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 for a final decision. Nominations are confidential to SPIE. If a nominee is promoted, both the nominator and the nominee will be notified by SPIE. If the nominee is not promoted, only the nominator will be notified. 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
- Invited papers, keynote presentations
- Published technical articles, papers and presentations
- Papers in SPIE journals or conference proceedings
- Inventions, patents, and patent disclosures
- Significant technical or engineering achievements leading to widespread adoption or development of a significant measurement or instrument technique, including creation of software
- 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
- Leadership roles in conference organizing
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 accomplishments in optics, engineering, (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
- Executive Managerial Leadership
- Program Sponsorship
- 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
- Publications
- Awards
- Honors
- Patents
Please note that the curriculum vitae should not exceed 20 pages.
3. Nomination Support, Nominator Cover Letter, & Letters of Recommendation
Both Regular Members and Fellow Members in good standing may nominate individuals as candidates for promotion to SPIE Fellow. Beginning in 2012, at least two support letters are required from two references other than the nominator.
If a Regular Member makes the nomination, then two Fellow Members must provide supporting 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, and a second letter of support may come from any reference (may be a fellow but does not even need to be a member of SPIE). Beginning in 2012, a cover letter to the nomination is also required from the nominator. The cover letter should be a summary of the nomination and state in a few brief but compelling points why the nominee should be promoted.
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
