Sep 30 – Dec 9, 2026
Research commercialization is not a departure from science and engineering – it is a path to create impact. Pathways to Impact (P2I) is an 11 week non-credit, co-curricular pilot program for NYU PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in STEM who want to understand how discoveries move from lab to the public. Participants will:
Overall P2I helps PhD students and postdocs build practical skills, confidence, and a network for translating discovery into meaningful impact.
Apply Here
Learn by doing—without business-school pressure. Each session blends practical instruction, expert perspectives, hands-on application, and community-building. Throughout the 11 weeks, you can expect:
This is a non-curricular program (no academic credit will be awarded) but each participant who completes the 11 week program will receive an official certificate of completion.
Explore the P2I (tentative) curriculum to learn more about how you’ll spend your time in the program. Each session will encompass a ~75min workshop/panel + ~45min of socializing over food and drinks.
NYU researchers who are curious about impact beyond publications. This includes those based in NYC including:
Build practical skills, confidence, and connections.
The program is built to make research translation approachable, practical, and relevant to an academic researcher’s work. Register for the Info Session
No. P2I welcomes participants who are simply exploring research translation, without a specific project in mind. Project teams may form during the early sessions or in your own time.
No. The program intentionally uses research-centered language and teaches foundational commercialization concepts in a supportive environment.
Homework is intentionally limited to short readings or videos, except during the customer-discovery phase, when participants will conduct focused stakeholder interviews.
Yes. Participants may apply individually, though members of the same team may also apply (from the same research lab or labs collaborating on cross-disciplinary research).
No. P2I is an in person program, though we may be able to make accommodations for virtual participation in the case of emergency or illness for a limited period of time.
Attendance at at least 9 of 11 sessions, completion of the final presentation, and participation in program surveys. Final requirements will be confirmed before launch.
Participants receive a certificate of completion, next-step recommendations and may be referred to Leslie Institute venture coaching, the Tech Venture Program, or other resources depending on readiness and goals.
The Thanksgiving-week date remains provisional. Any schedule adjustment or alternative format will be communicated during the info session.