James C. Wyant

Dean, Optical Sciences
Professor of Optical Sciences
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Contact Information

 

Education

  • PhD, University of Rochester, 1968

  • MS, University of Rochester, 1967

  • BS, Case Institute of Technology, 1965

Employment

  • The University of Arizona: Dean, College of Optical Sciences, 2005-date; Director, Optical Sciences, 1999-2005; Professor, 1979-date; Associate Professor, 1976-1979; Assistant Professor, 1974-1976

  • WYKO Corporation: President, 1984-1997

  • University of Rochester: Visiting Professor, Institute of Optics, 1983

  • Itek Corporation: Manager, Optical Engineering Section, 1974; Optical Engineer, 1968-1974

  • Lowell Technological Institute: Instructor, Math and Physics, 1970-1974; Lecturer, Physics, 1969-1972

  • University of Rochester: Research Assistant, 1965-1966

  • Libby-Owens-Ford Glass Co.: Summers 1964, 1965

Professional Affiliations, Activities, and Honors

  • American Institute of Physics
    Member 1966 – date

  • American Physical Society
    Committee on Directed Energy Weapons 1985 – 1986

  • Arizona Innovator of the Year Product Award, 1993

  • Editor-in-Chief, Applied Optics 2006-date

  • National Academy of Engineering
    Member 2007 - date

  • Optical Society of America
    Member 1966 - date
    Tucson Section 1974 - date, Chairman 1976 - 1977
    Editorial Advisory Panel, Optics Letters 1975
    Fellow 1977 - date
    Adolph Lomb Committee 1977 - 1978
    Associate Editor, JOSA 1978 - 1983
    Comm. on Education 1978 - 1980
    Board of Directors 1979 - 1981
    Executive Committee 1980 - 1981
    Finance and Investment Committee 1981 - 1984
    Ives Medal Committee 1982
    Associate Editor, Applied Optics 1983 and 1988 - 1992
    Topical Editor, JOSA 1983 - 1986
    Fraunhofer Committee 1984 - 1986; Chairman 1985
    Topical Editor, Applied Optics 1989 - 1992
    Topical Editor, Optics Letters 1990 - 1992
    Joseph Fraunhofer Award, 1992
    SOAP Committee (Chairman 1993) 1991 - 1993
    Optical Technology Division Editor, Applied Optics 1992 - 1997
    Ives Medal Committee 1997 - 1998
    Associate Editor, Optics Express 1998 - date
    Investment Subcommittee 2001 - date
    Fellows and Honorary Members Committee 2001 - 2002
    Elected to OSA Presidential Chain 2007
         (Vice President 2008, President-Elect 2009, President 2010)

  • Optical Society of India
    Lifetime Fellow, 2006-date

  • Optical Society of Japan
    International Advisory Member, Optical Review 1999 - date

  • Photonics Circle of Excellence Award, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2004

  • R&D I00 Award, 1993

  • SPIE – International Society for Optical Engineering
    Life Member
    Associate Editor, Optical Engineering 1976 - 1984
    Board of Governors 1978 - 1984
    Governors' Award 1979
    Fellow 1980-date
    Symposia Committee 1980 - 1983
    Awards Committee 1983 - 1984; Chairman 1984
    President-Elect 1985
    President 1986
    Immediate Past-President 1987
    President’s Advisory Committee 1997 - date
    Kingslake Award Committee Chairman 1988
    Fellows Committee 1997 - date
    Technology Achievement Award 1988
    Gold Medal, 2003

  • Tom Brown Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, 2005

  • University of Arizona
    Technology Innovation Award, 2005
    College of Business and Public Administration, Entrepreneurial Fellow, 1989

  • University of Rochester
    College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award, 1994

  • U.S. Committee for the International Commission for Optics
    Member 1978 – 1983

Teaching

  • Opti 505

  • Opti 513

  • Opti 513L

Research

  • Implementation of microcomputers and software to interferometric techniques for optical measurements, in particular for optical testing, testing of supersmooth optical surfaces; measurement of optically rough surfaces; and testing of complex aspheric surfaces.

  • Development of commercial optical test equipment based on phase-shifting interferometry.