Block-Gift Program
Block-Gift Program supports graduate students’ research in photonics, power electronics, optical communications, and quantum technologies to educate the next generation of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians.
Browse similar grants
Funder: Coherent / II-VI Foundation
Due Dates: February 15, 2027 (Invited applications and renewals) | July 15, 2027 (Progress report) | August 31, 2027 (Budget reconciliation) | September 1, 2027 (New-topic concept summary)
Funding Amounts: $95,000–$110,000 annual project budget per institution; research concepts support two students for three years
Summary: Supports graduate education through research in optics, lasers and photonics, wideband gap power electronics, optical communications, and quantum technologies.
Key Information: White Paper proposals are invitation-only, and projects must involve at least two graduate students.
Description
The Coherent / II-VI Foundation’s Block-Gift Program supports research with graduate students and their education as its primary focus. It aims to educate the next generation of engineers, scientists, and mathematicians. Research typically falls within four technology areas: optics, lasers and photonics; wideband gap power electronics; optical communications; and quantum technologies. The Foundation periodically adds special-interest topics that may become major focus areas. Projects generally emphasize material synthesis, crystal growth and processing, and novel device design, fabrication, and characterization.
The program also develops students’ professional communication skills through collaborative technical reports prepared with advisors’ guidance. Publication of findings is strongly encouraged. Foundation-run mini-conferences bring students and professors together to share research, exchange perspectives, and explore new research topics and lasting collaborations.
