Frank J. Effenberger is considered a world expert in the field of fiber access networks and passive optical networks. In 2008, he became the chairman of International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies. In 2011, he was named as Huawei Fellow, and, in 2015, he was named as a fellow of both the OSA and the IEEE. He holds 60 U.S. patents. Before joining his current company in 2006, Frank was a systems engineer at Motorola. Prior to that, he served at Quantum Bridge Communications, where he managed the system engineering group. He also held other positions in the fiber optics industry, with Science Application International Corporation, Bell Communications and Discovery Semiconductors. He earned his undergraduate in engineering and engineering physics in 1988 at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., and a master’s degree in optics from the University of Rochester in 1989, ranking first in his class.

Job Title: Senior Display Engineer

Job Description: Responsible for optical design and validation for world's most advanced displays. 

Company: Apple, Inc.

Job Title: Research Scientist

Company: Oculus Research, Facebook

Job Description: Develop future virtual reality headset

Jason Eichenholz (MS, ‘95, PhD, ‘98) received the 2012 Professional Achievement Award for the College of Optics and Photonics at UCF's Alumni Association’s annual Black & Gold Gala on on November 1, 2012. He also received the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored at the Banquet of the CREOL@25 Symposium on March 15, 2012. Eichenholz, who now holds a Courtesy Faculty appointment in the College of Optics and Photonics, is being recognized for his photonics research, his successful product development and commercialization of photonics technology, and his commitment to promoting innovation programs in the area of optical sensing and spectroscopy. Upon graduating from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a BS degree in Physics, Eichenholz came to UCF where he received graduate degrees in optics. He went on to industry and served a dual role as the CTO of Ocean Optics and as the Divisional Technology Director for Halma’s Health Optics and Photonics Divisions. He developed miniature spectrometers that revolutionized the way data and measurements were obtained. Eichenholz is now CEO and a founder of Open Photonics, a crowd sourcing and Open Innovation company designed to accelerate the adoption of optics and photonics technology.

Job Title: Display Calibration Color Scientist

Job Description: Developing new approaches to improve the color performance of Apple products.

Company: Apple, Inc.

Job Title: Display Engineer

Job Description: Makes all the touch and display modules for Surface products

Company: Microsoft Surface Team

I work as product engineer in Coherent | Nufern. Primarily working on pulsed fiber lasers & single frequency fiber amplifiers. I have to integrate with manufacturing, planning, R & D etc. departments and work towards making my team and company a success.

While in CREOL, you get all the technical know how one needs to work in any industry, but i also got lot of exposure to leadership roles and opportunities to serve which helps me grow as an individual.

My advice to grad students would be enjoy your time in CREOL; interact with as many proffesors and students you can, make connections with your peers. You will not get what you wish, if you don't ask for it. 

Current Position: Electronics Engineer at Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD)

Modeling and Simulation Division; Modeling and Measurement Services Branch
• Technical lead of advance sensor evaluation facility (ASEF).
• Improved accuracy of standard imaging system measurement procedures (MTF, FOV, 3D Noise, spectral response)
• Developed VIS, NIR, and SWIR systems measurement capabilities
• Developed time constant and integration measurement capabilities
• Derived algorithms for NVLabCap measurement software
Modeling and Simulation Division; Sensor Performance Branch
Work included:
• Furthered NVESD models to include degradation of human performance in the presence of aliasing in sampled imagers
• Analyzed human performance in response color stimuli
• Assessed robustness of iris recognition algorithms through simulated camera degradations

How an Education from the College of Optics and Photonics has helped his career:

I am satisfied with how CREOL has prepared me.  Although my work is far from my dissertation research, the core classes provided me with a very solid foundation for future study.  More than anything, CREOL taught me how to systematically approach research questions, allowing me to find the solution quickly and accurately.

Advice for Graduate students:

My best advice would be to maintain the relationships with the faculty and their fellow students.  Diversify their experience by taking all the lab courses and try to collaborate outside their group whenever possible.  Invite others into their lab and explain their experiments, difficulties, and methods.

Job Title: Research Scientist

Company: Oculus Research, Facebook

Job Description: Develop future virtual reality headset