Advance your ability to strategically evaluate and position research for real-world impact. This course invites students from all five colleges at Lehigh to apply structured frameworks that assess the market potential of innovative ideas. Through a combination of theory and applied analysis, you will learn to translate research outcomes into actionable opportunity roadmaps—whether for venture creation, technology transfer, or public dissemination. Using frameworks such as market validation, competitive analysis, SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces, and PESTLE, students will gain tools to guide strategic decision-making throughout the research translation process. Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability.

Key topics include:

  • Applying analytical frameworks to assess the commercial and societal potential of research innovations.
  • Conducting competitive and stakeholder analyses to evaluate market readiness.
  • Designing opportunity assessment roadmaps to inform go-to-market, licensing, or dissemination strategies.

By the end of the course, you will have developed a practical framework to evaluate, refine, and advance your research ideas toward meaningful impact, equipped with the strategic mindset and tools necessary to navigate the path from lab to market.

Remote Synchronous
Eight Wednesday evenings (7:15pm-8:50pm) February 4 through April 1:
Wed, Feb 4: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, Feb 11: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, Feb 18: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, Feb 25: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, March 4: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, March 18: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, March 25: 7:15pm-8:50pm
Wed, April 1: 7:15pm-8:50pm

Faculty: Willy Das, Ph.D. is a lead researcher and entrepreneurship instructor at LehighWest, Lehigh University's west coast hub. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Policy and Strategy and an undergraduate degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. With a background in management and engineering she bridges theory and practice, making entrepreneurship research impactful through real-world applications. Her work is featured in Harvard Business Review, Fortune, FastCompany, and Startup Magazine UK. Beyond academia, she mentors entrepreneurs globally and collaborates with U.S. congressional offices on evidence-informed policymaking.