Instilling a Culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
(top right) Jocelyn Wyatt, CEO of Aiight and Co-founder of IDEO.org, (on stage at right) at Sanders Theater following her ES139 class in November 2022.
(bottom left) Dr. Pascaline Mary, MRSEC alumni and Director of Development at Pattern Biosciences, discusses her career in startup companies, and
(bottom right) Jorge Cortell-Albert Venture Innovation Fellow at Harvard discusses best practices for forming new startups for Center researchers, fall 2022.
The Harvard MRSEC provides a strong culture of innovation that impacts students and researchers throughout the Center. David Weitz developed the Innovation in Science and Technology course, ES139/239, for undergraduates and graduate students. This course begins with talks from leading entrepreneurs (top left and right) and culminates with group project pitches to venture capitalists (VCs). Over 460 students were enrolled in the course during the Fall 2022, which was held in Sanders Theater, the largest amphitheater available on campus. The Harvard MRSEC also sponsors meetings (bottom left and right) with Center alumni in industry or startups, leaders of VC firms, and staff from the University’s Office of Technology and Development (OTD).
These activities have enabled several recent graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to form new start-ups to translate their MRSEC research and create high-tech jobs for the nation’s economy.
David A. Weitz (Physics & Applied Physics)
2022-2023 Harvard MRSEC (DMR-2011754)
