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The Q Practicum, Life Sciences Internship

The Q Practicum: Life Science Venture Research Internship offers Northwestern PhD, MD, MD/PhD, MBA students, and postdoctoral researchers the opportunity to gain hands-on experience evaluating real Northwestern life science technologies with spinout potential. Participants begin with structured training and mentorship, learning the frameworks used by venture capital, consulting, and pharmaceutical industry teams to evaluate early-stage therapeutics and life science innovations.

Working in small teams alongside faculty innovators, participants assess unmet needs, scientific and technical feasibility, competitive landscapes, and commercial viability. The goal is to identify credible pathways to commercialization and develop actionable strategies to help promising Northwestern technologies advance beyond the university.

Information Session

Interested in learning more about the Q Practicum? Join us for two upcoming virtual sessions to learn about this year’s cohort, ask questions, and hear directly from past participants.

If you can’t attend, you can watch the recording of last year’s info session below. Please note that some program details have changed since this recording, so we encourage you to attend the upcoming sessions for the most up-to-date information.

 

Practicum Details

Application

Applications for the 2027 Q Practicum cohort are now open and close November 25, 2026.

Apply Here

Applicants must submit a resume and a 1-2 page cover letter describing their interest in life science commercialization and any relevant experience. Additional guidance is provided in the application.

Key Program Details

  • Term: January-August 2027
  • Structure: 10 weeks of training and mentorship, followed by hands-on venture research projects evaluating Northwestern technologies
  • Format: Part-time, with a weekly 10 AM-2 PM session (4 hours), plus independent and team project work as needed

Eligibility

  • Open to current Northwestern PhD, MD, MD/PhD, MBA students, and postdoctoral researchers interested in biotechnology, venture capital, and life science commercialization.
  • No prior commercialization experience is required. We value intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, commitment, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines.
  • Applicants do not need to identify a project before applying. The Q will curate opportunities from Northwestern's research portfolio and match participants to projects based on their backgrounds, interests, and the needs of faculty innovators.

Questions may be directed to elan.ness.cohn@northwestern.