Prototype for Success

New innovations—spanning fields as diverse as agriculture, biotechnology, engineering, green energy, and healthcare—have the potential to transform human society and the global economy. These emerging technologies present unprecedented possibilities for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and social impact.

Prototype for Success prepares students to get involved in this process and explore the many exciting career paths at the intersection of entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, including engineering, product design, and research and development.

Only the University of Chicago offers this unique opportunity for students to join an immersive, one-year program where they receive invaluable support and insights from leading industry professionals, successful entrepreneurs, and experts at Career Advancement, the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

All rising first-year students are eligible to apply for Prototype for Success.

Read coverage of the program in the Chicago Tribune and the Polsky Center!

Preparing Students for Careers of the Future

Prototype for Success provides one year of career preparation programming, empowering students to drive new innovations based on cutting-edge scientific and engineering discoveries. Participants complete an immersive curriculum that includes funded internships and research experiences, technical skill trainings, and workshops on technology commercialization and launching a new venture.

In addition to expert support from program staff, all Prototype for Success participants will meet with upper-division student mentors, where they can informally discuss career planning, networking internships, and more.

What Students Can Expect

• Networking opportunities and speaker events with experts and employers from R&D, technology, and startups

• Mastering the Fundamentals workshop, focusing on the intersection of business and science by exploring STEM entrepreneurship

• On-site lab tours showcasing innovations in STEM and providing a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a researcher

• Workshops to help students build greater understanding around Intellectual Property and innovation

• Technical and soft skill development in public speaking, project management, and business proposal writing

• Funded career exploration opportunities

• Real-world industry-relevant immersion project and presentation​

Get Inspired - Student Stories

Stephen Ledet, Class of 2026

• Major: Molecular Engineering, Bioengineering Track

• Summer 2023 Internship: Research Assistant, Chevrier Lab, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

"Prototype for Success’s intersection of STEM and entrepreneurship has challenged me not simply to view a project from a scientist’s perspective but also from a business-oriented outlook.”

Matteo Moesner, Class of 2026

• Major: Physics, Mathematics

• Summer 2023 Internship: Research Intern, Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship at Argonne National Laboratory

"The experiences I’ve gained in Prototype for Success, like the Fab Lab and customer discovery process, have equipped me with the tools necessary not just for entrepreneurship, but any professional environment. Without this program and my Prototype advisor, there is no way I would be where I am today."

Arya Naik, Class of 2026

• Major: Molecular Engineering

• Summer 2023 Internship: Clinical Research Intern at UChicago Medicine Department of Nephrology

"The program has given me a glimpse of all the trials and tribulations involved in growing an entrepreneurial idea from the ground up while also providing all the resources and expertise to navigate the process as best as possible."

Executive Advisers

Executive Advisers of the Prototype for Success leverage their industry and academic backgrounds to provide strategic support to the Prototype for Success curriculum. Through cohort events and coaching they provide advice and mentorship to help cohort students succeed in their professional endeavors!

Chirag Sachar

Chirag Sachar graduated from UChicago in 2016, studying Biology and Molecular Engineering, and went straight to the MS/PhD program at Columbia University, studying Biomedical Engineering. His research focused on engineering the immune system to improve immunotherapies. He is now the senior manager of business development and alliance management at Immunai, and Israeli biotech startup where he focuses on leveraging Immunai's machine learning platform to support Pharma drug development in the cancer and autoimmunity spaces. In addition, Chirag is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia, teaching biomedical innovation for the graduate engineering program.

Application

Applications will open for Class of 2028 students on May 16 and will be due by July 8, 2024. Interested students can apply using this form.

Questions?

For more information about Prototype for Success, please contact Mary Kasper at mmkasper@uchicago.edu.

Employer Partnerships

With the support of top tech and business firms, national laboratories, and intrepid entrepreneurs, Prototype for Success facilitates pivotal career and industry exploration opportunities for our students.

Thank you to our current Employer Partners for providing incredible mentorship and career exploration opportunities in healthcare pharmaceuticals, research and development, finance, consulting, venture capital, climate innovation, biotechnology, quantum, and artificial intelligence!

Top Partners

Get Involved

Career Advancement invites employers to connect with Prototype for Success through a gamut of enriching ways, including internships and research opportunities, career treks, job shadowing, participation as an industry speaker or mentor, and other signature events. To become an Employer Partner with Prototype for Success, please contact Will Lutterman at wplutterman@uchicago.edu for more information.

Thank You To Our Committee!

Juan de Pablo
Executive Vice President for Science, Innovation, National Laboratories, and Global Initiatives
Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering
Senior Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory

Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Samir Mayekar
Associate Vice President and Managing Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Ellen Zatkowski
Associate Director of the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

Andrew Ferguson
Professor of Molecular Engineering
Vice Dean for Education

Mark Stoykovich
Senior Instructional Professor & Director of Undergraduate Studies

Alumni Relations & Development

Matt Leroux
Assistant Vice President, Sciences and Organizations

Christina Fountain
Associate Dean of the College and Executive Director of Alumni Relations and Development

Career Advancement

Meredith Daw
Associate Vice President, Enrollment & Student Advancement
Executive Director, Career Advancement

Brittany Wisniewski
Director, STEM Careers and Careers in Entrepreneurship