Kathleen A. Richardson

Kathleen Ann Cerqua-Richardson is an American physicist and the Pegasus Professor of Optics & Photonics, Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Central Florida. She is a Fellow of SPIE, the American Ceramic Society and The Optical Society. Her research considers the synthesis and characterisation of novel glasses and ceramic materials.

Kathleen Ann Cerqua-Richardson
Born
Alma materAlfred University (BS, MS, PhD)
Scientific career
InstitutionsUniversity of Central Florida
Clemson University
Naval Air Defence Laboratory
University of Rochester

Early life and education edit

Richardson was born in Rochester, New York.[1] Her parents were both self-employed, and she was supported by scholarships to attend college.[1] At the time Kodak was based in Rochester, and Richardson grew up thinking that she might work in optics.[1] As a child she took part in a boy scouts explorer club in optics that met every week at Kodak Park.[1] Richardson studied ceramic engineering at New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.[2] After earning her bachelor's degree in 1982 she joined the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics where she spent four years as an optical engineer.[1] She returned to Alfred University for her graduate studies. Richardson started lecturing at Alfred University immediately after completing her master's degree.[3] She earned her doctorate in 1992, and joined the Naval Air Defence Laboratory in California.[1]

Research and career edit

When Richardson realised that the Naval Air Defence Laboratory did not have the facilities to support her research work, she moved to the University of Central Florida College of Optics and Photonics. Richardson works on the science of optical glass,[4] and novel materials for gradient refractive index optics.[5][6] She moved to Clemson University as Director of Materials Science and Engineering in 2004, before returning to the University of Central Florida in 2012. In 2014 Richardson was made president of the American Ceramic Society.[7]

The citation for her SPIE Maria J. Yzuel Outstanding Educator Award read, “It is important to note that education has been an integral part of Kathleen Richardson's professional career from the beginning, starting with her own PhD time ... She started lecturing at Alfred University immediately after finishing her master's degree and, soon after that, began teaching her short course series for SPIE and other international meetings and summer schools ... Throughout her career she has demonstrated a passion for optics education and has been a leader and role model in that arena,”.[3]

Awards and honours edit

Selected publications edit

  • Eggleton, Benjamin J.; Luther-Davies, Barry; Richardson, Kathleen (2011). "Chalcogenide photonics". Nature Photonics. 5 (3): 141–148. Bibcode:2011NaPho...5..141E. doi:10.1038/nphoton.2011.309. ISSN 1749-4893.

Personal life edit

Richardson is married with two children.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Madsen, Lynnette (2016-01-15). Successful Women Ceramic and Glass Scientists and Engineers: 100 Inspirational Profiles. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-73371-4.
  2. ^ "SPIE announces award recipients; Kathleen Richardson, trustee and alumna, honored | Alfred University News". www.alfred.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  3. ^ a b c "Kathleen A. Richardson: The 2020 SPIE Maria J. Yzuel Educator Award". spie.org. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  4. ^ Richardson, Kathleen; Krol, Denise; Hirao, Kazuyuki (2010). "Glasses for Photonic Applications". International Journal of Applied Glass Science. 1 (1): 74–86. doi:10.1111/j.2041-1294.2010.00008.x. ISSN 2041-1294.
  5. ^ "Kathleen A. Richardson – CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics". creol.ucf.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  6. ^ Richardson, Kathleen (2016-10-17). "Optical Glass Science – The How and Why We Got Here". Frontiers in Optics 2016. Optical Society of America. pp. FW2G.1. doi:10.1364/FIO.2016.FW2G.1. ISBN 978-1-943580-19-4.
  7. ^ "Kathleen Richardson installed as American Ceramic Society president". spie.org. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  8. ^ a b "Kathleen Richardson receives 2017 George W. Morey Award". spie.org. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  9. ^ "2010 OSA Fellows". The Optical Society.
  10. ^ "Materials Science and Engineering Malcolm G. McLaren Distinguished Lecture Symposium". Rutgers University School of Engineering. 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  11. ^ "ECerS - Fellowship". ecers.org. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  12. ^ "Professor Kathleen Richardson receives American Ceramic Society's Greaves-Walker Award – CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics". creol.ucf.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-19.