Optica Ambassadors: Navigating Careers in Academia and Industry

Photos on Optica flag

On October 28th, 2024, Arctic Optica will host two of the 2022 Optica Ambassadors. Optica Ambassadors, selected by Optica each year, serve as global representatives of the organization, advancing the field of optics and photonics. As early-career professionals, they are dedicated to science outreach, education, and leadership within their communities. Their mission includes mentoring students, organizing local events, and raising awareness about the importance of optics and photonics in shaping society. They also focus on inspiring the next generation of scientists, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion in the field.

This autumn, they will share their insights through engaging talks on their personal and professional journeys, offering a rare look into the paths they took to succeed in the dynamic world of optics and photonics. From navigating the challenges of academia and transitioning to industry, to landing jobs, securing grants, and finding the right opportunities, their experiences will provide valuable guidance for anyone interested in pursuing a similar career.

In addition to their presentations, they will spend time with Arctic Optica members in a more informal setting, providing the chance for one-on-one discussions and deeper engagement. They will also tour our labs and get involved in conversations about our current research projects and activities, creating an exciting opportunity for knowledge exchange and collaboration. This event promises to be a highly inspirational experience for all attendees, offering fresh perspectives on career development, research, and leadership within the optics and photonics community.

Meeting location: Teknologibygget 3028 (third floor)
Address: Klokkargårdsbakken 35, 9019 Tromsø

10:00 – Introductions and welcoming of the Optica Ambassadors
10:15 – Online event start
10:20 – Optics Research at UiT-The Arctic University of Norway – Jehona Salaj
10: 40 – Arctic Optica through the years (2021-2024) – Abhishek Ranjan
11:00 – 10 career insights from 11 years in Academia and Industry – Richard Zeltner
11:30 – Navigating academia after your PhD – Alessandra Carmichael-Martins
12:00 – Lunch break
13:00 – Lab visit

Register for the meeting link:

https://forms.gle/q2iPnBgganihAywZ7

10 career insights from 11 years in Academia and Industry – Richard Zeltner

Abstract
I will reflect on my previous career trajectory and elaborate on the career lessons I learned and the insights I acquired since joining the photonics community. Based on examples of my own vita I will talk about career planning and trajectories, how to recognize a good working environment, the importance of having mentors and a supportive network, and more.

Navigating academia after your PhD – Alessandra Carmichael-Martins

Abstract
This presentation will cover my personal academic trajectory in different countries, how to navigate decision-making, and what helped me during my career. I will talk about the type of postdocs available and the questions involved in selecting one, as well as the different types of grants available and what to keep in mind when applying.

Who are they?

Richard Zeltner received his master’s degree in integrated Life Science from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany. During this interdisciplinary program, he came in contact with biophotonics, which sparked an interest in the broader field of optics and photonics. He joined the division of Prof. Gerd Leuchs at the Max-Planck-Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen (MPL) in 2013 to work on his master’s thesis on optical sensing. For his PhD he joined Prof. Philip St.J. Russell at MPL, where he worked on sensors based on optically propelled particles inside hollow-core photonic crystal fibers.

In spring 2019 he joined Menlo Systems GmbH, a leading supplier and developer of laser systems for quantum technologies and precision metrology, for a project management and business development position. Since the spring of 2023, Richard has been an R&D group leader in charge of the company´s activities on optical clocks and photonics integrated circuitry.

Richard was the chair of the European Physical Societies’ (EPS) Young Minds Programme from 2020 to 2022, and received the 2024 EPS Achievement Award, recognizing his contribution to the development of the society.  In 2022 he was recognized as an Optica Ambassador.

Dr. Alessandra Carmichael-Martins, originally from Cádiz, Spain, is currently a research scientist at the University Hospital Eye Clinic Bonn, Germany.  Alessandra is a physicist from the University of Sevilla, Spain, and specialized in Optics and Photonics from Imperial College London, UK, with a keen interest in optical systems and optical design. She completed for PhD in physics at University College Dublin, Ireland in 2019 using a digital micromirror device to design novel systems to test visual function and wavefront sensing for ocular aberrations.

In 2020 as a post-doctoral fellow at the Indiana University School of Optometry, USA, she worked on the design and implementation of advanced optical imaging systems for the human eye in-vivo. During this time, she was awarded two individual grants and selected as a 2022 OPTICA Ambassador.

Currently, Alessandra is working in Germany designing and implementing a new hyperspectral imager for early detection of one of the most common eye diseases worldwide: Age-related Macular Degeneration. She is very excited to work on new inspiring projects, both focused on outreach and in her own research.

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