Schülzgen’s career at UCF has included influential fiber optics research, the mentorship of emerging scientists and engineers, and innovations with real-world applications.

Hagan will begin a four-year term in SPIE’s presidential chain in 2027.

A 10-week internship supported by Grinnell College gave an undergraduate researcher the opportunity to explore photonics and a new way of thinking about research.

Zhang was recognized for an innovative simulation framework designed to support the development of diffractive waveguide augmented reality displays.