Student Highlight: Parul Sirohi
"Joining the Christensen Family Center for Innovation’s Accelerator Program was one of the most exciting parts of my PhD journey. I’ve always loved research, but I’ve also felt a little frustrated that so much great work ends up confined to journal articles instead of being put to use in the real world. That’s actually why I joined the Chilkoti Lab at Duke—because their translational research has a strong track record of spinning out real startups. By the time I reached the final year of my PhD, I was eager to see if my own research could take that path too. The Accelerator seemed like the perfect way to learn how to bridge the gap between the lab and the marketplace."
Parul Sirohi
PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Fall ’25)
PhD Research Accelerator Participant
Joining the Christensen Family Center for Innovation’s Research Accelerator Program was one of the most exciting parts of my PhD journey. I’ve always loved research, but I’ve also felt a little frustrated that so much great work ends up confined to journal articles instead of being put to use in the real world. That’s actually why I joined the Chilkoti Lab at Duke—because their translational research has a strong track record of spinning out real startups. By the time I reached the final year of my PhD, I was eager to see if my own research could take that path too. The Accelerator seemed like the perfect way to learn how to bridge the gap between the lab and the marketplace.
The program was incredibly engaging and hands-on. With only about 10–15 participants, it felt like a small, close-knit group of emerging entrepreneurs who were genuinely supportive of one another. Over the course of the nine-week sprint, Dr. Ibrahim Mohedas worked closely with each of us to help shape our ideas into something investors could actually get behind. We tackled everything from user interviews and market analyses to R&D development plans, IP protection, and pitch decks. The process really helped demystify how early-stage research can be translated into something tangible and valuable beyond academia.
One of the biggest highlights was getting selected to pitch my venture at the The Christensen Center Investor Showcase, right alongside more developed startups. That experience was both nerve-wracking and thrilling, and I learned so much from it. Even after the program officially ended, Dr. Mohedas continued to offer guidance as I prepared for the showcase, which made a huge difference. Overall, the Accelerator helped me see my research in a whole new light—it taught me how to evaluate its commercial potential, understand what end users actually need, and map out a path from idea to impact. Plus, I met some incredible people and had a lot of fun along the way.