The Scientific Track
By Stella Lam
My work as a research assistant in a lab for the UNC School of Pharmacy made me curious about how research discoveries can be practically applied to benefit society and the Minor in Entrepreneurship offered a perfect outlet for me to explore my new found interest in practical applications of scientific discoveries. Dr. Lowry Caudill, one of the instructors for the Scientific Track, says that, “innovation and entrepreneurship are critical to the economic future of North Carolina and the United States. Science and technology, in particular, are the key drivers.” It was through the Minor in Entrepreneurship’s Scientific Track that I have come to understand the critical role of scientific entrepreneurship in our society.
One of my favorite parts of the Scientific Track was getting the chance to interact with distinguished guest speakers from the entrepreneurship community. We learned firsthand about Intellectual Property, Venture Capital, Alternate Financing, Collaborative Negotiation, and valuable lessons from personal experiences of prominent local professionals and UNC Faculty members involved in the various aspects of starting a science and technology venture, one of whom was Chancellor Thorp.
The venture creation course for the Scientific Track was taught by two remarkable and influential entrepreneurs at Carolina: Dr. Lowry Caudill, co-founder of Magellan Laboratories, and Dr. Joseph DeSimone, co-founder of Liquidia Technologies. Under the direction of Drs. Caudill and DeSimone, my classmates and I have benefited tremendously and learned how to identify an opportunity, build a business plan, and pitch ideas to potential investors.
As I reach towards the end of my undergraduate career, I look back and I can see how much I have grown both intellectually and personally. I don’t think I would have gotten this far had I not been in the Minor in Entrepreneurship’s Scientific Track. Having completed the Minor, I can say that it has truly changed my perspective in so many ways; it has helped me cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset strengthening my ability to think creatively. Most importantly, it has inspired me to learn more about scientific innovation and develop a passion for academic entrepreneurship.
The Scientific Ventures class is designed to equip students with the necessary skills to create a science or technology based business. It’s a privilege to part of this program.
Dr. Lowry Caudill
Instructor of the Minor in Entrepreneurship Scientific Venture Creation Course
…having taught the course once and now teaching it again, what I love about this course the most is the level of ingenuity that I am seeing in the students…I am simply blown away by their ideas and questions...I think the students in our entrepreneurship minor are a special breed [and] it’s a pretty special environment for me to participate in…
Dr. Joseph DeSimone
Instructor of the Minor in Entrepreneurship Scientific Venture Creation Course
It has been an experience that is truly unrivaled by any other course curriculum at Carolina. I doubt there is any other class that can prepare students so thoroughly for the opportunities and challenges of future entrepreneurial endeavors.