Fumio Koyama, of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, has been chosen by The Optical Society (OSA) as the recipient of its 2019 Nick Holonyak Jr. Award for his seminal contributions to vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) photonics and integration. OSA President Ursula Gibson said Koyama’s pioneering work with VCSEL technology opened a door to a new range of optical devices. Fumio Koyama. Courtesy of OSA, The Optical Society. Koyama realized the first room-temperature continuous-wave (CW) operation of VCSELs in 1988 and has put his efforts into improving and creating new functions for VCSELs for over 30 years. He proposed the creation of a new platform that laterally integrated VCSELs and optical functional devices. This allowed for the creation of a variety of new functions, including high-speed modulators, coupled resonators for high-speed direct modulation, high-resolution beam scanners, optical amplifiers, and spatial light switches. Koyama received a Ph.D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1985. He is now director-general and dean of the Institute of Innovative Research at the institution. His research interests include VCSEL photonics, photonic integrated devices, and optical sensing. He has authored or co-authored more than 1000 journal and conference papers. Koyama has received various awards, including IEE Electronics Letters Premium, IEEE/LEOS William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award, and Okawa Award. He is a Fellow of IEEE, IEICE, and JSAP. Established in 1997, the Nick Holonyak Jr. Award recognizes significant contributions to optics based on semiconductor optical devices and materials, including basic science and technological applications. It honors Holonyak Jr.’s distinguished contributions to the field of optics through the development of semiconductor-based light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers.