Emma Bartelsen, a PhD candidate in Vanderbilt University’s Interdisciplinary Materials Science (IMS) Graduate Program, has been awarded a 2026 SPIE Optics and Photonics Scholarship, recognizing her potential contributions to optics, photonics, and related fields. SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, selected 85 outstanding student members worldwide to receive scholarships this year, awarding a total of $351,000.
Bartelsen’s research focuses on the sub-diffraction confinement of electromagnetic energy using polaritons and the design and fabrication of nanoscale optical structures. Her work advances photonic sensing technologies for sensitive gas detection, with applications in environmental monitoring and noninvasive breath-based metabolic sensing for diabetic care.
In addition to her research, Bartelsen is actively engaged in STEM outreach through programs such as VINSE NanoGuides, where she introduces students to optics, nanotechnology, and cleanroom nanofabrication.
Emma is a member of the VU Nanophotonic Materials and Devices Group led by Josh Caldwell, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Materials Science.