Dr. James T. Schwiegerling, Emeritus Professor of Optical Sciences, received his BS and MS in Optics from The University of Rochester and his PhD in Optical Sciences from The University of Arizona. Starting out as a Research Scientist, Jim joined The University of Arizona faculty in 1998 in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science. He then progressed to a full professor role and switched his primary appointment in 2010 to the College of Optical Sciences. In 2020, Jim was awarded to the prestigious appointment to the Robert R. Shannon Endowed Chair in Optical Sciences.
Jim’s research spanned innovations from wavefront sensing to optical system design, with a particular focus in ophthalmic applications. He published 117 archival journal and proceedings papers, 7 book chapters, and 3 books including the popular SPIE “Field Guide to Visual and Ophthalmic Optics.”
Jim was also widely recognized as a remarkable champion of students. In addition to his outstanding and engaging teaching of core components of the optical engineering curriculum, he mentored and supervised degrees for 40 MS and 19 PhD students. Several more of his students continued their studies upon Jim’s passing in April 2023 after a valiant battle with cancer in which he prevailed for many years.
This scholarship was established by the Schwiegerling family (his wife, Diana; son, Max; and daughter, Marie) to honor Jim for his extraordinary career in optical engineering – and to recognize the respect that he received from his peers and the optics community for his compelling contributions in both education and research.
Eligibility
Graduate students who are successfully enrolled in a degree program in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences. A preference is for graduate students who have expressed a research interest in the optics and metrology of the human eye, novel ophthalmic instrumentation, or vision science. Financial need will also be a determination for this award.