James C. Wyant

Professor of Optical Sciences
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Contact Information

 

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Rochester, 1968

  • M.S., University of Rochester, 1967

  • B.S., Case Institute of Technology, 1965

Employment

  • The University of Arizona: Dean, College of Optical Sciences, 2005–2012; Director, Optical Sciences Center, 1999–2005; Professor, College of Optical Sciences, 2005–present; Professor, Department of Physics, 1985–present; Professor, Optical Sciences Center, 1979–2005; Associate Professor, Optical Sciences Center, 1976–1979; Assistant Professor, Optical Sciences Center, 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 and Activities

  • American Institute of Physics: Member, 1966–date

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

  • National Academy of Engineering: Member, 2007–date

  • The Optical Society (OSA): Member, 1966–date; Member, Tucson Section, 1974–date; Fellow, 1977–date; Associate Editor, Optics Express, 1998–date; Investment Subcommittee, 2001–present; Editor-in-Chief, Applied Optics, 2006–2008; Editorial Advisory Panel, Optics Letters, 1975; Chairman, Tucson Section, 1976–1977; Adolph Lomb Committee, 1977–1978; Committee on Education, 1978–1980; Associate Editor, Journal of the Optical Society of America, 1978–1983; Board of Directors, 1979–1981; Executive Committee, 1980–1981; Ives Medal Committee 1982; Finance and Investment Committee, 1981–1984; Fraunhofer Committee Chairman, 1985; Topical Editor, Journal of the Optical Society of America, 1983–1986; Fraunhofer Committee Member, 1984–1986; Topical Editor, Applied Optics, 1989–1992;
    Topical Editor, Optics Letters, 1990–1992; Associate Editor, Applied Optics, 1983 and 1988–1992; SOAP Committee Member, 1991–1993; SOAP Committee Chairman, 1993;
    Optical Technology Division Editor, Applied Optics, 1992–1997; Ives Medal Committee, 1997–1998; Fellows and Honorary Members Committee Member, 2001–2002; Vice President, 2008;
    President-Elect, 2009; President, 2010

  • Optical Society of India: Lifetime Fellow, 2006–present

  • Optical Society of Japan: International Advisory Member, Optical Review, 1999–present

  • Optical Society of Korea: Honorary Member, 2010–present

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

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

Honors

  • Arizona Innovator of the Year Product Award, 1993

  • Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (Mexico): Doctorado Honoris Causa, 2008

  • The Optical Society (OSA): Joseph Fraunhofer Award, 1992

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

  • R&D 100 Award, 2005, 2004, 1993

  • SPIE: Chandra S. Vikram Award in Optical Metrology, 2010; Gold Medal, 2003; Technology Achievement Award, 1988; Governors' Award, 1979

  • Tom Brown Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, 2005

  • The 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

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.