Coming to IU August 2026, Lens of the Market® is a commercialization training program for STEM graduate student and postdoctoral researchers. Through a carefully structured curriculum created by industry experts, participants learn how to do their own market analysis to inform and strengthen scientific research and translate complex discoveries into scalable commercial solutions.
This program develops "T-shaped professionals"—researchers with deep technical expertise paired with the broader skills in commercialization which are highly sought after by employers and investors. Through a semester-long sequenced training program, researchers will:
- Define real-world problems that lab-based research can address
- Test competing market value propositions, learn how to conduct market research, and evaluate solutions
- Gain applied experience that will stand out in job interviews
Bridge the gap between the lab and the market.
What You'll Do
Student and postdoc teams will work on one of five faculty-led research platforms spanning topics in chemistry, biology,
biochemistry, and materials such as:
- Antibacterial/phage therapeutics
- Anticorrosion coatings & sensors
- Nanoparticles, biosensing & drug delivery
- Vibrio infection therapeutics and biotech
- RNA therapeutics
Teams will investigate potential applications, identify customer & market needs, analyze competing solutions, and evaluate pathways for translating research into real-world impact.
What You'll Gain
- Learn how to identify real-world problems your research can solve
- Develop market research and customer discovery skills
- Evaluate competing technologies and market opportunities
- Strengthen grant proposals and broader impacts statements
- Build communication, collaboration, and professional skills valued by employers
- Gain experience that stands out on a CV or resume
- BONUS ($645 value) - All participants will receive a complimentary 3-month membership to The Mill, providing direct integration into Bloomington's local startup and innovation ecosystem
Program Timeline (UPDATED)
| Stage | Date | Format | Outcome(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Program | May 2026 - July 2026 | Individual Outreach | Faculty are recruited to develop the research platforms that will guide student and postdoc research teams. Advanced graduate student and postdoctoral researchers are recruited to form teams of 3-5. |
| Stage 1 | August 13 - August 14 | IN-PERSON REQUIRED. Two half-day workshops. | Research teams receive a rapid introduction to the vocabulary, skills, tools, and road map needed to successfully translate research into market aligned hard tech innovations. |
| Stage 2a - Kickoff | October 19 - October 21 | IN-PERSON REQUIRED. Two full-days (October 19-20) and one half-day (October 21). | Research teams learn how to build a business case based on market validation for their innovation and define a minimum viable product. |
| Stage 2a - Work Period | October 2026 - January 2027 | Remote/Hybrid | Research teams receive additional facilitated, modular training and regular check-ins with conduct rigorous market segmentation, perform product-market gap analysis, and develop actional R&D plans that meet market requirements. |