1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry

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

Committees

Organizing Committee

Eva Schubert

(AWE-1 Vice Chair)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Yousra Traouli

(Student Liaison)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Preston Sorensen

(NAEA Student Liaison)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Marcel Junige

(Communication Chair)

University of Colorado Boulder

Rafał Korlacki

(Industrial Liaison)

J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.

Megan Stokey

(NAEA Treasurer)

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Ufuk Kılıç

(AVS · EL Chair)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Alyssa Mock

(NAEA Vice President)

Weber State University

Mathias Schubert

(AWE-1 Chair, NAEA President)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Honorary Committee

Mathias Schubert (Local Chair)University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dave AspnesNorth Carolina State University
John A. WoollamJ.A. Woollam Co., Inc. & University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alain DieboldUniversity at Albany
Gerald E. JellisonOak Ridge National Laboratory
Robert W. CollinsUniversity of Toledo

Advisory Committee

Alyssa Mock (Local Chair)Weber State University
Frank UrbanFlorida International University
Maxwell JundaCovalent Corp.
Matthew HilfikerOnto Innovation Inc.
Blaine JohsFilm Sense LLC
Andrei SirenkoNew Jersey Institute of Technology
James HilfikerJ.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
Marko TadjerU.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Daniel SchmidtLaser Thermal
Stefan SchoecheIBM
Gottlieb OehrleinUniversity of Maryland
Hans A. BechtelLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Erwin KesselsEindhoven University of Technology (The Netherlands)
Mangesh DiwarePark Systems
Peter BasaSemilab Inc. (Hungary)
Neville SunAngstrom Sun Technologies Inc.
Ming DiKLA Corporation
Sven PetersSENTECH Instruments GmbH (Germany)
Romain BruderHORIBA Scientific (France)

Program Committee

Megan Stokey (Local Chair)Milwaukee School of Engineering
Alyssa MockWeber State University
Yousra TraouliUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nikolas PodrazaUniversity of Toledo
Tino HoffmanNew Jersey Institute of Technology
Stefan ZollnerNew Mexico State University
Frank PeirisKenyon College
Andy AntonelliFemtoMetrix, Inc.
Blaine JohsFilm Sense LLC
Matthew LindfordBrigham Young University
Thomas GermerNational Institute of Standards and Technology
Joshua CaldwellVanderbilt University
Chloe DoironSandia National Laboratories
Oussama MoutanabbirÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal (Canada)
Viktor RindertLund University (Sweden)
Olivia FairlambCarnegie Mellon University

Awards Committee

Ufuk Kılıç (Local Chair)University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Preston SorensenUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dave AspnesNorth Carolina State University
Alain DieboldUniversity at Albany
Andrei SirenkoNew Jersey Institute of Technology
Andy AntonelliFemtoMetrix, Inc.
Oussama MoutanabbirÉcole Polytechnique de Montréal (Canada)
Tatiana NovikovaÉcole Polytechnique (France)
Shirly EspinozaELI Beamlines (Czech Republic)
Juan Antonio ZapienCity University of Hong Kong (China)
TBDTBD
  • Fourth Announcement

    The ellipsometry community in North America will meet at the 1st American Workshop on Ellipsometry (AWE-1), scheduled for February 28 – March 3, 2027, in Lincoln, Nebraska.

    AWE-1 aims to bring together students, early-career professionals, and experienced leaders from various academic, public, and industrial sectors.  The main purpose is to provide a forum for beginners and experts alike to learn, exchange, and share scientific and technological knowledge, as well as recent advancements. 

    AWE-1 is especially dedicated to the participation of undergraduate and graduate students to help them become the next generation of talented ellipsometry users and innovators.  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, 2026!

    On Sunday, February 28, 2027, a half-day of complimentary Tutorials will kick off AWE-1.
    Afterward, a Welcome Reception will be held in the hospitable atmosphere of Morrill Hall (Nebraska State Museum) to welcome our community of new and experienced ellipsometry learners.

    From Monday through Wednesday, March 1–3, 2027, Oral and Poster Sessions will take place in the Conference Center on the Nebraska Innovation Campus, including an outstanding Keynote, 101 Lectures, and a lineup of excellent Invited Speakers.
    Coffee & Snacks will be served during Oral Session breaks Sunday through Wednesday.  Lunches will be served on Monday and Tuesday.  Refreshments will be served during the Poster Session(s).

    On Tuesday, March 2, 2027, the Workshop Dinner will bring all attendees to the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, to foster personal networking between attendees, from first-time users to experts, including researchers, engineers, and developers.

    On Wednesday, March 3, 2027, an Awards Ceremony will recognize excellent achievements at different levels by honoring

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

    On Monday and Tuesday, March 1–2, 2027, AWE-1 will feature a simultaneous Industry Exhibition showcasing the latest equipment developments in ellipsometry, polarimetry, and related techniques.

    To select a Sponsorship Level,
    discuss a custom sponsorship package, or
    reserve a Booth at the Industry Exhibition,
    please contact us via email at awe1@ellipsometry.us.

  • 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