Claire Gu, professor of electrical engineering in the Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz, has been elected a Fellow of the Optical Society (OSA). The honor recognizes Gu "for contributions to information photonics, including photorefractive devices for information processing, holographic data storage, fiber optic devices for communications and surface enhanced Raman sensors, and liquid crystal displays."
Gu is among 64 new OSA Fellows recognized in 2011 by the OSA Board of Directors. The designation is awarded to select members who have made significant contributions to the advancement of optics. The number of OSA Fellows is limited to no more than 10 percent of total OSA membership.
"OSA Fellows consistently demonstrate their strong leadership in the field of optics and photonics by pioneering innovative research and new technologies," said OSA president Christopher Dainty.
Gu's current research focuses on optical trapping and sensors for chemical, biological, and environmental detection. The author of more than 180 journal and conference papers, she has also published nine book chapters, coauthored a reference book, Optics of Liquid Crystal Displays, and coedited two technical books on photorefractive nonlinear optics and applications. In 2007, Gu was elected a Fellow of SPIE (the International Society for Optical Engineering). She joined the UCSC faculty in 1997.
Uniting more than 106,000 professionals from 134 countries, the Optical Society (OSA) brings together the global optics community through its programs and initiatives. Since 1916, OSA has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing educational resources to the scientists, engineers, and business leaders who work in the field by promoting the science of light and the advanced technologies made possible by optics and photonics.
