Life as a PhD student and the Optics & Photonics

SocietyNicholas Wong

Vice President, Optics & Photonics Society(4th Year PhD student)

25 November, 2015

Copyright Jorge Chamhttp://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1139

Life as a PhD studentLab

Lab

Lab

Lab

Lab

LabLab

Lab

Lab

Lab

Lab Lab

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1139

Life as a PhD student• Practical benefits

• Money!• Perks of student status• Flexibility

Doing somethingintensely interesting and

completely novel…

…surrounded by like-minded people.

(…with massive laser beams…)

Life as a PhD studentDoing something

intensely interesting and completely novel…

Copyright EEWeb.comhttp://www.eeweb.com/rtz/research-paradox

http://www.eeweb.com/rtz/research-paradox

• Publish your work• Journals• Attend conferences

Life as a PhD student

Life as a PhD student• Experience teaching

• Laboratory demonstrator• Invigilator

• Professional development• Gradbook• Seminars• Training courses

- Non compulsory- Get paid ££

- Free!

Life as an ORC student

• Surrounded by world-leading expertise• Excellent facilities• Outreach and demonstrating• Training and support• No undergraduates…?

Life as an ORC student• Be part of a world-class centre

Extreme Tech, 2013BBC, 2010

Laser Focus World, 2013 IOP Physics World, 2013

Life as an ORC student• Participate in competitions

EPSRC UK ICT Pioneers SET For BRITAIN

Life as an ORC student• The University of Southampton Optics and

Photonics Society!!!

Comprising the OSA and SPIE Student Chapters• Three strands:

• Academic• Outreach• Social

Many accolades to our name:• OSA Recruitment Award – twice!• OSA Student Chapter excellence

award – four times previous winners!• OSA IYL-To-Go competition winners (2015)

OFFICIALLY AWESOME

Optics and Photonics Society

Academic• “Scientific trips” – Bletchley Park,

JET, IBM• Visits to/from other universities

worldwide – IONS project• General society membership

benefits• Departmental seminars and

second year talks

Optics and Photonics Society

Outreach project:LIGHTWAVE

Optics and Photonics Society

Optics and Photonics Society

SOCIALS

Arctic BBQ

Cake and Coffee Club

ORC quiz night

International Food Day

Winchester fireworks Go Karting

Personal ExperiencesProf Sir David Payne’s 70th Birthday, 2014 Cleanroom course, 2013

Solent Skills Fair, 2014 PhD Comics Jorge Cham’s Seminar, 2013

Personal ExperiencesFremantle Academy Visit, 2014

Visit by Prof Perry Shum, 2015

Zepler Institute Photonics Day, 2014

Visit by Prof Emmanuel Desurvire, 2014

IYL 2015 Opening Ceremony, Paris, France

Summary

• Doing a PhD isn’t easy but it is rewarding• The ORC is a particularly good place to study• The Optics and Photonics Society does it’s bit to

help

Thanks, and hope you’ve enjoyed yourself!

Questions?

Copyright Joy Reactorhttp://joyreactor.com/post/288165

http://joyreactor.com/post/288165

Life as a PhD student and �the Optics & Photonics SocietyLife as a PhD studentLife as a PhD studentLife as a PhD studentLife as a PhD studentLife as a PhD studentLife as an ORC studentLife as an ORC studentLife as an ORC studentLife as an ORC studentOptics and Photonics SocietySlide Number 12Slide Number 13Slide Number 14Personal ExperiencesPersonal ExperiencesSlide Number 18SummaryQuestions?