Real-World Innovation for PhDs

Versatile PhD (VPhD) has teamed up over the years with some of the world’s leading organizations, including HeroX, a leading platform for open innovation, to provide real-world innovation challenges to our PhD and post-doc community. We also connect with some the world’s leading companies and institutions to develop project-based work.

Here are a few initiatives:

PhD ACCESS INITIATIVE (GLOBAL CONSULTING)

This year, we are launching an exclusive PhD Access Initiative designed to connect a select group of our community candidates with consulting projects at leading global companies and institutions. With only a limited number of spots available, this unique opportunity offers hands-on experience, direct client engagement, and a fast track to top-tier consulting roles.

Don’t miss your chance to join this initiative —submit your resume and information now as we begin to match PhDs with a multitude of projects on offer. This is open to domestic and international students, as our client network and project-based work is located in the US and worldwide.

Interested?

<< APPLY HERE >>>

PAST CHALLENGES:

PUB: SINGAPORE CHALLENGE

This challenge is a S$6.5 million (approximately US$4.8 million) Carbon Zero Grand Challenge that seeks to incentivize innovative solutions to help Singapore achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century and scale to water facilities around the globe. PUB is seeking carbon capture, utilization, removal, and other solutions at any technology readiness level that can be integrated with its operations and reach commercial scale within a decade or sooner. Two phases:

Proposal Phase: solvers will submit a detailed proposal addressing net carbon abated, cost, and other critical aspects of their solution. Up to six will be awarded S$250,000 (US$184,800) each to develop a Proof of Concept.

Proof of Concept Phase: solvers will develop a desktop simulation and/or lab-scale study and a detailed design for a pilot project. Up to two will be awarded S$2.5 million (US$ 1.47m) each to demonstrate a ~1 kiloton-scale version of their solution at a PUB facility in Singapore.

INNOVATION CHALLENGE: NHLBI, NIH and NASA Tournament Lab

We’re excited to announce our upcoming PhD-level challenge sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NASA Tournament Lab! This is an exceptional career development opportunity for graduate students and post-docs who are motivated to solve an important medical challenge with social impact.

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
“AIR YOU WEAR” CHALLENGE

Build a Team for HeroX Challenges
We would encourage the VPhD community to build a team to compete for this challenge. There are tools to help you do this (if you need to join a team as well). Here are a few videos to get you started on how to form or be part of a team, using the team matching feature, and submitting an entry:

<< FAQs >>

NEW INNOVATION CHALLENGE: Design the Future of Point of Care Testing

In America, a person’s background and circumstances can directly impact their ability to receive quality healthcare. Tens of thousands of Americans die every year due to lack of health insurance. Many of the 28 million people currently without insurance live in underserved communities. These systemic and institutional obstacles create a devastating domino effect. Affected populations get diagnosed late, postpone care, struggle to manage chronic conditions, and are at increased risk of poor health outcomes and additional health disparities.

Enter this challenge to help solve the problem.

CENSUS DATA SPRINT

A 10-week sprint that utilizes The Opportunity Project framework, resulting in digital and physical art and technology that visualizes 2020 Census Decennial data. The sprint will culminate in a showcase that presents and celebrates the artwork and products created. Open to University artists, designers, and technologists (and PhD students, of course), as well as Census data and dissemination experts, and community leaders.