August 2026

The Optoelectronics Materials Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Systems (OMS³) summer course hosted 24 trainees from 11 institutions, including our partner institutions Fort Lewis College and UC Merced. The intensive, weeklong training course was held at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. This year’s cohort had a strong undergraduate presence, with 11 undergraduate participants, five of whom were IMOD REU students completing their summer research projects at the University of Washington.

Trainees worked together in hands-on labs to create quantum dots, fabricate and test thin-film light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and use lasers to measure defects in colloidal quantum dots. They also participated in professional development sessions, including ‘AI in Photonic Design’ delivered by an industry partner, and ‘Insights to Interviewing for Industry’ delivered by IMOD faculty investigator Dr. Arka Majumdar. Several additional professional development sessions focused on science communication, giving the trainees the opportunity to put those skills into practice through outreach at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center. OMS³ trainees led three activities for hundreds of patrons ranging in ages from 2 to 73, focused on using, manipulating, and making light. The course concluded with a visit to the Washington Clean Energy Test Beds, and a career panel featuring professionals from academia, industry, and law.