The IMOD Optoelectronic Materials: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Systems Course
OMS^3
The Optoelectronics Materials Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Systems (OMS^3) course is the cornerstone activity of the IMOD Professional Development Program. This week-long in-person course, is hosted at the University of Washington Seattle campus and includes lab-based training, professional development workshops, and a visit to one of IMOD’s industrial partners.
Labs reflect each of the three IMOD Research Themes (RTs) and a computational theory-based unit. This allows collaborators to gain insight into the needs of their colleagues and build a shared technical vocabulary, a great foundation for their future collaborations in the IMOD endeavor. These lab-based group sessions are complemented with a schedule of trainings in professional skills needed to engage in team science and science communication.
In addition, IMOD arranges a field trip with one of our industrial partners. Past tours have included Microsfot and Universal Display Corporation. Providing a tour of industrial facilities and a seminar discussion, participants are given valuable insights into how their training could lead to a career in industrial research.
With an interdisciplinary team such as IMOD, it is vital for researchers to be able to understand and ‘speak’ each other’s scientific languages. This opportunity for researchers to learn each other’s techniques and gain knowledge about the procedures involved not only improves the fluency across the Center community, but also provides valuable interdisciplinary training, relationship building, and understanding for the participants.
Each year we bring together 20-25 trainees from across the Center, including participants from our MSI and PREM partner institutions, to participate in this week-long experience. On top of the practical and professional training on offer, it is a fantastic relationship building experience that encourages trainees to build their professional network with peers external to both their field of research and their home institutions.
The 2025 OMS^3 Application is now closed!
Check back in early 2026
Recent OMS^3 News
2024 OMS^3 Course
2023 OMS^3 Cohort Complete’s lab-based collaboration and learning
2022 Cohort Completes the OMS^3 Onboarding Course
OMS^3 Frequently Asked Questions
What is OMS^3
OMS^3 stands for “Optoelectronics Materials Synthesis, Spectroscopy and Systems” and is a 1-week, lab-based training course to prepare a cohort of scientists who can work across disciplines to solve complex problems. Labs span Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering. Other components of the week include training sessions on science communication, teamwork, and leadership as well as a tour of industrial labs and panels on working in industry, career development, and IP & entrepreneurship.
What happens during OMS^3?
Here is a sample schedule for OMS^3:
Day 1: Introductions, Communications workshop, Lab #1, Students-only dinner
Day 2: Career development sessions, STEM outreach event
Day 3: Lab #2, Quantum coding workshop
Day 4: Free day to rest and explore the region
Day 5: Lab #3, Communication, networking, & IP workshops
Day 6: Tour of industry partner facility, Career panels, Faculty & student cookout
What is IMOD?
IMOD stands for “Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand” and is a Science and Technology Center (STC) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). This center includes, several cross-disciplinary research groups from 12 institutions around the country work together to transform conventional and quantum optoelectronics through the development of atomically-precise semiconductor materials and scalable manufacturing processes. In addition to research, they are working to educate a diverse generation of scientists and engineers to lead the U.S. to technological prominence through convergent team-based collaboration across traditional disciplinary and organizational interfaces. You can learn more about IMOD, its research groups, and what they are doing on our website: imod-stc.org.
Who attends OMS^3?
Each OMS^3 cohort includes roughly 24 undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs that reflect the next generation of scientists and engineers who are pursuing the field of optoelectronics. This variety of attendees fosters opportunities to better understand the work of others in the field, learn to speak the language of your collaborators, and find or serve as a mentor to others. Participants are from IMOD institutions, PREM partners, or other organizations that partner with IMOD.
Where is OMS^3
In the summer of 2025, OMS^3 will take place in Seattle, Washington at the University of Washington.
Does it cost money to attend OMS^3
No! IMOD is funded by NSF and OMS^3 is provided to trainees as part of IMOD’s mission. This includes transportation and on-campus lodging for out-of-town attendees, as well as breakfast and lunch each day of the training.
What will I learn at OMS^3
Content varies year to year, but in the past has included:
- Lab– Synthesis of CsPbBr3 quantum dots
- Lab– Fabrication and testing of thin-film LEDs
- Lab– Quantum interferometry to measure a single photon emitter
- Lab– Theoretical modeling of semiconductors
- Field Trip– Industry partner tours to Microsoft and Universal Display Corporation
- Visual Communication in Science
- Elevator Pitches Workshop
- Team Science Training
- Entrepreneurship & IP panel
- Publishing from an Editor’s perspective Q&A
- Grant Writing & Funding Panel
- STEM pedagogy training
- Mentoring workshop