DojoExplore
DojoExplore
A biotech fundamentals and venture creation course for all undergraduates.
A biotech fundamentals and venture creation course for all undergraduates.
Biotech fundamentals, for all
Biotech fundamentals, for all
DojoExplore is a 6-week biotech seminar and workshop series that is geared towards training undergraduate researchers in the fundamentals of the biotech sector, as well as how to think about their research in the context of early-stage biotech product development. The program is hosted in-person on university campuses as a collaboration between a host student club and the core Nucleate Dojo organization.
Since its inception in January 2021, DojoExplore has run three virtual, 25-person cohorts, testing three iterations of our biotech curriculum. In September 2023, we launched our first in-person cohort at Harvard University in collaboration with the Harvard OpenBio laboratory and have been working on expanding to more campuses around the world. DojoExplore is supported by Emergent Ventures.
DojoExplore is a 6-week biotech seminar and workshop series that is geared towards training undergraduate researchers in the fundamentals of the biotech sector, as well as how to think about their research in the context of early-stage biotech product development. The program is hosted in-person on university campuses as a collaboration between a host student club and the core Nucleate Dojo organization.
Since its inception in January 2021, DojoExplore has run three virtual, 25-person cohorts, testing three iterations of our biotech curriculum. In September 2023, we launched our first in-person cohort at Harvard University in collaboration with the Harvard OpenBio laboratory and have been working on expanding to more campuses around the world. DojoExplore is supported by Emergent Ventures.
The Curriculum
The Curriculum
Our core curriculum is tailored for each campus-affiliated club to introduce their undergraduate member base to the field of biotech, its basic functions, and its multitude of opportunities. All workshops and seminars are around 1.5-hours long and are covered by local biotech leaders - an example week-by-week breakdown of the curriculum is laid out below.
Week 1: An Introduction to Biotech (Seminar Style)
A high overview of what the biotechnology industry is, both from the pharmaceutical and platform technology perspective. We aim to cover the purpose that biotech serves, careers within the biotech industry, and the major players within the industry.
What Differentiates Biotech?
Emerging Innovations and Best Practices
Overview of Drug Development Stages
Clinical Trials
Week 2: Spinout Founders (Seminar Style)
Understand the key responsibilities, frameworks for success, and background required to be an effective spinout founder in the biotech space.
Understanding the decision-making process for spinning-out post an exciting scientific discovery
Product and market fit
Potential customers
Existing solutions and competitors
Founder/co-founder fit
Introduction to TTOs (tech transfer offices), IP, and co-pilots
Consideration of the post-spinout processes in relation to incorporation, licensing, commercialization, and negotiations for scaling to profit
Week 3: Market Analysis (Case Study Workshop)
Conduct a comprehensive market analysis for a biotech startup, understand the importance of addressing market needs, and develop and validate a proof of concept for their business idea.
Market Need Identification
De-risking Experimentation
Competitive Landscape Mapping
Unique Value Proposition
Proof of Concept Development
Week 4: Intellectual Property and Technical Moat (Seminar Style)
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) and its role in biotech commercialization.
TTOs
Patents
IPs
Week 5: A Biopharma Story, from Seed to Series A (Case Study Workshop)
Navigating the early stages of building a biotech startup.
Budgeting and Grant Applications
Vision Crafting and Communication
CEO-CSO Relationship
Technology Value Proposition
Employee Profiles Identification
Week 6: Dinner with Biotech Founders
A small group dinner with 5 biotech founders, all ranging in industry experience and technical expertise, to foster a sense of community participants and the local biotech ecosystem.
Our core curriculum is tailored for each campus-affiliated club to introduce their undergraduate member base to the field of biotech, its basic functions, and its multitude of opportunities. All workshops and seminars are around 1.5-hours long and are covered by local biotech leaders - an example week-by-week breakdown of the curriculum is laid out below.
Week 1: An Introduction to Biotech (Seminar Style)
A high overview of what the biotechnology industry is, both from the pharmaceutical and platform technology perspective. We aim to cover the purpose that biotech serves, careers within the biotech industry, and the major players within the industry.
What Differentiates Biotech?
Emerging Innovations and Best Practices
Overview of Drug Development Stages
Clinical Trials
Week 2: Spinout Founders (Seminar Style)
Understand the key responsibilities, frameworks for success, and background required to be an effective spinout founder in the biotech space.
Understanding the decision-making process for spinning-out post an exciting scientific discovery
Product and market fit
Potential customers
Existing solutions and competitors
Founder/co-founder fit
Introduction to TTOs (tech transfer offices), IP, and co-pilots
Consideration of the post-spinout processes in relation to incorporation, licensing, commercialization, and negotiations for scaling to profit
Week 3: Market Analysis (Case Study Workshop)
Conduct a comprehensive market analysis for a biotech startup, understand the importance of addressing market needs, and develop and validate a proof of concept for their business idea.
Market Need Identification
De-risking Experimentation
Competitive Landscape Mapping
Unique Value Proposition
Proof of Concept Development
Week 4: Intellectual Property and Technical Moat (Seminar Style)
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Intellectual Property (IP) and its role in biotech commercialization.
TTOs
Patents
IPs
Week 5: A Biopharma Story, from Seed to Series A (Case Study Workshop)
Navigating the early stages of building a biotech startup.
Budgeting and Grant Applications
Vision Crafting and Communication
CEO-CSO Relationship
Technology Value Proposition
Employee Profiles Identification
Week 6: Dinner with Biotech Founders
A small group dinner with 5 biotech founders, all ranging in industry experience and technical expertise, to foster a sense of community participants and the local biotech ecosystem.
Chapters
Chapters
Harvard University (OpenBio Laboratory)
Harvard University (OpenBio Laboratory)
The mission of the Harvard OpenBio Laboratory is to foster a collaborative community at Harvard centered around biology that moves the world forward. OpenBio is partnering with Nucleate Dojo to deliver our DojoExplore curriculum in-person on Harvard campus.
The mission of the Harvard OpenBio Laboratory is to foster a collaborative community at Harvard centered around biology that moves the world forward. OpenBio is partnering with Nucleate Dojo to deliver our DojoExplore curriculum in-person on Harvard campus.
McGill University (McGill iGEM)
McGill University (McGill iGEM)
The McGill iGEM team is a group consisting of PhD students, masters students, and undergraduates all with one goal: to change the world with synthetic biology. They seek to establish a community of the most innovative young minds from all disciplines. In 2023, McGill's iGEM team won 1st Place at international iGEM Grand Jamboree.
The McGill iGEM team is a group consisting of PhD students, masters students, and undergraduates all with one goal: to change the world with synthetic biology. They seek to establish a community of the most innovative young minds from all disciplines. In 2023, McGill's iGEM team won 1st Place at international iGEM Grand Jamboree.
University of California, Berkeley (TMSCA)
University of California, Berkeley (TMSCA)
The Translational Medicine and Stem Cell Association (TMSCA) at Berkeley is dedicated to increasing public support for stem cell research, acquainting our members with the research landscape at Berkeley and the Bay Area, and assisting our members in achieving their professional goals in the life sciences.
The Translational Medicine and Stem Cell Association (TMSCA) at Berkeley is dedicated to increasing public support for stem cell research, acquainting our members with the research landscape at Berkeley and the Bay Area, and assisting our members in achieving their professional goals in the life sciences.
Get Involved
Get Involved
DojoExplore is always looking for on-campus leaders and collaborators to expand our curriculum to. If you are interested in working with us, please reach out to us at dojo@nucleate.xyz to get a converation started!
DojoExplore is always looking for on-campus leaders and collaborators to expand our curriculum to. If you are interested in working with us, please reach out to us at dojo@nucleate.xyz to get a converation started!