To nominate and troubleshoot:

Important: Please sign in with your SPIE username and password to access the nomination form. If you have forgotten your account information, please open this link and click "Forgot Username" and/or "Forgot Password" or contact Customer Service at customerservice@spie.org.  

Once logged in, you may need to select the “Programs” icon in the upper right-hand corner, find the SPIE Fellow nomination form amongst the options of open applications, and click its “More” button. That will redirect you to this page with an “Apply” button on the right-hand sign. Click this to begin your nomination.

Fellows Nomination Criteria

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 1 April of the current year.

The SPIE Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee provides these resources to avoid unconscious bias in your nominations.

Eligibility

To be considered for Fellow status, nominees must:

• Be a voting SPIE Member (not a Student Member) for at least five cumulative years. 
• Have a strong record of achievement in optics and photonics.

Evaluation criteria

Nominees are assessed in all the following three criteria.

Nominators are encouraged to provide clear and full details of the accomplishments of the nominee and the impact of the accomplishments in these three areas.

1. Technical accomplishment

Demonstrated excellence in advancing optics and photonics as evidenced through:

• Publications, patents, awards and honors
• Product development and innovative engineering
• Entrepreneurial or technical management leadership.

2. Service to the optical community

Contributions to SPIE’s mission, for example:

• Organizing or chairing SPIE conferences or events.
• Serving on SPIE committees (leadership) or editorial boards.
• Mentoring through SPIE programs or initiatives.

3. Service to the Broader Optics and Photonics Community

Contributions to the global optics and photonics field, for example:

• Promoting science education, outreach, and engagement.
• Raising public awareness or influencing policy.
• Supporting professional societies or standards development.

Nomination process

• Regular Members and Fellow Members may nominate individuals for promotion to SPIE Fellow. Self-nomination is allowed (you can nominate yourself).
• At least two support letters are required from references other than the nominator. 
• These letters should come from at least two different organizations.
• If the nominator is a regular Member, two Fellow Members must provide letters of recommendation. Both letters must come from Fellow Members.
• If the nominator is a current Fellow Member, only one additional Fellow Member must second the nomination and provide a letter of recommendation. The second letter of recommendation may come from any reference (does not need to be a member of SPIE). 
• Nominations and supporting materials are confidential and must be submitted by 1 April.
• Only the nominator is notified if the nominee is not selected.