Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition

Corning Outstanding Student Paper AwardThe Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition recognizes innovation, research excellence and presentation abilities in optical communications. The competition is endowed by a grant from Corning Incorporated and administered by the OSA Foundation.  Papers submitted to the OFC/NFOEC Conference are eligible for entry. Students must submit to OFC/NFOEC and opt-in to the competition during the submissions process.

Semi-finalists are selected based on scores received during the standard OFC/NFOEC Technical Program Committee review. Status notification will be sent via email following the Committee’s decision. A separate notification regarding paper acceptance will also be sent. The Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition Review Committee will select the finalists.

The finalists are judged based on innovation, research excellence and presentation skills. All finalists will be required to provide seven (7) copies of their presentation and present their paper to the Review Committee during a private session on Sunday, March 22, 2009. The first prize winner receives $1,500 USD and two honorable mention winners receive $1,000 USD each. Competition winners are announced on-site during the Postdeadline Paper Sessions.

Criteria for eligibility

All the following criteria must be met:

  • Presenting author must be an undergraduate or graduate student of an educational institution of collegiate grade who is devoting more than half-time to studies within the institution.
  • Student must be listed as the presenting author of the paper.
  • Submitting author must opt-in to the competition during the regular submission process and follow all the instructions provided on the submission site.
  • Paper must be submitted and accepted during the regular “call for papers” process for OFC/NFOEC (Note: Postdeadline Papers are not part of this competition).
  • The paper must be presented orally by the student author during the conference.

Selection process

  • All properly submitted papers are reviewed and scored according to standard OFC/NFOEC Technical Program Committee review criteria.
  • The 10-12 papers receiving the highest scores are considered semi-finalists.
  • The Corning Outstanding Student Paper Competition Committee will select 5–6 finalists.

Supplemental information for semi-finalists

  • Semi-finalists are required to submit a form signed by their advisor acknowledging their contribution to the paper presented. A copy of the form will be sent via email with their status notification.

Final selection process

  • Finalists will present their paper to the Review Committee in a private session.
  • Finalists will be required to provide seven (7) printed copies of their presentation and submit an electronic version in advance of the private session.
  • The Review Committee will select one first prize winner and two honorable mentions based on the presentations given by each finalist.