The authors demonstrate an optically pumped surface emitting polymer dye laser fabricated by nanoimprint lithography. The laser is based on an organic dye hosted within a poly(methylmethacrylate) matrix coated on a transparent substrate, and the laser cavity consists of a second order circular grating distributed feedback structure. The authors achieved lasing at 618 nm with 0.18 nm linewidth and 1.31 μJ mm2 pump threshold. The nanoimprinted solid-state dye laser offers a low-cost coherent light source for laboratory-on-chip spectroscopy systems. The laser also has a low pump threshold and a geometry well matched to light-emitting diode pump sources, which provide an interesting alternative for constructing portable polymer laser devices. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.