The Q Practicum, Life Sciences Internship
The Q Practicum offers PhD, MD, MBA students and postdoctoral trainees the opportunity to gain hands-on experience evaluating real Northwestern life science technologies with spinout potential.
During the program, participants work directly with faculty innovators to understand the science, evaluate unmet needs, analyze the technical and market landscape, and conduct diligence on both technical feasibility and commercial viability. The focus is on shaping early development and translation strategies, with the aim of determining whether a technology has a credible pathway to real-world impact and, if so, outlining the next steps to advance it.
Information Session
Practicum Details
Application
Applications for the upcoming Q Practicum cohort are open and will close on November 17 at 11:00 PM CT. To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter (1–2 pages) describing your interest in commercialization and any relevant experience. Guidance for the cover letter is included in the application.
Key Program Details
- Term: 10-week core practicum, followed by a 3-month continuation period to advance project work
- Format: Part-time, designed to be flexible alongside academic and research commitments
- Compensation: Educational and experiential; this is not a paid position
- Estimated Start Date: Mid-January
Eligibility
- Open to current PhD, MD, MBA students and postdoctoral trainees at Northwestern who are interested in translating science into real-world impact. No prior commercialization experience is required. Curiosity, commitment, and the ability to work collaboratively are the most important factors.
- Applicants do NOT need to identify a project before applying. The Q will provide a curated list of available projects, and teams will be formed based on applicant backgrounds and interests, aligned with active projects in the InQbation Lab.
Questions may be directed to elan.ness.cohn@northwestern