Center Membership Policy
Boston University Photonics Center Membership Policy
The Boston University Photonics Center’s mission is to pioneer fundamental knowledge and innovative technology in the field of photonics. Its membership includes faculty with primary academic appointments in science, engineering, and medical departments at Boston University who help fulfill this mission through research and scholarship, educational programs and initiatives, and technology translation in areas of commercial and societal need. The benefits of membership include proposal development support, support with building a portfolio of grants, invitations to center symposium, seminars and other events of interest, promotion of faculty work on the Photonics Center website, research and financial administration support for programs, and more.
For Initial Appointment as a Photonics Center Faculty Member the applicant must have a fulltime faculty appointment at Boston University. The applicant must submit a letter to the Center Director requesting membership, and making a commitment to adhere to the obligations of membership (see conditions for Renewed Appointment below). The cognate Department Chair must cosign the letter. The applicant must submit a current curriculum vitae and, if they have been on the faculty for more than a year, a copy of their most recent Boston University Faculty Annual Report along with the letter.
The Center’s Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) will consider and vote upon initial faculty membership. The AAC will look for evidence of significant academic and research activity in photonics, or in research activities closely linked to active Photonics Center programs. The AAC vote will be advisory to the Center Director, who will make final decisions with regard to membership.
For Renewed Appointment, a Photonics Center Faculty Member must submit a renewal application every third year. This renewal application is solicited by the Photonics Center. Renewal applicants must submit a letter to the Center Director requesting reappointment, and making a commitment to continue to adhere to the obligations of membership (1-4 below). The applicant must submit a current curriculum vitae and a copy of their most recent Boston University Faculty Annual Report along with the letter.
The AAC will consider and vote upon renewals of individual faculty membership. The AAC will look for evidence of:
- Significant academic and research activity in photonics, or in research activities closely linked to active Photonics Center programs.
- A history of participation in activities associated with Photonics Center, including service on committees, attendance at Photonics Center-sponsored forums, meetings and symposia, and shared responsibility for attainment, implementation, use, and continued improvement of Photonics Center core resources
- Submission of photonics-related grants in affiliation with the Photonics Center, and acknowledgement of Photonics Center membership in all photonics-related publications and presentations
- Demonstrated commitment to collaborative academic and educational activities with other Photonics Center members and their students
The AAC vote will be advisory to the Center Director, who will make final decisions with regard to membership.