Recent news from photonics industry organizations reveals that individuals pursuing careers in photonics have high job satisfaction and good pay. While satisfaction varies depending on your geographical location, the salary information is encouraging. A career in photonics can be a very wise choice for young people, and that idea is being supported by increasing funding from the NSF and other organizations that recognize the value of a healthy engineering work force. Here is just a sampling of the latest news on photonics jobs and careers:
1. SPIE (Bellingham, WA) recently released its 2013 Optics and Photonics Global Salary Report, proclaiming that "Photonics pros love their work." The report takes a look at salaries as a function of geography and job title, and should give young people an impetus to start a career in photonics:
"Photonics pros love their work, new SPIE survey shows"
2. SPIE recently improved its career center website, with improved tools for photonics job seekers and companies:
"SPIE Career Center Improves Tools for Photonics Job Seekers and Companies"
NOTE: Other excellent photonics job sites include OSA's http://www.workinoptics.com and Physics Today's http://jobs.physicstoday.org.
3. Although Bausch + Lomb is laying off 400 people in Rochester, the optics/photonics industry is so strong that the impact will be minimal, according to local organizations:
"B+L layoffs shouldn't hurt local optics industry"
And thank goodness for the National Science Foundation!:
4. "Baker College of Flint To Use NSF Grant To Fast-Forward New Photonics & Laser Program"
5. "OP-TEC Receives NSF Funding to Continue Photonics Technician Education"
Gail Overton | Senior Editor (2004-2020)
Gail has more than 30 years of engineering, marketing, product management, and editorial experience in the photonics and optical communications industry. Before joining the staff at Laser Focus World in 2004, she held many product management and product marketing roles in the fiber-optics industry, most notably at Hughes (El Segundo, CA), GTE Labs (Waltham, MA), Corning (Corning, NY), Photon Kinetics (Beaverton, OR), and Newport Corporation (Irvine, CA). During her marketing career, Gail published articles in WDM Solutions and Sensors magazine and traveled internationally to conduct product and sales training. Gail received her BS degree in physics, with an emphasis in optics, from San Diego State University in San Diego, CA in May 1986.