This fall the ART: InTRO team launched the first session of the ART Academy, an educational program offered to graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, and faculty at OU. The purpose of the academy is to provide researchers with instruction on translating their fundamental research findings into scalable, impactful, use-inspired solutions that tackle societal problems. Participants of the ART Academy attend weekly interactive sessions that develop their knowledge of and skills with intellectual property, entrepreneurship, startup creation, leadership, partnerships, collaboration, ethics, and workforce development.
During its fifth session, Clara Smith, Ph.D., Associate Director of Research and Creative Activities at the Center for Faculty Excellence, engaged participants with a lecture that provided a framework for thinking through and planning out achievable career goals in a strategic manner. Later in the day, Michael Schade, J.D., Interim Director of the OU Office of Innovation and Corporate Partnerships, walked participants through ideating their translational research projects, which concluded with mock elevator pitches directed to potential future investors.
The ART Academy is part of a recent $6,000,000 award (No. 2331409) from the NSF. Led by our Director, David Ebert, Ph.D., the team aims catalyze a cultural shift at OU to accelerate the pace, scale and impact of translational research performed at the university. There are two ways to participate in the academy: as a fellow or a member of a seed translational research project (STRP). Selected fellows are awarded a $10,000 fellowship to fund their translational research activities, while selected STRP teams are awarded up to $100,000 in direct cost seed funding for up to two years. The first cohort of the ART Academy were collectively awarded $500,000 through fellowships and funded STRPs. The next round Academy fellowship applications and STRP proposals will be solicited during the spring 2025 semester.
