OSA Names Bonenfant Scholarship Winner

Margaret Cron has been named the 2014 recipient of the OSA Foundation’s Paul Anthony Bonenfant Memorial Scholarship.

A biomedical engineering student at Ohio State University, Cron will use the scholarship to attend a study-abroad program at the University of Science and Technology of China. There, she will work on imaging the retina structures of the eye and developing layered phantoms to simulate retina structural and functional properties.

The research will be used for calibration and standardization of ocular imaging devices. Cron will chronicle her experiences in a publicly accessible personal blog through the OSA website.

“The work [Cron] plans to do in China will have lasting impacts in the field of ocular imaging,” said Michael Morris, OSA Foundation board chairman.

The scholarship program was established in 2011 in memory of Paul Anthony Bonenfant, a member of the technical program committee and speaker for the Optical Fiber Communication Conference. He spent his career in various capacities in the industry, from engineering to investment banking, and recognized the need for international experiences to promote global engagement and collaboration.

To be considered for the $8000 scholarship, applicants must demonstrate interest in optics-related research and applications, and be pre-accepted into a study-abroad program offered by their university.

For more information, visit: www.osa.org