Mr James Fisher, VP of Newport Corp., pointed out how important it is to ask the right questions to the right people, starting with yourself: what do you want? What are your best skills and what do you need to improve?
Mr Fisher highlights the figure of the mentor and advises us to ask questions in a job interview. For example: What metrics do you use to measure the performance of employees?; What good qualities did the previous employee in the prospective position have and which did they lack? What qualities\skills does one need in order to succeed at this position?; What would I exactly be doing in the organization?; How do you reward excellent behaviour/results?; Are there any teamwork activities?, etc.
He also recommends the following books:
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey
“The Magic of Thinking Big” by David Schwartz.
The books are filled with tricks and advice for becoming an effective professional.
Frontiers in Photonics: Mr. James Fisher
Happy International Year of Light everyone!!
Join us in our first seminar lecture of the year with Mr. James Fisher, Vice President of Newport’s Optical Components and Vibration Control Business.
When: Wednesday February 4, 2015, 12 pm
Where: Room 2201 Natural Sciences 2, UCI
Mr. Fisher will help us ask The Right Questions – A reflection on careers, goals and finding the right path for yourself. This presentation looks at a common thread that I have found impacts many different career paths and in fact can be helpful to determine what the best path for you may be. It’s all about asking the right questions to the right people!
Bio:
James Fisher is currently the Vice President of Newport’s Optical Components and Vibration Control Business with headquarters in Irvine, California. Prior to his current role James led various technical, sales and marketing groups within Newport and helped launch a number of new product platforms and patented products including the actively damped SmartTable, Vision IsoStation workstation, OpticsCage+ and Newport’s M family of mirror mounts. In addition to his 15 years in the photonics industry he also served as the Marketing Director at Endevco, a manufacturer of sensing products for extreme environments. In the late 90’s, James joined MacLean-Fogg as a Product Development Engineer. He served as a key member of a corporate engineering team chartered to develop next generation products, systems and materials for automotive and energy distribution markets. He was also nominated for the Henry Ford Design Award for a new stabilizer bar link design for Ford Mondeo in Europe. James earned a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana and his MBA from the University of Southern California.
Frontiers in Photonics: Dr. Steven Jacques
A new seminar of the Frontiers in Photonics series will take place this Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.
Dr. Steven Jacques from the Oregon Health and Science University will talk about
Probing the nanoarchitecture of tissues using optical scattering
Time: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014 at 12pm
Place: BLI library
Lunch will be provided.
Abstract: This seminar will discuss our current work on using optical scattering as a contrast mechanism in images to sense changes in cells and tissues. We are utilizing (1) elastic scattering and (2) non-linear scattering. The elastic scattering work involves (a) spectral imaging (reduced scattering coefficient versus wavelength), (2) confocal reflectance microscopy (detect anisotropy versus scattering coeff.), (3) granularity imaging (phase-matched retroreflectance versus wavelength), and (4)holographic detection of the angular dependence of scattering. The non-linear scattering involves second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging (a) in reflectance mode from thick samples or in vivo tissue, and (b) in thin-sectioned samples to detect forward versus backward SHG. The motivation is to develop tools that follow dynamic structural changes in the nucleus, mitochondria, cytoskeleton, and extracellular matrix.
Bio: Steven L. Jacques, Ph.D., received a B.S. degree in Biology at M.I.T., and an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a Ph.D. degree in Biophysics and Medical Physics from the University of California-Berkeley (1984), where he used dielectric microwave measurements to explore the in vivo distribution of water in the stratum corneum of human skin. His postdoctoral work was at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, rising to the position of Lecturer in Dermatology/Bioengineering, Harvard Medical School. His team developed the use of Monte Carlo computer simulations to study optical transport in biological tissues, which is now widely used in the field of biophotonics.
In 1988, he joined the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer as an Assistant Professor of Urology/Biophysics and established a laboratory developing novel laser and optical methods for medicine, later achieving a tenured position as Associate Professor. He developed a hand-held spectrometer and the analysis software to noninvasively measure hyperbilirubinemia in newborns. This device was patented, licensed, and FDA approved to replace painful heel stick tests, and is now in practice in neonatal care. As of 2009, over 20 million newborns have been tested with the device. In 1996, he joined the Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon, where he now serves as Professor of Dermatology and Biomedical Engineering. His work continues on developing novel uses of optical technologies for both therapy and diagnosis. Currently, he has developed a hand-held polarized light camera to visualize skin cancer margins and guide surgical excision, now in clinical trials. He has developed in vivo sub-nm measurements of vibration of the cochlear membrane of the inner ear in animal models. He is developing novel microscopes that are sensitive to the ultrastructure of cells and tissues.
Frontiers in Photonics: Donn Silberman, also Live in WebEx
Remember everyone,
Thursday Nov. 6 11:45 am – 1 pm PST
Fundamentals and recent advances in micro and naopositioning for fast photonics process automation and brief update on the National Photonics Initiative (NPI).
Donn M Silberman, Sr. Applications Engineer
Attend Line – in Person @ UC Irvine or Live WebEx
Thursday Nov. 6 11:45 am – 1 pm PST
No fees
Frontiers in Photonics: Donn Silberman
You are all invited to a special Frontiers in Photonics Lunch & Learn Seminar.
Fundamentals and recent advances in micro and nanopositioning for fast photonic process automation
Donn Silberman
Sr. Applications Engineer, PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.
Founding Director, Optics Institute of Southern California
Fellow, Past Pres. Optical Society of Southern California
Founder, UC Irvine Optical Engineering & Instrument Design Programs
When: Thursday Nov. 6, 2014 at 11:45 – 1 pm
Where: Natural Sciences 2, room 1201.
Abstract:
Maximum positioning accuracy is now obligatory in many application areas. Semiconductor manufacturing, fiber optics and photonic alignment, microscopy, surface measurement technology, biotechnology, medical engineering and automation technology often require positioning systems with resolutions and repeatability in the nanometer range. Add to this the requirements for short response times, vacuum-compatible designs that may need to function over a wide temperature range and the challenges mount for both scientific researchers and industries’ engineers.
This presentation will begin with some fundamental concepts in micro and nanopositioning and then take a dive into the world of high precision photonic alignment. Real examples of results obtained with precision mechanism, electronic control systems and a snap shot of the latest algorithms will be reviewed as they relate to the field of silicon photonics.
The National Photonics Initiative a brief update
Last month the Optical Society of Southern California (OSSC) hosted the largest National Photonics Initiative (NPI) meeting to date at Precision Optical in Costa Mesa, CA. This brief presentation will provide a quick overview of the NPI and the recently announced planned investment of $200 million in Public-Private funds to create an Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Institute that could be located near UC Irvine.
Bio: Donn M. Silberman is a Fellow and Past President of the Optical Society of Southern California, where he has had active roles for over 20 years. He is the Senior Applications and Sales Engineer for PI (Physik Instrumente) L.P.; a world leader in the design, manufacture and provider of precision positioning and motion control systems for industry, research and academia. Many of these engineered products are used for the highest precision imaging and laser systems on earth, in space and even on Mars. They include systems on the Mars Rover Curiosity, major semiconductor manufacturing and inspection systems, large professional astronomical and solar telescopes, fiber optic telecommunication systems and research grade atomic, optical and laser based microscopy systems.
He holds B.S. in Engineering Physics (Honors in Physics) – University of Arizona and worked at the Optical Sciences Center and taught undergraduate physics labs. He was the Society of Physics Students President from 1981 – 1983 and SPS Councilor from 1983 – 1984. In 1994, he received a Master of Science degree in Technology Management from Pepperdine University.
In 2012, he received the UC Irvine Extension Dean’s Outstanding Service Award.
He was the 2012-2013 Univ. of Arizona Honor’s College Advocate for Education Award Winner.
Mr. Silberman was designated as a Senior Member of SPIE in 2009 and a Senior Member of OSA in 2010 for his specific achievements in optics education, outreach and engineering.
Dr. Anita Mahadevan-Jansen
We invite you to the first Fall 2014 Photonics@UCI seminar series ‘Frontiers in Photonics’ in association with the Beckman Laser Institute, UCI.
Intraoperative guidance with intrinsic near infrared imaging
Dr. Anita Mahadevan-Jansen
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University
12:00-1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 15th, 2014
Location: Beckman Laser Institute library (direction: http://www.bli.uci.edu/directions.php)
Lunch will be provided!
Abstract:
For endocrine diseases where surgery is the only curative option, the success of procedures depends on complete resection of benign and malignant parathyroid or thyroid tissue during the time of surgery. Complications arise because the surgeon relies on visual inspection and professional experience during surgery to identify the parathyroid glands, which are small and variable in location. Inadvertent injury to or removal of the parathyroid during such procedures is the leading reason for litigation amongst endocrine surgeons. We have developed near infrared autofluroescence spectroscopy for the intraoperative identification of the parathyroid gland. Our current goal is to provide real time feedback to the surgeon by translating this technology into the imaging domain.
The basis for the fluorescence detected in the parathyroid is a novel, unidentified NIR biological fluorophore that is excited at 785 nm with peak emission at 822 nm and the presence of which has previously remained unreported. In a more recent development in our laboratory, we have observed similar fluorescence in normal skeletal muscle that surround soft tissue sarcomas and this has formed the basis for another project where we combine near infrared autofluorescence with Raman spectroscopy for the intraoperative assessment of margins in soft tissue sarcomas. Results this far from both these projects will be presented with the goal towards potential clinical translation.
Bio:
Dr Mahadevan-Jansen develops applications of optical techniques for detection of pathology. Her primary research at the Vanderbilt Biomedical Photonics Laboratories, is to investigate the applications of optical spectroscopies and imaging for cancer diagnosis and guidance of therapy. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physics from the University of Bombay, India, and a master’s and PhD degrees in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She joined the Vanderbilt engineering faculty in 1996. She is currently the Orrin H. Ingram Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Neurological Surgery. Dr Mahadevan-Jansen is an associate editor of Neurophotonics as well as Applied Spectroscopy and serves as a reviewer of more than 20 journals and as chair of numerous professional conferences. She has authored over 75 peer-reviewed publications and is a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), and the International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE).
Frontiers in Photonics: Dr. Alex Small
Photonics@UCI presents the last Frontiers in Photonics seminar of the Spring Quarter 2014, and it is presented by Dr. Alex Small, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Interesting connections in optics, and a question I don’t know the answer to
The most amazing thing about science is that not only does it answer deep questions and help us build amazing technologies, the pieces of science actually fit together (most of the time). Most of my research effort is on understanding how much information can be extracted beyond the diffraction limit. However, the concept of the diffraction limit itself turns out to be somewhat poorly-defined, and has an interesting exception: If you are willing to tolerate huge side-lobes in your focal spot, you can make a focal spot with a central peak that is much narrower than the conventional diffraction limit. One can understand this either in terms of information theory or in terms of wave optics. This should be somewhat disconcerting, because information theory is a theory of randomness, while wave optics is a deterministic theory.
I will point to a few other results in optics that can be understood in terms of very different theories: The Abbe Sine Condition (which can be understood in terms of Hamiltonian optics, wave optics, or thermodynamics) and the impossibility of a 2-way mirror (which can be derived from considerations of time-reversal symmetry or thermodynamics). I will then speculate that if information theory imposes limits on how sharply light can be focused, there must be a connection to thermodynamics, and it probably involves Brownian motion in optical traps.
Place: Natural Sciences II, first floor, room# 1201
Date and Time: Friday, 23rd May at 2pm.
Light refreshments will be served.
LIGO at Frontiers in Photonics by Dr. Reitze
Yesterday Photonics@UCI’s “Frontiers in Photonics” seminar series went big – very big – with a presentation given by LIGO’s Dr. David Reitze from Cal Tech. Dr. Reitze spoke to a packed audience about the The Laser Intererometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), its construction, discoveries, prospects, and complications involved in operating a 4km long interferometer designed to detect the smallest of signals from events in the universe. We were so pleased to hear about optics on such a grand scale and welcome members of the optics community from astronomy for this quarter’s seminar. Dr. Reitze’s presentation was engaging and very informative, sparking many discussions with students afterward.
Photonics@UCI thanks Dr. Reitze for making the trip and helping to continue our tradition of inspiration for our “Frontiers in Photonics” attendees.
Frontiers in Photonics: David Reitze
Professor David Reitze from the LIGO Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology presents:
LIGO: Using Really Big Interferometers to Search for the Most Violent Astrophysical Events in the Universe
“LIGO is currently undergoing a complete upgrade. Advanced LIGO is designed to be ten times more sensitive than initial LIGO, the first generation of gravitational wave interferometers, and will open the era of detecting gravitational wave emitted from the most violent events in the universe. In this presentation, I’ll give a primer on gravitational waves and why they are interesting and difficult to detect, discuss how we use interferometry to detect them, provide an overview of Advanced LIGO, and discuss its status and the prospects for gravitational wave detection and astronomy in the second half of this decade.”
When: Thursday 24, April at 4pm
Where: Natural Sciences 2, room 2201
You don’t want to miss it!
Dr. Fourkas – OSA Traveling Lecture
Yesterday we hosted our first OSA Traveling Lecturer, Dr. John Fourkas from the University of Maryland, who presented his work on “Nanoscale fabrication and manipulation using visible light.” Dr. Fourkas offered a packed audience a broad view on the many applications for his advanced techniques of multiphoton absorption polimerization for nano-fabrication, which range from the biomedical to the semiconductor industry. With images and movies as clear as his presentation of the work, the seminar embodied the spirit of Photonics@UCI’s Frontiers in Optics series, engaging the full audience of cross-discipline optics enthusiasts. A special “thank you” is given to the OSA funding that brought Dr. Fourkas to UCI.
The Traveling Lecturer program provides a platform for distinguished professors to share their expertise and knowledge across fields with students and faculty on campus. We are looking forward to host more experts in the upcoming years.