Crystal Camargo, PhD, serves as an Assistant Director for Science Programs at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. In this role, she supports a portfolio of science-focused programs and events—including I-Corps, the Collaboratorium, Innovation Fund Associates, the Commercialization Fellowship, Courses for Scientists, and Innovation Fellows—that empower students, postdocs, faculty, and researchers working at the intersection of science, business, and entrepreneurship.

Crystal has spent more than a decade helping students and faculty thrive in higher education. Her career has taken her through the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Denver, with each experience deepening her expertise and passion for learning. At UChicagoGRAD, she guided STEM master’s students as they mapped out their career paths, offering support that blended practical advice with big-picture vision. At Northwestern, she became a connector, supporting programs that brought together departments and communities, including the Center for Civic Engagement, the Bridge Scholars Program, and the Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities. She also stepped into the classroom, teaching undergraduates about film and media literacy, and later designing workshops that helped faculty explore the possibilities of AI in teaching. Today, at the Polsky Center, Crystal continues to bring curiosity, creativity, and collaboration to everything she does.

Crystal earned both her doctorate and master’s degrees in Communication and Media Studies from Northwestern University, along with graduate certificates in teaching and management. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, Spanish Language & Literature, and Gender Studies from the University of Denver. Outside of work, she enjoys caring for houseplants, taking dance classes of all kinds, weightlifting, watching movies, and exploring new coffee shops in different neighborhoods.