $30,000 per year with a tuition waiver and health insurance. University Trustees and Presidential Fellowships are offered by university in the amount of $25,000 and $20,000 per year with a tuition waiver and health insurance. Qualified applicants are nominated by the College. Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantships are funded by faculty research grants. Typically, these are awarded to Ph.D. students or M.S. students who have already decided to pursue the Ph.D. degree. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships and fellowships offered by national and professional organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), SPIE, and the Department of Defense (DOD). Endowed Fellowships are funded by generous donations from our friends and supporters. This fellowship allows outstanding students to start their Ph.D. studies in the College and find a research advisor after they arrive. Most of our incoming Ph.D. students are recruited on this type of fellowship. All Ph.D. applicants will automatically be considered for the ORC fellowship. citizens and permanent residents. There is no separate application for these fellowships. Established in 2007, the fellowship honors Mrs. Frances Townes, a life-long advocate for individuals in underserved and underrepresented communities. The fellowship covers tuition and living expenses and priority is given to graduate students who are admitted and plan to enroll during a fall semester. The deadline for consideration is January 15. Fellowships are occasionally given with spring admission for extraordinary circumstances. The nonrefundable application fee is $30 USD. PhD applicants are automatically considered for our university fellowship (ORC Doctoral Fellowship). This fellowship is awarded in the student’s first year.

For all students who have a Graduate Research Assistantship and are enrolled full time, health insurance benefits are provided. If at any time during your studies at UCF you do not have a GRA, or are not enrolled full time, the health insurance benefit will discontinue. The UCF Student Health Insurance Plan, underwritten by United Healthcare Insurance Company, is serviced by Gallagher Koster.

Research and Innovation

The College of Optics and Photonics is a hub for cutting-edge research in various areas of optics and photonics. CREOL faculty, scientists and students pioneer collaborative and multi-disciplinary research that enables impactful technologies for widespread and cross-cutting applications. Home to world-class research centers and cutting-edge facilities, CREOL is renowned as a global leader in optics and photonics. Research activities cover all aspects of optics, photonics, and lasers, and the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL), the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), and the Townes Laser Institute (TLI) are integral parts of the College of Optics and Photonics.

Current research areas include:

Linear and nonlinear guided-wave optics and devices
High-speed photonic telecommunications
Fiber optic fabrication and communications
Solid-state laser development
Nonlinear optics
Laser-induced damage
Quantum-well optoelectronics
Quantum optics
Photonic information processing
Infrared systems
Optical diagnostics
Optical system design
Image analysis
Virtual reality
Medical imaging
Diffractive optics
Optical crystal growth and characterization
High-intensity lasers
X-ray optics
EUV sources
Optical glasses
Laser materials processing
Free-electron lasers
Light-matter interaction
Astrophotonics

Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE)

The FPCE was established in 2003 with a $10 million grant from the State of Florida to create a new center of excellence within The College of Optics and Photonics. The focus of the FPCE research and education work is on the technologies of nanophotonics, biophotonics, advanced imaging and 3D displays, and ultra-high bandwidth communications, all of which have forecasts of rapid market growth. Work at the center has resulted in the creation of 31 jobs, and in the filing of 40 patents, of which 14 were issued.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

Townes Laser Institute (TLI)

The Townes Laser Institute was dedicated in 2007 in the presence of, and honoring Charles Townes, 1964 Nobel Laureate in Physics and the inventor of the concept of the laser. Associated with CREOL, the College of Optics and Photonics and the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE) it is funded by the State of Florida to develop the next generation of laser light engines for applications in medicine, advanced manufacturing and defense applications.

Impactful Technologies

The research conducted at the College of Optics and Photonics has led to the development of impactful technologies with widespread applications in various fields, including:

Laser Engineering: Lasers have been one of the central technological developments responsible for revolutions in communications, defense, manufacturing, and medicine.
Medical Imaging: From medical diagnostics to space exploration, UCF researchers are pushing the boundaries of optics and photonics. 21st Century Scholar Chair Professor Konstantin Vodopyanov uses ultrafast lasers to identify molecular structures.
Augmented Reality:
Optical Materials:
Metasurface Optics:
Quantum Photonics:
Semiconductors:
Astronomy: The CREOL Astrophotonics research effort arose from several groups of CREOL researchers and now comprises >30 scientists and research students at the University of Central Florida.
Display Technology:
Telecommunications: Fiber optics allows us to transport and distribute optically encoded information over long distances with low losses as well as to collect and manipulate optical signals. Advances in optical fiber have revolutionized the fields of communication and information processing and continued research in materials science and optical engineering will aid in the development of next generation devices.
Defense Capabilities:

Industry Collaboration

CREOL's annual Industrial Affiliates Symposium brings together members of the CREOL Industrial Affiliates (IA) program in an intentional fusion of academia, industry, and government. Get your resume ready for the Spring Optics and Photonics Career Fair, hosted by CREOL. Open to students studying optics and photonics, engineering, and physics.

A Legacy of Excellence

Since its founding in 1986, CREOL has conferred a total of over 220 PhD and over 330 MS degree. The faculty have published 27 books and authored over 1900 journal articles which have been cited over 26,800 times.

tags: #UCF #College #of #Optics #and #Photonics