Oluwatobi ''Tobi'' Olorunsola, a doctoral student of the University of Arkansas, has been awarded a 2019 Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics. Tobi earned the $3,000 scholarship for his potential contributions to the field of optics, photonics or related field.

Tobi is a Doctoral Fellow in microelectronics and photonics at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where is currently the treasurer of the SPIE Student Chapter. He is a member of professor Shui-Qing Fisher Yu's Applied NanoPhotonics Group where he actively explores light-matter interactions while developing innovative semiconductor materials growth and characterization strategies for future integrated optoelectronics devices. Oluwatobi is the recipient of the University of Arkansas Doctoral Academy Fellowship, MKS Instruments Research Excellence Awards (SPIE) and Illinois Academy of Science best graduate research presentation. He has performed outreach and advocacy activities at the local and national levels and also privileged to publish several scientific journal articles. Tobi receives this grand award at the SPIE Optics and Photonics International Conference in San Diego in August.

''I'm quite delighted by the efforts of the SPIE in recognizing and rewarding students excellence in the optics and photonics community. Such gestures should never go unnoticed. It would certainly be my greatest pleasure to support excellent causes as this sooner or later in my career. The financial award would serve its fullest purpose and I am grateful so,'' Tobi said.

SPIE, founded in 1955 as the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers, is an international professional society that advances emerging light-based technologies through interdisciplinary information exchange, continuing education, publications, career development, and advocacy.