Log in

1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry

February 28 – March 3, 2027, in Lincoln, NE

Gold Sponsors

Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal

The inaugural Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal will be presented at the 1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE-1) in Lincoln, Nebraska, during the Awards Ceremony scheduled for March 3, 2027.

Purpose

The Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal is intended to celebrate an individual or a group of individuals for recent, groundbreaking contributions to the field of ellipsometry and related techniques, whether through instrument innovations;  through academic, technical, or industrial applications;  or through mentorship, education, and outreach.

Nature

The Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal consists of:  a commemorative medallion and/or certificate, stating the title of the Award, the details of the AWE event, and the name of the awardee;  plus a monetary prize of $_TBD_.

The inaugural Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal is sponsored by _TBD_.

Eligibility & Nomination

Nominations and self-nominations are solicited from the broader ellipsometry community.  Nominees for the Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal shall be appropriate to the Purpose of this Award specified above.

Nomination packages must contain the nominees’ concise CV;  a comprehensive, ca. 2-page description of contributions to be considered;  and a complete list of patents, publications, and/or other relevant achievements.  Nomination packages must be submitted to the Chair of the Awards Committee by the deadline specified above.

The AWE-1 Awards Committee will review all nominations and select the winner of the inaugural Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal.

This Award is dedicated to Rasheed Mohammed Abdel-Gawad Azzam.

Rasheed Mohammed Abdel-Gawad Azzam

University of New Orleans 

Rasheed Mohammed Abdel-Gawad Azzam received his bachelor’s degree in science from Cairo University and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska, where he held postdoctoral and faculty positions.  In 1979, he joined the University of New Orleans (UNO) as an electrical engineering professor, where he taught for more than four decades.  In 1982, he became a member of UNO’s inaugural class of faculty members who were recognized with the title of Distinguished Professor.  He was also a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at the Université de Provence in France and a Professor of Physics at the American University in Cairo.  His research interests included polarized light:  its mathematical representations and physical measurement;  ellipsometry:  its theory, instrumentation, and applications for the characterization of surfaces and thin films;  optical polarimetry based on reflective silicon detectors and diffraction gratings;  optics of thin films and design of optical devices for polarized light;  optics of anisotropic media and liquid crystals;  and the theory of reflection.  His book “Ellipsometry and Polarized Light” has been cited over 10,000 times and translated into several languages.  He served as a topical editor for the Journal of the Optical Society of America (OSA) and Applied Optics, and as a member of the OSA Publications Council.  His honors include the 2005 GG Stokes Award of SPIE, International Society for Optical Engineering;  the 1993 Photonics Circle of Excellence Award;  the 1993 R and D Award;  the 1988 Outstanding American Inventor;  and Fellow of the Optical Society of America and SPIE.

The North American Ellipsometry Association (NAEA), in collaboration with the American Vacuum Society (AVS) Spectroscopic Ellipsometry (EL) Technical Group, is establishing this Award as the main recognition for the American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE) series.

The Ellipsometry Association and AVS · EL Technical Group are seeking financial support to permanently fund this Award for future AWE meetings.

Subscribe to Updates
Abstract Submission
Awards Nominations
Online Registration
Hotel Reservation
Student Lodging
Schedule & Abstract Book
Manuscript Submission

Site Navigation

Silver Sponsors

Important Dates

Bronze Sponsors

Latest Announcements

  • Third Announcement—Call for Award Nominations

    As part of the upcoming 1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE-1), to be held February 28 – March 3, 2027, in Lincoln, NE, we are pleased to announce this Call for Award Nominations.  The following Awards will recognize and honor excellent achievements at different levels.

    Award Categories

    NAEA Fellow

    For the purpose of providing recognition to deserving Members of the North American Ellipsometry Association (NAEA) who have made sustained and outstanding technical contributions in areas of interest to the Association, one current Member may be elected as a “Fellow of the Association.”  The nominee to be inducted as NAEA Fellow shall have made outstanding contributions in research, engineering, technical or managerial leadership, and/or education for a period of 10 years or more.

    Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal

    The Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal is intended to celebrate an individual or a group of individuals for recent, groundbreaking contributions to the field of ellipsometry and related techniques, whether through instrument innovations;  through academic, technical, or industrial applications;  or through mentorship, education, and outreach.

    Student Awards

    Student Awards are intended to recognize undergraduate or graduate students for best oral presentations and for best posters.  Multiple awardees are anticipated.

    Students must identify their undergraduate or graduate student status upon Abstract Submission to participate in the Student Award competitions.  All presenting authors who have indicated student status at the time of abstract submission are automatically considered.

    Nomination Instructions

    Please submit Nominations for the NAEA Fellow and/or for the Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal to the Awards Committee at awards@ellipsometry.us.  Nominations and self-nominations are permitted.  Please click the respective link above to find more information about each Award, including the required materials for Award Nominations.

    Please submit Award Nominations no later than December 31, 2026!

    Award winners will be informed by February 14, 2027.  Student Award winners will be determined based on evaluations during the workshop.

    Thank you for helping us celebrate excellence in ellipsometry.  We look forward to your Nominations!

    Best regards,
    AWE-1 Awards Committee

  • Second Announcement—Call for Abstracts

    The 1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE-1) will be held February 28 – March 3, 2027, at the Conference Center on the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska.

    The workshop Committees invite students, early-career professionals, and experienced leaders across academic, public, and industrial sectors to contribute an abstract. International participants are welcome and expressly encouraged to attend.

    AWE-1 is especially dedicated to the participation of undergraduate and graduate students.  Accordingly, we aim to keep students’ attendance and lodging costs as affordable as possible—thanks to the generous support of our Sponsors. Workshop Registration will be $200 for Students and $400 for Regular attendees.

    The Technical Program will include a broad range of topics in ellipsometry, polarimetry, and related techniques that utilize polarized light to characterize bulk materials, thin films, surfaces, interfaces, and nanostructures under both static and dynamic conditions. Topics will cover theory, instrumentation & data analysis, and applications across physics, chemistry, materials science, and life sciences, as well as engineering and metrology.

    Please prepare abstracts according to the Author Instructions
    and submit via the Abstract Submission System
    before October 31, 226!

    Abstracts should cover work that has been published recently or is yet unpublished. Abstracts must contain sufficient information to allow for peer review by the Program Committee. Abstracts will be evaluated upon receipt. Acceptance notifications will be sent at the beginning of November 2026. Please submit early!

    In the abstract, please identify the corresponding and presenting authors. For student presenters who wish to participate in the Student Award competition, please identify the student status in the abstract. If the presenting author cannot attend the workshop, please arrange for another co-author to attend and present, and inform the workshop organizers as soon as possible.

    Contributed presentations will be included in a digital Abstract Booklet and scheduled into Oral or Poster Sessions with dates and times assigned as the Program Schedule is finalized. The Abstract Booklet & Program Schedule will be published on the workshop website. Oral Sessions are currently anticipated as single-track.

    The Technical Program includes complimentary Tutorials; Oral and Poster Sessions with a Keynote, 101 Lectures, and Invited Talks; and Social Events—providing ample opportunities for scientific and technical discussions and professional networking.  An Awards Ceremony will celebrate an inaugural NAEA Fellow, recipient of the Rasheed M. A. Azzam Medal, and multiple Student Awardees. A simultaneous Industry Exhibition will showcase the latest equipment developments.

    We look forward to seeing you in Lincoln, NE, in early 2027!
    Please direct any questions or inquiries to awe1@ellipsometry.us