Suparna Seshadri, PhD Student, Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Suparna Seshadri, a PhD student in Purdue University’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been awarded a 2023 Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, for potential contributions to the field of optics, photonics, or related field. Seshadri is a PhD student in the Ultrafast Optics and Optical Fiber Communications Laboratory led by Andrew Weiner, Scifres Family Distinguished Professor of ECE at Purdue.

Seshadri earned her BTech in Engineering Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (India). She works on utilizing classical and quantum frequency combs for applications in optical metrology and communication. Her current work centers around realizing quantum communication schemes using frequency-bin quantum states. Outside of her research activities, Seshadri is actively engaged in student activities and outreach programs that promote research in optics and photonics.

“I am honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Seshadri. “I am grateful to all my mentors for their invaluable guidance.”

In 2023, the Society is awarding $293,000 in education scholarships to 72 outstanding SPIE Student Members, based on their potential contribution to optics and photonics, or a related discipline. Award-winning applicants were evaluated, selected, and approved by the SPIE Scholarship Committee.

Founded in 1955, SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, has brought engineers, scientists, students, and business professionals together to advance light-based science and technology. In the past five years, SPIE has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community through advocacy and support, including scholarships, educational resources, travel grants, endowed gifts, and public-policy development.