Montana State University Secures $1 Million for Optics and Photonics Professorship

MSU received two donations totaling $1 million to establish an endowed professorship supporting teaching, mentoring, research, and outreach in this nationally recognized field. This structural investment aims to sustain and grow MSU’s leadership in optics and photonics education and innovation.

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, donated $500,000 this fall, matched by a $500,000 bequest to the MSU Alumni Foundation. The endowed professorship will be awarded to an outstanding tenure-track or research faculty member, providing ongoing support for research and student opportunities. MSU’s Optical Technology Center, directed by Joseph Shaw since 2004, contributes to one of the nation’s highest concentrations of laser-optics companies in Bozeman, underscoring the region’s industry-academia synergy. SPIE’s matching program, launched in 2019, has provided more than $6 million globally to enhance capacity in this field.

The professorship will soon be awarded to a faculty member to further advance MSU’s optics and photonics programs.

Given Montana’s growing role in laser-optics industries, this endowed position could strengthen regional innovation networks and talent retention. The investment may encourage continued collaboration between academia and local businesses, reinforcing Montana’s emerging profile in high-tech manufacturing and research.

Montana State to establish endowed professorship of optics and photonics
By @montanastate, Montana State University