Dr. Nicholas Pohlman, an NIU Presidential Teaching Professor who teaches mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, is helping to lead a new program that aims to attract science students from underserved populations who are interested in becoming not just scientists and engineers, but also entrepreneurs. The program is funded by an $850,000 grant from the US. Department of Energy.
Participants will have the opportunity to work with NIU engineering faculty and Fermilab scientists on projects pertaining to the development of magnets that are crucial to high-energy physics. The students, who will be paid for their work, will have the opportunity to engage in a steady stream of projects that will build their knowledge, help them develop new skills and build their confidence as they progress.
Dr. Barton Sharp, the Mike and Kristina McGrath Professor of Entrepreneurship in the NIU College of Business, will co-lead the project focusing on training participants to think like entrepreneurs and help find commercial applications based upon work being done at Fermilab. He and Pohlman will both focus on helping participants develop “soft-skills” such as communication and teamwork.
For more details on this program visit the NIU Newsroom or contact Dr. Pohlman at npohlman@niu.edu
