Spring 2026

Pitch Perfect: Communicating Your Research with Impact (TE 497-013)

Transform your research into compelling stories that captivate and convince. This course is designed for researchers from all five colleges at Lehigh looking to enhance their presentation and communication skills, ensuring their work resonates with diverse audiences. Through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, you will learn how to generate impactful presentations and visuals that adhere to best practices in verbal and visual communication. Immersive activities will guide you in translating your research into powerful narratives that engage your audience, ensuring your work is not just seen, but remembered. Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability.

Key topics include:

  • Creating presentations that effectively convey your research ideas and gain support from stakeholders.
  • Mastering the art of digesting, organizing, and presenting information in visually engaging formats.
  • Selecting the right data visualization techniques to responsibly and effectively communicate complex information.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence and skills to communicate your research with clarity, impact, and persuasiveness, driving your work toward real-world implementation.

Remote Synchronous
Five every-other Monday evenings (7:15pm-9:55pm) February 2 through March 30:
Mon, Feb 2: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, Feb 16: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, March 2: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, March 16: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, March 30 : 7:15pm-9:55pm

Faculty: Maureen ‘Moe’ Rinkunas is Director of Insights Membership at Rock Health, where she leverages a strong background in science, engineering, and business to help enterprises navigate the digital health landscape. With a career spanning innovation roles at Redesign Health, Corbion, Coplex, DuPont Venture, and Dreamit Ventures, Moe excels in guiding innovators to transform ideas into successful ventures across health tech, ed tech, and green chemistry. As a startup mentor, NSF I-Corps instructor, and adjunct faculty member at Lehigh University, she is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial growth and corporate innovation. She holds an MBA as well as BS and MS degrees in Chemical Engineering, all from Lehigh University.

Prototyping Across Disciplines: Ideate, Integrate, Iterate (TE 497-019)

Researchers from all five of Lehigh’s colleges can enhance their research translation mindset through hands-on prototyping skills that can be applied across disciplines. Prototyping is more than just building—it’s a critical tool for ideating, visualizing, communicating, and testing complex research challenges in tangible ways, leading to iteration and improvements that better address end users' needs. And prototypes are more than just physical models – through the integration of electronics they can be interactive and responsive, incorporating data and metrics that tie back to research. Course Focus on Professional Skills: Communication, Project Management, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Collaboration and Networking, Resilience and Adaptability.

Key topics include:

  • Developing basic CAD and fabrication skills for creating prototypes for problem-solving, communication, testing, and iteration.
  • Learning basics of circuits and microcontrollers for creating interactive prototypes that incorporate data and metrics that tie back to research.
  • Creating testing protocols for effective feedback, leveraging the approaches described here: https://testingwithhumans.com/ 

By the end of the course, students will be able to develop, build, test, and refine simple interactive prototypes that incorporate data and metrics from research.

Remote Synchronous
Five every other Tuesday evenings (7:15pm-9:55pm) February 3 through March 31:
Tue, Feb 3: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Tue, Feb 17: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Tue, March 3: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Tue, March 17: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Tue, March 31: 7:15pm-9:55pm

Faculty: Kelly Zona oversees the Electronics Design Studio and the Freed Family Robotics Design Studio at the Design Labs, Wilbur Powerhouse.  She has spent over a decade working in makerspaces, teaching concepts in CAD/CAM, design and engineering, and electronics and programming.  In her consulting work, she also creates professional development modules for makerspaces around the world and specializes in the integration of fabrication and interactive electronics.  Previously, she was the lead developer and lead instructor for a digital fabrication and mechatronics course for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).  She holds a Master of Architecture from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Blueprint for Success: Frameworks for Assessing Market Potential of Research (TE 497- 021)

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.

 

Fall 2025

Creative Techniques for Research Translation (TE 497-012)

Strengthen your research approach with our "Creative Techniques for Research Translation" course. Systematic creativity techniques can help researchers identify new opportunities for translating their work. Explore innovative methods such as: TRIZ and SCAMPER, Kano and Trimming, Bisociation and Melting Pot. By viewing your research through new and diverse lenses, you can open up a portfolio of possibilities. Engage in individual and interdisciplinary team exercises designed to expand your creative mindset. This course will lead to fresh conversations and innovative solutions, helping your research to make a significant impact. Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability.

Remote Synchronous 
Five every-other-Monday evenings from September through November:
Mon, Sept 8: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, Sept 22: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, Oct 6: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, Oct 20: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Mon, Nov 3 : 7:15pm-9:55pm

Faculty: Maureen ‘Moe’ Rinkunas is Vice President of Innovation Programs at Redesign Health, where she leverages a strong background in science, engineering, and business. With a career spanning innovation roles at Corbion, Coplex, DuPont Venture, and Dreamit Ventures, Moe excels in guiding innovators to transform ideas into successful ventures across health tech, ed tech, and green chemistry. As a startup mentor, NSF I-Corps instructor, and adjunct faculty member at Lehigh University, she is dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial growth and corporate innovation.

Intellectual Property Strategy for Research Impact (TE 497-024)


In the environment of research translation, intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal asset—it’s a strategic tool for market leadership, revenue generation, and long-term growth. This course explores how to develop and execute IP strategies that align with business goals, strengthen competitive positioning, and create sustainable value. Key learning areas include: strategic IP management, how to build and leverage an IP portfolio for competitive advantage; IP-driven market positioning, using patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets to differentiate; and licensing and monetization, structuring IP agreements to maximize value from both the licensor and licensee perspectives. In the final project assignment, “Licensing Strategies”, you team up with classmates to negotiate patent license agreements! Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability. Note: This course is designed to complement Intellectual Property Core Skills (TE 497-010) but does not require it as a prerequisite.

On-Campus Required
Five every-other-Tuesday evenings from September through November:
Tue, Sept 9: 4:25pm-7:05pm
Tue, Sept 23: 4:25pm-7:05pm
Tue, Oct 7: 4:25pm-7:05pm
Tue, Oct 21: 4:25pm-7:05pm
Tue, Nov 11: 4:25pm-7:05pm (note: Tue, Nov 4 is Civic Engagement Day - no classes held)

Faculty: Joe Maenner, Esq. is an Intellectual Property attorney with a background in Mechanical Engineering.  As founder of Maenner & Associates, LLC, his client base has ranged from Fortune 500 companies to large research universities, from small, privately held companies to independent inventors. He has been an adjunct professor at Lehigh for over 10 years, working with graduate students from across disciplines.

Communicating with Industry Stakeholders (TE 497-011)

Enhance your communication skills with our "Communicating with Stakeholders" course. This hands-on, experiential learning program offers a practical framework for identifying and interviewing stakeholders (e.g., users or investors) relevant to your research innovations. Learn techniques that reveal how your work can address unsolved or unresolved problems confronted by your potential market. Immersive activities include: simulations, including the use of AI, practical exercises, and live conversations with stakeholders. This course equips you with the tools to effectively engage with stakeholders, ensuring your research innovations reach their full potential and addresses real-world needs. Emphasis on professional skills of: communication, project management, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and networking, resilience and adaptability.

Remote Synchronous 
Five every-other-Wednesday evenings from September through November:
Wed, Sept 10: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wed, Sept 24: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wed, Oct 8: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wed, Oct 22: 7:15pm-9:55pm
Wed, Nov 5: 7:15pm-9:55pm

Faculty:  Dr. Michael Lehman, Professor of Practice and Faculty Director of Technical Entrepreneurship, brings an interdisciplinary pedigree to the course; training as medical doctor with an MBA, work at JNJ and in hospital settings, and creator of entrepreneurship programs at three universities to support student innovators from the arts, humanities, social sciences, naturals sciences, business, and engineering.