The iPSRS consortium is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of four students currently enrolled in the programme, who have been awarded selective scholarships from two American scientific societies : OPTICA and SPIE!
Melany receives the SPIE Optics and Photonics scholarship
Melany Koral Soto Carrion (Cohort 2025–2027) has been awarded the SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship, an internationally recognized distinction celebrating students with outstanding potential to advance the fields of optics and photonics which prvides a US $3,100 financial award.
This prestigious award recognizes not only Melany’s academic excellence, but also her leadership and dedication to STEM outreach activities.
James, Tobi and Natenaile receive the Prestigious Optica Amplify Scholarship
James Adah Ameh (Cohort 2025-2027), Tobi Naomi Ajagbe (Cohort 2024-2026) and Natenaile Asmamaw Shiferaw (Cohort 2025–2027) have been awarded the Optica Amplify Scholarship.
Each year, only ten Black undergraduate and Master’s students worldwide are selected for this highly competitive scholarship, which provides a US$10,000 financial award, a one-year Optica membership, mentorship opportunities, and participation in the 2026 Amplify Optics Immersion Program.
The exceptional achievement of these four iPSRS students underscores the program’s academic
excellence and its students’ dedication to advancing the fields of optics and photonics.