Emerson Consequential Scholars Program

Are you a Stanford post doc, interested in Emerson Consequential Scholars programming? Click here to sign up for information and updates on our upcoming seminar series and post doc programming.

A comprehensive deep-dive into the world of entrepreneurship

The Emerson Consequential Scholars (ECS) family of programs offers Stanford academics a comprehensive deep dive into the world of entrepreneurship and what it means to embrace the entrepreneurial mindset in their work. Through workshops, team projects, case studies, field experiences, reflection, mentoring, seminars, and networking activities, scholars will build the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to tackle entrepreneurial challenges and incorporate those lessons into their personal and professional development.

ECS offers three distinct programs: a PhD cohort, a Postdoctoral cohort, and a curated Seminar Series. The ECS PhD cohort meets over the Fall and Winter quarter. The ECS Postdoctoral cohort meets over the Winter and Spring quarter. The ECS Seminar Series takes place in the Winter quarter.

Current Cohort

Ahmed Ahmed

Computer Science

Simon Bongarz

Applied Physics

Anjie Cao

Psychology

Laura Moreno Carbonell

Bioengineering / Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Catherine Chen

Computational and Mathematical Engineering

Hamish Carr Delgado

Materials Science & Engineering

Celeste Diaz

Cancer Biology (Departments: Genetics; Bioengineering)

Michele Ferretti

Aeronautics and Astronautics / Mechanical Engineering

Danielle Klinger

Bioengineering

Natalie Kolber

Bioengineering

Barney Miao

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Philippe Roberge

Earth System Science

Miroslav Suzara

Education

Matthew Szedlock

Materials Science and Engineering

Sang Truong

Computer Science

Katherine Wu

Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER)

Saira Reyes Zelaya

Bioengineering

Janet Zhong

Applied Physics

Year-at-a-Glance

PhD pROGRAM

Fall & Winter Quarter

The fall quarter is designed as a 1-unit course that meets for 10 sessions on a weekly basis. Through workshops, team projects, case studies, field experiences, reflection exercises, and mentoring and networking opportunities, students will learn how to foster the entrepreneurial mindset, address critical entrepreneurial challenges, and apply these insights to their personal and professional growth. 

The winter quarter is a 1-unit course that meets for 10 sessions on a weekly basis. We dive deeper into communication and storytelling.  As a final project, students will create and deliver presentations to venture capitalists based on their research in a venture-style pitch deck.

Eligibility: This program is open to current Stanford PhD students who have successfully completed their departmental qualifying exams. 

sEMINAR sERIES

Winter & Spring Quarter

The Seminar Series is a set of curated events that will feature an extraordinary group of leaders who have received their PhD, all of whom have walked a unique path and derived value from embracing an entrepreneurial mindset. These seminars will include speakers such as company founders, senior employees, government officials, nonprofit leaders, and top-tier researchers. Each seminar will be centered on a specific topic, such as artificial intelligence, climate, healthcare, robotics, biotech, and government. The Seminar Series will begin in the Winter quarter and continue through the Spring.

Eligibility: 2024-2025 ECS PhD students will have first priority to attend the Seminar Series. The series will also be open to other PhDs and Postdocs on a first come, first served basis. Note that the Seminar Series will be recorded live, and students from other universities will have the option to participate virtually.

Postdoctorial Program

Winter & Spring Quarter

The ECS Postdoctoral program offers a series of professional development workshops to equip postdoctoral students with a holistic understanding of entrepreneurship, from building diverse and inclusive teams to raising capital. Special emphasis will be placed on applications of the entrepreneurial mindset to building and leading new organizations, whether in academia or industry. This program will begin in the Winter quarter and extend through the Spring. The cohort will meet every other week in the evening at the Emerson Collective office in downtown Palo Alto, beginning in February and ending in June. 

Eligibility: This program is open to current Stanford Postdoctoral students only. Applications will open in the Spring.

Teaching Team

Michael Lepech

Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering and Faculty Director, STVP

Bio

Fern Mandelbaum

Managing Director, Emerson Collective and Lecturer in Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Bio

Program Information

Both the ECS PhD and Postdoctoral cohort programs will provide scholars with the opportunity to learn about the entrepreneurial mindset and journey, including the skills and possibilities of technology commercialization, opportunity evaluation, and inclusive leadership. The programs recruit scholars whose research and ambitions demonstrate a motivation to make a positive impact on the world, and an interest in applying entrepreneurial principles to do so. In their respective cohort programs, scholars will:

Testimonials

While the Emerson Consequential Scholars program (ECS) is in its inaugural year, STVP has had fellows programs that have served the PhD and PostDoc community over the years. Here is what they had to say about their experiences and why we are excited to offer a new program exclusively dedicated to serving this community of scholars.

Acknowledgements

STVP extends its deep appreciation to Emerson Collective for supporting this program for Stanford students.

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