SPIE Fellow Nomination Criteria

The SPIE Fellow designation honors distinguished members who have made outstanding and impactful scientific, technical, and leadership contributions in optics and photonics, as well as provided significant service to SPIE and the broader optics and photonics community.

To be eligible for SPIE Senior Member status, a nominee must excel in one of three areas: technical accomplishment, service to SPIE, or service to the optics and photonics community.

To be eligible for the SPIE Fellow Member status, a nominee must excel in all three of those areas.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

• Be a current voting Member of SPIE for at least five cumulative years.
• Have a record of outstanding contributions in optics and photonics.
• Have served SPIE and the broader optics and photonics community.

There is no requirement for holding the Senior Member distinction prior to nomination for Fellow.

Nominees are evaluated in three main categories:

• Technical Accomplishment(s)
• Service to SPIE
• Service to the Broader Optics and Photonics Community

Examples include (emphasis is on the impact or influence of each accomplishment):

• Research, design, engineering, or manufacturing achievements
• Entrepreneurial or technical management leadership
• Publications, patents, education, and presentations
• Awards, honors, and peer recognition
• And many more

Examples include:

• Organizing or chairing SPIE conferences
• Serving on SPIE committees or editorial boards
• Mentoring through SPIE programs
• And many more roles

Examples include:

• Promoting optics and photonics education
• Supporting workforce development and engagement
• Supporting public policy or professional societies
• And many more

Nomination forms and supporting materials must be submitted by 1 April annually.

Current regular Members, Senior Members, and Fellow Members may nominate individuals for promotion to SPIE Fellow Member.

A complete nomination must include:

• The SPIE Fellow Member Nomination Form submitted by the nominator
• A detailed description of the nominee’s qualifications and significant contributions in all three recognition categories
• At least two support letters are required from references other than the nominator
  • These letters should come from at least two different organizations

Nomination process:

• Regular Members and Fellow Members may nominate individuals for promotion to SPIE Fellow
• Self-nomination is allowed (you can nominate yourself)
• 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 are reviewed by the SPIE Fellows Committee, which makes recommendations to the SPIE Board of Directors. Final approval is granted by the Board.

• If selected, both the nominator and nominee are notified
• If not selected, only the nominator is informed

All nominations and evaluations are kept strictly confidential.

Yes. You can nominate yourself or be nominated by your colleagues. If you self-nominate, you will need three letters of support, two of which must be from current Fellow Members. The other letter can be from any colleague, who does not need to be a member of SPIE.

There is no fixed number. The SPIE Board of Directors approves nominations based on merit and the recommendations of the SPIE Fellows Committee.

A nomination is only considered for a single year cycle by the Selection Committee, but a nominee can be re-nominated in subsequent years.

If a nominee is not selected, they may be re-nominated in subsequent years. It’s encouraged to update the nomination materials to reflect new achievements or contributions, as well as add any new impacts or influences associated with the accomplishments.

There is no fee associated with the nomination or elevation to Fellow Member status.

If you are a SPIE Fellow, you are eligible to serve on the committee. Contact SPIE for more information on volunteering.

SPIE Fellow Members are recognized for life but must maintain their SPIE membership to be in good standing. All SPIE Fellow Members must adhere to the SPIE Code of Conduct.

Yes. Senior Members are eligible to be nominated for SPIE Fellow status.