The PhD Innovators program is a training and development pathway designed to equip PhD students and postdocs with the skills, habits, and confidence needed to translate research into real-world impact. At its core, the program emphasizes learning through application. Fellows use their own technologies as the primary learning vehicle, working directly with their research to build commercialization capability through hands-on experience and to develop as potential founders.
The program combines protected time with structured, hands-on support, including weekly workshops, individualized one-on-one coaching, and a cohort-based community. Together, these elements create momentum, accountability, and peer learning throughout the program.
The PhD Innovators Program is led by Kelli Luginbuhl, PhD ’17, co-founder of Duke spinout Isolere Bio (acquired by Donaldson). With direct experience translating academic research into a successful company, Kelli brings founder-level insight and practical guidance to the program’s design and delivery.
Meet the current cohort of PhD Innovators
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Emilia Panzetta, PhD
Department: Integrative Immunobiology Principal Investigator: Prof. Raphael H. Valdivia
Therapeutic probiotic derived from a microbiome strain shown to reduce severity and slow progression of ALS.
