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10 February 2014
OSA Recognizes Arlene Smith as Outstanding Young Professional
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lyndsay Meyer
The Optical Society
202.416.1435
lmeyer@osa.org
OSA Recognizes Arlene Smith as Outstanding Young Professional
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2014—The Optical Society (OSA) is pleased to announce Arlene Smith as the 2014 OSA Outstanding Young Professional. The Outstanding Young Professional accolade acknowledges significant contributions made by an OSA Young Professional Member through volunteer activities completed as part of the OSA Young Professionals Program. Smith, a research fellow at the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, is the fourth young professional to receive this honor.Smith joined OSA in 2008 as a student member. She participated in the National University of Ireland, Galway OSA Student Chapter and was involved as an organizer for the IONS-7 Conference held there in 2010. After completing her doctorate in 2011, she joined the OSA Young Professionals Program. As a member of the program, she has participated as a volunteer on the program committee for the 2013 and 2014 OSA Applied Industrial Optics Topical Meetings, reviewed grants for both the OSA Foundation and OSA Student Chapters program and assisted with OSA Student Chapter activities as a member of the 2013 OSA Student Leadership Conference Planning Committee and judge for the OSA Student Chapter Competition at Frontiers in Optics 2013.
Smith will be recognized during the 2014 OSA Winter Leadership Meeting in Washington, D.C. this week. Candidates are self-nominated, and must have been active in the OSA Young Professionals Program for at least one year and have two references submit endorsements. Winners are chosen by the Awards and Grants Subcommittee of the OSA Member and Education Services Council.
The OSA Young Professionals program began in 2008, and matches members who are in the early years of their careers with volunteer activities that align with their areas of interest. These placements provide valuable, career-building experiences and facilitate networking with top researchers and business leaders from around the world. More information on the program, including how to join, is available on the OSA website.
About OSA
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional society for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-world applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership programs, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of professionals in optics and photonics. For more information, visit www.osa.org.
