The Polsky Commercialization Fellowship offers PhD STEM students at the University of Chicago the opportunity to create new ventures around promising research and develop leadership skills during a competitive fellowship. The structured, milestone-driven program supports students in translating their research into real-world impact through a comprehensive 8-month experience.

Fellows are enabled to facilitate the technical and commercial development of the University’s most promising scientific research and help achieve the Polsky Center’s mission to bring new ideas and breakthrough research to market.

The fellowship is designed to teach PhD students how to apply and commercialize their research while giving them, and their faculty advisors, access to targeted venture creation resources and networking opportunities through the Polsky Center. Fellows dedicate ~250 hours to developing their projects over the course of the fellowship period (July 2026 – March 2027) and receive a stipend. Learn more >>