News

CREOL Ph.D. Student Yefu Zhang Wins 2026 Robert S. Hilbert Memorial Optical Design Competition By Arin Partington | August 10, 2026 Zhang was recognized for an innovative simulation framework designed to support the development of diffractive waveguide augmented reality displays. Facebook LinkedIn CREOL Ph.D. student Yefu Zhang has been named a winner of the 2026…

CREOL Professor and Alumnus Named 2026 SPIE Fellows By Arin Partington | August 5, 2026 The prestigious honor recognizes significant contributions to optics, photonics and imaging. Facebook LinkedIn CREOL Professor Paul Leisher and CREOL alumnus David Haefner have been named 2026 Fellows of SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. The distinction of SPIE…

CREOL Research Explores How Partially Coherent Light Could Transform Optical Communications By Arin Partington | August 4, 2026 Featured on the cover of Optics & Photonics News, the article highlights how an emerging approach called structured coherence could improve optical communications, computing, and information processing. A new feature article by researchers from CREOL, the College…

CREOL Summer Camp Gives Students a Hands-On Look at the Future of Photonics By Arin Partington | July 31, 2026 More than 50 high school students from across the U.S. and abroad explored optics through hands-on labs, faculty mentorship and student-led activities. Facebook LinkedIn For three weeks this summer, more than 50 high school students…

CREOL Ph.D. Student Earns International Recognition with SPIE Scholarship and Laser School Honors CREOL Ph.D. candidate Vinzenz Zimmermann has received multiple international honors recognizing his research in optics and photonics. By Arin Partington | July 24, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn Zimmermann, who conducts research under Professor Miguel Bandres, was awarded a 2026 SPIE Optics and Photonics…

CREOL Alumna Clara Rivero Baleine Inducted into Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Lockheed Martin Fellow recognized for innovations in infrared materials and optics. By Arin Partington | July 22, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn CREOL alumna and courtesy faculty member Clara Rivero Baleine (’01, ’03 MS, ’05 PhD) has been named a 2026 inductee into the Florida…

Connected by CREOL: An Intertwined Ecosystem Fuels Florida’s Innovation Economy By Arin Partington | July 20, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn A new feature from Florida High Tech Corridor highlights how CREOL’s long-standing partnerships with industry have helped drive innovation, support student success, and strengthen Florida’s $3.6 billion optics and photonics industry. The article spotlights Research Assistant…

CREOL Professor Shin-Tson Wu Receives 2026 IEEE Photonics Society Aron Kressel Award The prestigious international honor recognizes Wu’s pioneering innovations in liquid crystal devices that have transformed modern display technologies. By Arin Partington | July 13, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn CREOL Trustee Chair Professor Shin-Tson Wu has been named the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Photonics…

CREOL Research Explores a New Approach to Coherent Multi-Pulsation in Laser Arrays Published in Laser & Photonics Reviews, the study demonstrates a scalable method for generating coherent, high-power, high-frequency laser pulses for future photonic systems. By Arin Partington | July 13, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn Generating synchronized, high-power laser pulses across large arrays of semiconductor lasers…

Dr. Stephen Eikenberry Featured on WUCF CREOL Professor discusses the future of optics and photonics By Arin Partington | July 9, 2026 Facebook LinkedIn CREOL Professor Dr. Stephen Eikenberry recently joined WUCF for an interview highlighting the impact of optics and photonics research, innovation, and education at UCF. During the conversation, he shared insights into…

Spring 2026 Dean’s List The Dean’s List is compiled in recognition of scholastic honors to degree-seeking undergraduate students who earn a minimum 3.4 GPA, complete a minimum of 12 credit hours, earn no grade less than “C” (2.0) and no “I,” “U,” “N,” “NC,” or “WF” grades during a term.  This does NOT include those who…