By Juliana Corrêa-Velloso
As graduate students, we’re often trained to think like scientists, but not necessarily like entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship combines science, innovation, business, and commercialization—the driving forces behind every successful biotech venture. So, how can PhD students and candidates begin to explore the entrepreneurial side of science? This iJOBS blog post covers the "Careers in biotech and startups with Nucleate" seminar where you can learn more about Nucleate, Nucleate programs, and feedback from program alumni.
Nucleate Programs
Nucleate is a non-profit, student-led organization representing the largest global community of bio-innovators. It was founded in 2018 at Harvard University by graduate students and postdocs to empower the next generation of biotech leaders by bridging the gap between academia and industry. Nucleate is now a global biotech network with over 800 leaders across 440 institutions.
Nucleate seeks to democratize biotech innovation by equipping early-career scientists, engineers, and business students with the tools and network to turn cutting-edge research into impactful companies. This volunteer-based organization offers programs to educate and advance the next generation of academic talent and foster new intellectual communities. There are a variety of free programs focused on skill development and knowledge sharing, including Innovation and Venture Fellowships, Food and Agriculture Hackathons, and Business Development 101, for academic entrepreneurs looking to expand their skill set. They also provide knowledge-sharing initiatives such as podcasts, industry reports, and entrepreneurial playbooks to promote broader access to educational tools. Each resource offers advice and tools to assist graduate students in pursuit of a specific career path. For example, The Innovation and Venture fellowship programs can assist in venture capital career path (see diagram below).
Nucleate’s flagship program, Activator, is designed to catalyze the transformation of early-career innovators into company founders. This program facilitates company formation in the life sciences through a structured matching process and a curriculum-driven approach. Technologies are divided into two tracks: the Bio Track–focused on human health and the Eco Track–dedicated to global health and sustainability innovations.
During the Activator program, scientists, business trainees, and early professionals are matched into teams to navigate the lab-to-market journey together. Once teams are formed, industry mentors, experienced entrepreneurs, and biotech executives provide long-term guidance. Participants receive legal insight from experts in intellectual property and corporate law and can identify unmet needs in medicine through discussions with medical residents and key opinion leaders. Throughout Activator, hands-on workshops and professional development seminars guide participants through every stage of startup formation, culminating in a final pitch showcase at the Nucleate Global Summit.
Activator success stories
During the iJOBS seminar, two Activator alumni shared how the program shaped their careers. David Allyn, an MBA student at NYU, described the experience as pivotal, emphasizing how team collaboration and exposure to real-world challenges refined his decision-making process. Robert Tancer, a Rutgers postdoc and I-Corps alumnus, compared the Activator and I-Corps programs, noting their complementarity. While I-Corps focuses on technology validation and customer discovery, Activator emphasizes operational aspects of startup formation. As highlighted by Activator’s alumni, through team development, networking, and community building, participants contribute to and learn from the biotech ecosystem, often leading to the launch of their own ventures.
How to apply to the Activator program
Entrepreneurs can apply to the Activator program in one of three roles:
- Inventor – applies with a technology or idea
- Contributor – joins a team as a scientific, business, or clinical collaborator
- Team Affiliate – an existing collaborator who joins the inventor’s Activator team
Expectations and opportunities:
- Developing a clear path to technology commercialization
- Building a venture team with graduate students, postdocs, and clinical residents
- Receiving mentorship from leading academic and industry professionals
- Joining the growing Nucleate biotech community
- Connecting with potential investors and partners for resources and collaboration
Through the program, business contributors gain experience developing business strategies and market evaluations for impactful innovations while clinical contributors…
- Learn the fundamentals of biotech venture formation (idea formulation, development and regulatory strategy, fundraising, and more)
- Gain hands-on experience working in interdisciplinary teams advancing real biotech ventures
- Develop frameworks for identifying unmet clinical needs and selecting appropriate indications
- Explore opportunities for clinicians within biotech startups
Applicants must also meet specific requirements (see figure below). The IP status of the technology must be verified by the university’s Tech Transfer Office, and the principal investigator’s approval is required for academic applicants.
From September to October, candidates are reviewed and selected. In November and December, final teams are assembled. Nucleate leadership facilitates this process by organizing networking events and meetups to connect participants.
Application deadline for 2025-2026 cohort is October 20th. For the 2026-2027 cohort, check Nucleate.org website early next fall. For questions, contact:
- Fariha Reza, Co-Managing Director, Nucleate NY – fariha.t@nucleate.org
- Vikas Malik, Co-Managing Director, Nucleate NY – vikasm@nucleate.org
- Patrick Walliisch, Co-Managing Director, Nucleate NY – patrick@nucleate.org
The Activator program is an incredible opportunity for Rutgers graduate students and postdocs who want to translate their research into real-world impact. It helps participants build skills and access resources needed to transform innovative ideas into pioneering biotech ventures. If you’re looking to strengthen your entrepreneurial skills, consider applying to the Activator program or stay connected with Nucleate and explore its wide range of programs designed to support the biotech community.