UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
As CREOL's Founding Director in 1987, MJ Soileau transformed the fledgling research center into one of the world's major educational and research institutions for optics. Dr. Soileau went on to serve as UCF's Vice President for Research and Commercialization for 17 years, and recently joined the ranks of emeritus Professor.
In honor of his remarkable contributions to CREOL and UCF, in 2020 SPIE announced a $125,000 matching gift from funds donated by MJ and his wife, Cheryl to establish this scholarship, which supports undergraduate students in the photonic science and engineering bachelor’s degree program.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Photonic Science and Engineering Pending or Major
- Currently enrolled or have completed MAC 2311C, Calculus I
- Has not completed OSE 3052 Foundations of Photonics
- A 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA
- A 3.0 or higher GPA in Calculus, Physics, and Chemistry courses
- Preference given to: First Generation in College Student with unmet financial need (see cost)
- Continuation Criteria: Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA or higher each semester in Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering coursework, without a break (excluding summer).
Typical Award: Up to a total of $2,500 over four semesters
Application Period: March–July. Awarded in the fall and spring.
This scholarship honors CREOL alum Zhibing Ge (‘04MS ‘07PhD) and UCF Trustee Professor Shin-Tson Wu. Ge earned his Ph.D. in CREOL’s joint Electrical Engineering program in 2007, researching liquid crystal devices under Wu’s mentorship. After graduating, Ge continued as a research scientist and co-authored “Transflective Liquid Crystal Displays” (Wiley) alongside Wu.
Ge was named CREOL’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni of the Year for his outstanding technical achievements and contributions to both the optics community and CREOL.
Wu is CREOL's most-published faculty member, with 7 books, 685 journal papers, 320 conference papers, and 98 U.S. patents. He received UCF's inaugural Medal of Societal Impact for pioneering liquid crystal display research.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Undergraduate student
- Enrolled in the College of Optics and Photonics
- Preference to first-generation college students
- Successful completion of OSE 3200 Geometric Optics or OSE 3052 Foundations of Photonics
This award may cover tuition, textbooks, fees, and other Cost of Attendance items.
Typical Award: $2,000
Application Period: March–July. Awarded in the fall.
Established by CREOL Industrial Affiliate Lumentum with a $30,000 commitment, this endowed scholarship prioritizes returning students with a gap in their education.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Active membership in an approved SDES-administered organization advancing underrepresented/marginalized groups
- Active membership in a predominantly female SDES organization (e.g. Women in Optics and Photonics)
- Returning students or those with an educational gap, contributing diverse cultural perspectives
This award may cover tuition, textbooks, fees, and other Cost of Attendance items.
Typical Award: $1,000
Application Period: March–July. Awarded in the fall.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a junior or senior
- Declared PSE major (not pending)
- In good academic standing
- Previous award winners may reapply
Typical Award: Varies
Application Period: March–July. Awarded in the fall.
Professor Karl H. Guenther was one of CREOL’s first faculty hires. His contributions span thin-film optics—from production and characterization to theoretical modeling—and he served with distinction from 1987 onward.
Born April 18, 1957 in Salzburg, Austria, Guenther earned his Ph.D. in Physics and Physical Chemistry from the University of Innsbruck in 1974, then held research posts in Europe before joining CREOL.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Undergraduate accepted as a Photonic Science and Engineering major
- A 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA
- At least 9 credit hours of photonics coursework completed
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS
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 ORCGS fellowship. Stipend: Minimum $30,000 annually, health insurance, tuition and fees included.
Eligibility Criteria:
- U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
- Students pursuing an advanced degree in physics or electro-optics
- Assessment of scholastic achievement and leadership characteristics
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
William C. Schwartz was a Central Florida community leader, business pioneer and innovator in optics and photonics. He founded Orlando-based International Laser Systems, Inc., and Schwartz Electro-Optics, Inc. The annual William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation Awards recognize the region’s most innovative companies.
Schwartz’s contributions were honored with an honorary doctorate in Engineering Science from UCF.
Eligibility Criteria:
- U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
- Demonstration of academic excellence (GPA, GRE score)
- Letters of reference reviewed
- May be renewed each semester if in good standing
This fellowship may cover tuition, textbooks, fees, and any items in the Cost of Attendance (see details).
Typical Award: Paid on a semester basis to cover expenses.
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
The George Stegeman Memorial Fellowship funds graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. in nonlinear optics. It honors emeritus professor George Stegeman, who passed away in 2015.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be enrolled at CREOL as a full- or part-time graduate student
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
Established in 2020 with $325,000 from SPIE (matched by UCF’s Research Foundation and the Glebov family), this fellowship supports CREOL graduate students. It honors Emeritus Research Professor Leonid Glebov and his wife, Larissa Glebova. Glebov has published over 190 papers and holds 16 patents.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
Established in 2007, this fellowship honors Mrs. Frances Townes and her lifelong dedication to the education and empowerment of students in science across the world. The Fellowship is awarded each year to a student who has demonstrated the personal strength and dedication to rise above adversity to achieve their goals. Primarily considered for graduate students, it supports tuition and living expenses throughout the student’s degree program.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
UCF Trustee Professor Shin-Tson Wu is CREOL’s most-published faculty, co-authoring 7 books, 685 journal papers, 320 conference papers, and holding 98 U.S. patents. He received UCF’s inaugural Medal of Societal Impact for pioneering liquid-crystal research.
This fellowship is part of CREOL’s Founding Faculty Graduate Fellowship initiative, created by a 4:1 matching pledge by Dean Eric Van Stryland and his wife Barbara.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
As CREOL’s Founding Director in 1987, Dr. MJ Soileau transformed the fledgling research center into a leading optics institution. He served as UCF’s VP for Research and Commercialization for 17 years and is now emeritus Professor.
This fellowship is part of CREOL’s Founding Faculty Graduate Fellowship initiative, created by a 4:1 matching pledge by Dean Eric Van Stryland and his wife Barbara.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
For over 30 years, Distinguished Professor Peter Delfyett has made indelible contributions to CREOL. He’s authored 200+ publications, holds 45 U.S. patents, and is in the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Academy of Engineering.
This fellowship is part of CREOL’s Founding Faculty Graduate Fellowship initiative, created by a 4:1 matching pledge by Dean Eric Van Stryland and his wife Barbara.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
David J. Hagan joined CREOL in 1987 as an Assistant Professor. Now serving as Dean, he is leading the charge on CREOL’s ongoing growth of both student enrollment and research areas. He is a fellow of Optica and SPIE and serves on the SPIE Board of Directors, as he continues to lead a research group focused on nonlinear optics.
This fellowship is part of CREOL’s Founding Faculty Graduate Fellowship initiative, created by a 4:1 matching pledge by Dean Eric Van Stryland and his wife Barbara.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
Emeritus Professor Eric Van Stryland became CREOL’s first Dean in 2004. He graduated 31 Ph.D. students, published ~300 papers, and received UCF’s Pegasus Award. The Van Strylands’ $2 million pledge established the Founding Faculty Graduate Fellowship Fund.
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
This fellowship was established by Paul Suchoski, fiber-optic entrepreneur and founder of JDS, Uniphase, and Optium Corporation. He continues to serve on boards, including Syght.
Eligibility Criteria:
- U.S. citizen pursuing a Ph.D. with research focused on fiber-optic communications
Typical Award: Varies
Application Information: Graduate applicants are automatically considered and awardees are selected by the admissions committee.
EXTERNAL FELLOWSHIPS
| Name | Details and Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| American Association for the Advancement of Science Science and Technology Policy Fellowships | AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships help to stablish and nurture critical links between federal decision-makers and scientific professionals to support public policy that benefits the wellbeing of the nation and the planet. | December |
| American Association of University Women Fellowships and Grants | The AAUW has a long and distinguished history of advancing educational and professional opportunities for women in the United States and around the globe. | Fall |
| DEPS Scholarships | The Directed Energy Professional Society is the premier rganization for the exchange of information on the development and application of directed energy, which includes both high energy lasers and high power microwaves. | April |
| Ford Foundation Fellowship Program | The Ford Foundation seeks to increase the diversity of the ation’s college and university faculties to maximize the educational benefits of diversity and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. They offer fellowships at the predoctoral, dissertation and postdoctoral levels. | November |
| Michael Pate Optical Sciences Memorial Scholarship | This scholarship was set up in memory of Michael Pate, an optical engineer passionate about teaching and learning throughout his career. | June 30 |
| NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program | Fostering new generations of highly skilled scientists and engineers is critically important to the aeronautics community. The ASP offers our nation's research leaders of tomorrow exceptional funding as undergraduate and graduate students. | January |
| NASA Space Technology Research Grants | This program aims to accelerate the development of "push" technologies to support the future space science and exploration needs of NASA, other government agencies and the commercial space sector. Innovative efforts with high risk and high payoff will be encouraged. | January |
| National GEM Consortium Fellowship | The National GEM Consortium enables outstanding minority students to obtain master's degrees in engineering and doctorates in engineering and the natural and physical sciences. | November |
| National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering | Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NIBIB supports basic research and research training through investigator-initiated grants, contracts, program project and center grants, and career development and training awards. | Varies |
| National Physical Science Consortium | The National Physical Science Consortium, a partnership between government agencies and laboratories, industry and higher education, offers a unique graduate fellowship in the physical sciences and related engineering fields. | November 30 |
| National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program | The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of he human resource base of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the United States and to reinforce its diversity by offering Graduate Research Fellowships, which provide three years of support for graduate study. | November |
| OSA Foundation Harvey M. Pollicove Memorial Scholarship | The OSA Foundation offers the Harvey M. Pollicove Memorial scholarship each year to a student pursuing a degree in the field of precision optics manufacturing. The award rotates among four universities: the University of Arizona, the University of Central Florida, the University of Rochester and Monroe Community College. | August |
| Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans | The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, which supports graduate study for immigrants or children of immigrants who possess at least a green card, was established in recognition of the contributions that new Americans have made and in gratitude for the opportunities the United States has afforded the donors and their family. | November |
| Semiconductor Research Corporation Global Research Collaboration Graduate Fellowship Program | The GRC Graduate Fellowship Program addresses the issues of improving educational opportunities at the doctoral level and supplying a relevantly educated workforce for the semiconductor industry. | November (Application Available) |
| SPIE Scholarships | As a student, you represent the future of optics, photonics and imaging, as well as the future of SPIE. The Society has distributed more than $3 million through its scholarship program. | February |
| SMART Scholarship | A U.S. citizen at time of application,18 years of age or older as of August 1, 2014, able to participate in summer internships at DoD laboratories, willing to accept post-graduate employment with the DoD, a student in good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and, pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the disciplines listed on the About SMART page. | December |