About the Tingye Li Memorial Scholarship Award

    Dr. Tingye Li (July 7, 1931 – December 27, 2012), a renowned Chinese-American scientist in photonics, pioneered groundbreaking research in optical communications through his innovative work at AT&T Bell Laboratories. His contributions have profoundly influenced information technology over the past four decades.

    Established in late 2019, this annual scholarship honors Dr. Li's exceptional achievements in photonics, his dedicated mentorship of young scientists, and his distinguished service to the photonics community. A maximum of two recipients are selected each year, with the Photonics Society Council (PSC) appointing a scholarship committee responsible for fundraising and overseeing the selection process.

    The scholarship committee receives a shortlist of ten candidates nominated by globally leading photonics research programs. Final recipients are chosen based on academic excellence (70% weighting) and demonstrated commitment to voluntary service within the optoelectronics community (30% weighting). Zihan Tao, a Ph.D. candidate at the Center, has been shortlisted for this prestigious award.

Tingye Li Memorial Scholarship Shortlist