The SPIE Fellows Committee is chartered by SPIE's Board of Directors to solicit, collect, evaluate and recommend an annual class of SPIE Members for promotion to Fellow. After an extensive evaluation, the Committee presents its recommendation in the form of a written report to the Board of Directors. The Board uses the report to form the basis of a final decision as to the individuals that will be promoted in that year. The deadline for applications is 15 September of the current year.
Eligibility
According to the bylaws of SPIE, "The Board of Directors may confer the grade of Fellow on a Member who is a regular Member of the Society on 15 September of the year they are nominated, and has become distinguished through outstanding contributions in the relevant technologies."
Criteria
Candidates meeting the above eligibility requirements who are nominated for promotion to the grade of Fellow of SPIE will be evaluated by the Society's Fellow Committee according to the following three criteria:
1. Technical Accomplishment
Candidates will have distinguished themselves through a clear demonstration of significant technical contributions in one or more fields of optical, photo-optical and optoelectronic applied science and engineering. The basis for this evaluation will be the candidate's documented contributions including but not limited to the following:
- Reviewed journal papers in archival journals
- Published technical articles, papers and presentations
- Papers in SPIE journals or conference proceedings
- Patents and patent disclosures
- Entrepreneur or executive manager roles
- Books (complete sections or chapters thereof)
- Honors, citations, certificates or awards
- Documented record of technical management
- For individuals whose contributions are not directly available or easily presented due to special circumstances, classifications, or industrial propriety, listings of the contributions with enough detail to justify their consideration by the committee will suffice
2. Service to the General Optical Community
Candidates will be evaluated by the Committee for their service and contributions to the general optical community. This will be evaluated by presentation of clear evidence of accomplishment in one or more of the following:
- Voluntary work with local schools and science fairs
- Documented evidence of distinguished and substantial contribution to optics (or related) education
- Documented evidence of distinguished and substantial contribution to optics (or related) industry
- Documented evidence of service to the optical community as an editor or technical reviewer
- Clear and significant contributions to the international optical community
- Service to other societies in related fields
3. Service to SPIE
Candidates will be evaluated for their service to SPIE. Roles of service to SPIE include but are not limited to:
- Conference Chair
- Session/Section Chair
- Committee Chair
- Committee Member
- Speaker/Author
- Journal Editor
- Journal Author
- Visiting Lecturer
- Course Instructor
Fellows Nomination Requirements
In order for the Society to fairly and accurately evaluate an individual's nomination to the grade of Fellow of the Society, certain types of information will be required. The nominator should ensure that this information is provided. The required nomination components are:
1. The SPIE Fellows Nomination Form that includes
- Technical Accomplishment
- Service to the Community
- Service to SPIE
- Honors and Awards
2. A Curriculum Vitae that includes
- Educational history
- Work experience
- Bibliography
- Publications
- Awards
- Honors
- Patents
3. Nomination Support and Letters of Recommendation
Both Regular Members and Fellow Members in good standing may nominate individuals as candidates for promotion to SPIE Fellow. If a Regular Member makes the nomination, then two Fellow Members must second the nomination and provide the letters of recommendation. If a Fellow Member makes the nomination, then only one additional Fellow Member must second the nomination and provide a letter of recommendation.
The Fellows Committee will notify all nominators, in writing, of their acceptance or other action being taken in regard to the individual nominee being considered.
In the event that a nominee is not chosen for a Fellow of the Society the first time he or she is nominated, the next two consecutive committees automatically consider him or her for Fellow. Nominators are encouraged to update or add to the nomination materials, if appropriate, prior to the next year's deadline.
Submit completed nomination to SPIE by 15 September of the given year.
Proceed to online Fellows Nomination form
