Graduate Education Committee Contacts

The Graduate Education Committee was appointed to ensure we have programming and activities that will support a vibrant and engaged community of faculty, staff, and graduate students, and is comprised of three workstreams: Grants and Fellowships, Recruitment, and Community.  The faculty and staff team below is available to answer student questions about the benefits of becoming a Photonics Center PhD student and the many resources available at the Photonics Center.

Moustakas Chair Professor Ji-Xin Cheng, Director, Graduate Education Committee, jxcheng@bu.edu

Grants and Fellowships
Moustakas Chair Professor Ji-Xin Cheng, ECE, Director, Graduate Education Committee & Faculty Lead, Grants and Fellowships, jxcheng@bu.edu
Cara Ellis McCarthy, Staff Lead, Grants and Fellowships, & Executive Director, BU Photonics Center, cellis@bu.edu

Recruitment
Professor Bjoern Reinhard, Chemistry, Faculty Lead, Recruitment, bmr@bu.edu
Beth Mathisen, Staff Lead, Recruitment, & Assistant Director, BIC, Grants & Initiatives, BU Photonics Center, bethmath@bu.edu

Community
Associate Professor Darren Roblyer, BME, Faculty Lead, Community, roblyer@bu.edu
Hossein Alizadeh, Staff Lead, Community, & Technical Director, BU Photonics Center, halizadeh@bu.edu

To learn more about what it’s like to be a part of the student PhD community at the Photonics Center, please contact any of our amazing Student Leadership Council members below:

• 

  Carlos Acosta

• 

  Vineetha Ashok

• 

  Thierry Lapointe-Leclerc

• 

  Nolan Vild

President: Thierry Lapointe-Leclerc (tleclerc@bu.edu)

The President is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the student chapter, ensuring its strategic goals and objectives are met. This includes overseeing the planning and execution of chapter events, coordinating with officers and members, and fostering an inclusive and engaged community. The President represents the chapter to external stakeholders, maintains strong communication with faculty and organizational leaders, and drives the chapter’s vision forward while ensuring smooth operations and alignment with the student chapter’s mission.

Vice President: Carlos Acosta (caacosta@bu.edu)

The Vice President assists the President in the overall management and leadership of the student chapter, providing support in the execution of chapter events, initiatives, and day-to-day operations. This role involves stepping in for the President in their absence, ensuring continuity and smooth functioning of the chapter. The Vice President works closely with chapter officers, members, and external stakeholders, contributing to strategic decision-making and helping implement the chapter’s goals.

Treasurer: Vineetha Ashok (vineea@bu.edu)

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the chapter’s financial operations, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and accountability in all financial matters. This includes organizing and maintaining financial records, overseeing budgets, and tracking expenses and income. The Treasurer plays a key role in securing funding for the chapter, including applying for grants, sponsorships, and fundraising opportunities. Additionally, the Treasurer provides regular financial reports to the President and chapter members, evaluates financial strategies, and ensures that all financial practices comply with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Secretary: Nolan Vild (nvild@bu.edu)

The Secretary is responsible for maintaining accurate and organized records for the chapter, ensuring all documentation is easily accessible and up to date. This includes taking detailed meeting minutes, distributing them to members, and managing event-related paperwork. The Secretary also handles official correspondence, maintains member lists, and ensures important documents, such as meeting agendas and reports, are properly filed. In addition, the Secretary supports the planning and execution of events by organizing necessary materials and helping coordinate communication among officers and members.