Lighting Research Center Expands M.S. In Lighting Program, Offering Paid Externships

December 5, 2016

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has recently expanded its M.S. in Lighting degree program to include a paid career externship at a leading lighting manufacturer, design firm, or government organization.

Upon graduation, students now have an opportunity to participate in a paid externship for three months or more with one of many lighting organizations that have agreed to host LRC students, including Current by GE, OSRAM, Philips Lighting, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Bridgelux, Hubbell Lighting, Ketra, USAI Lighting, and numerous others.

In 1990, the LRC became the first university research centre to offer graduate degrees in lighting, and today offers a M.S. in lighting and a Ph.D. to educate future leaders in lighting. The LRC is part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, America’s first technological research university, founded in 1824. With more than 35 faculty and staff working closely with 15 select graduate students, and a 30,000 sq. ft. laboratory space, the LRC is the largest university-based lighting research and education organization in the world.

The M.S. in Lighting program at Rensselaer is a master’s level graduate degree offered in the field of lighting, focusing on lighting technology, design, human factors, and applications. This 9-month degree program allows students to engage with world-class faculty experts in architecture, engineering, design, and biosciences. Students enrolled in the LRC’s M.S. in Lighting program explore emerging trends in customization and data analytics, in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and networked/connected lighting, 3D printing of lighting components, lighting for circadian health and wellbeing, lighting for plant health, aviation and automotive lighting, and other topics in lighting technology, application and design. The LRC attracts students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, physics, biology, psychology, architecture, and design.

The program culminates in a master’s project in the second semester during which each student focuses on a particular area of interest under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Some examples of recent student projects include: remote monitoring of LED lighting system performance, designing a portfolio of lighting patterns to support circadian health and wellbeing, studying the impact of lighting on performance, and evaluating OLED and edge-lit LED lighting panels.

The application deadline for Fall 2017 is January 2, 2017.

Find out more: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/index.asp.

 

 

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Dec 5, 2025 - Liteline Announces Improvements to Production Facilities to Provide Even More Made in Canada Lighting Solutions

    Liteline Announces Improvements to Production Facility to Provide Even More Made in Canada Lighting Solutions

    Liteline has announced the transformation of their Production Facility! What was once home to their Safety and Performance Test Labs has now been completely repurposed. With those labs relocated and renovated, Liteline’s production team has taken over the space to expand their in-house capabilities, everything from assembling fan favorites to building custom configurations. In this… Read More…

  • Dec 4, 2025 - Wow Lighting and Controls Announces New Partnership with Eterna Light

    Wow Lighting and Controls Announces New Partnership with Eterna Light

    Wow Lighting and Controls is excited to welcome Eterna Light to their lighting family! A Canadian manufacturer based in Côte Saint-Luc, Quebec, Eterna Light specializes in high-end architectural luminaires for commercial, hospitality, and retail projects. Their broad lineup includes downlights, cylinders, track lighting, and advanced backlighting solutions, all designed to bring flexibility, performance, and timeless… Read More…


Design

  • Understanding IK Ratings: Why Impact Resistance Matters in LED Lighting

    Understanding IK Ratings: Why Impact Resistance Matters in LED Lighting

    When selecting your lighting fixtures, performance, efficiency, and longevity are often top priorities. But there’s another critical factor that’s sometimes overlooked — impact resistance, measured by an IK rating. Whether your lighting is installed in a rugged industrial facility or an exposed outdoor environment, understanding IK ratings ensures your fixtures can handle the job safely… Read More…

  • Understanding Melanopic Lighting for Improved Indoor Environments

    Understanding Melanopic Lighting for Improved Indoor Environments

    Light plays a crucial role not only in our ability to see but also in regulating our internal body clock, sleep patterns, and overall well-being. Traditional lighting design primarily focuses on visual comfort and task illumination. However, recent advancements have shed light on the concept of melanopic lighting, which specifically targets the non-visual effects of… Read More…


New Products

  • RENO Lighting: AURA Series – Mini Linear Recessed Spot Light – RENO-LRSL-5CCT-8W-WH

    RENO Lighting: AURA Series – Mini Linear Recessed Spot Light – RENO-LRSL-5CCT-8W-WH

    RENO’s AURA Series Mini Linear Recessed Spot Light offers sleek, unobtrusive lighting with powerful, focused illumination. Ideal for modern interiors, it seamlessly integrates into ceilings or walls, providing a minimalist aesthetic while enhancing the ambiance. Perfect for highlighting art, architectural details, or creating mood lighting in any space. Engineered with a distinctive, deeply set light… Read More…

  • EB Horsman: Philips LED Lamps & TLED Tubes – Efficient Lighting Solutions for Any Space

    EB Horsman: Philips LED Lamps & TLED Tubes – Efficient Lighting Solutions for Any Space

    Looking to upgrade your lighting with high-efficiency LED solutions? Philips offers a wide range of LED lamps and TLED retrofit tubes that deliver energy savings, long life, and professional-grade illumination for commercial and residential projects. Philips LED lamps provide consistent brightness and excellent color rendering, making them ideal for offices, retail environments, warehouses, and homes.… Read More…