The PhD Innovation Program builds on the foundational and specialized coursework of the regular engineering PhD program and provides coursework, mentoring, resources, and support necessary for students to know how to bring their research to market. PhD Innovation Fellows take additional coursework in business, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship, and spend up to six months at an industry internship.
Acceptance into the PhD-I program comes with up to five years of full financial support. The first two years you will be supported as a graduate research assistant by your dissertation research advisor. Following satisfactory performance, you will receive up to three years of unrestricted program funding to allow you to follow your ideas independent of your advisor’s funded research program and to build the skill necessary to build an enterprise—such as a start-up company, a new division of an established company, or a government or non-profit enterprise.
Hear from program director Eric Fossum, Professor of Engineering, Associate Provost of Dartmouth's Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer, Queen Elizabeth Prize Laureate, and inventor of the CMOS active pixel image sensor used in almost all cell-phone cameras.
Sensors impact the lives of nearly every human being, and new and emerging sensor technologies are key for scientific discovery. This track supported by—NSF's National Research Traineeship (NRT) program—is for entrepreneurially-minded graduate student researchers focused on sensor technology applications and commercialization.
The Program also offers the option of a Training Program in Surgical Innovation (TPSI)—or "surgical track"—for students wanting to focus on innovations that improve the safety and outcomes of surgical procedures. The program prepares graduates for careers in surgical research and development of technology that can help solve problems, save lives, and improve outcomes in operating rooms. Hear more from Keith Paulsen, the Robert A. Pritzker Professor of Biomedical Engineering.
We occasionally host a webinar for students interested in learning more about the Program. Please email us if you would like to be notified about upcoming sessions.
You can also view a recently recorded webinar.
View the selection below or browse the full PhD-I Program video playlist.
Applicants must meet all prerequisites and requirements for the standard PhD degree program. New PhD applicants, as well as current engineering PhD and MD+PhD students are eligible to apply to the PhD Innovation Program. These students are advised to consult with their faculty advisor and Professor Eric Fossum, Director of the PhD Innovation Program, prior to applying.
Admitted students work with a special advisory committee to see that all of the following PhD-I Program requirements are met:
PhD Innovation Fellows must fulfill all the requirements listed for first-year PhD students and PhD candidates. Once admitted to candidacy, the student works with a special advisory committee to make sure that all the requirements for the Innovation Program are met.
One or more graduate-level technical courses outside the student’s area of expertise.
The innovation elective requirement is in place of the engineering breadth course requirement in the standard PhD program.
ENGG 300: Enterprise Experience Project: To gain first-hand familiarity with how technology innovation is implemented in companies, students will arrange a full-time internship for a period of three to six months. The company must be engaged in some facet of technology innovation. Under special circumstances, students may be allowed to work on their own startup. Students with significant prior experience in a company may request waiver of the internship requirement.
While students are on their internship, paid (normal) or unpaid, they will not receive a stipend. They will be eligible for health insurance through Dartmouth if they request it. Prior to starting the internship, students must see Lori Laventure (Cummings Hall, Rm. 135A).
COURSEWORK TYPE |
PHD PROGRAM | PHD INNOVATION PROGRAM | PHD INNOVATION PROGRAM: TPSI |
|---|---|---|---|
Total Coursework | 11-13 courses total (six courses during the first year) | 15-17 courses total (six courses during the first year) | 15-17 courses total (six courses during the first year) |
Engineering Specialization | four courses (year one) | four courses (year one) | four courses (year one) |
Applied Mathematics | at least two courses (year one) | at least two courses (year one) | at least two courses (year one) |
Professional Skills Development | three courses | three courses | three courses |
Engineering Breadth Electives | at least two | N/A | N/A |
Innovation Elective | N/A | at least one course | at least one course |
Innovation Core | N/A | four courses | four courses |
Surgical Rotation and Training | N/A | N/A | three terms (year two) |
Innovation Internship | N/A | Full-time industry internship for a period of up to 3-6 months | Full-time industry internship for a period of up to 3-6 months |
Original Research and Dissertation | Required | Required | Required |
| Year | Regular PhD Program | PhD Innovation Program |
|---|---|---|
1 | 100% Thayer Fellowship or | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA |
2 | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA | 50% Thayer Fellowship or GRA 50% Innovation Program Fellowship |
3 | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA | 50% Thayer Fellowship or GRA 50% Innovation Program Fellowship + Up to $10K/yr Research Grant |
4 | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA | 100% Innovation Program Fellowship + Up to $10K/yr Research Grant |
5 | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA | 100% Innovation Program Fellowship + Up to $10K/yr Research Grant |
… | 100% Thayer Fellowship or GRA | N/A |
Learn how Dartmouth Engineering's graduate programs could be a great fit for you. Connect with faculty, staff, and students, and navigate the application process.
Resister to attend virtual or in-person graduate admissions events to hear more about our graduate programs.
Prospective students not enrolled in a Thayer PhD or PhD+MD program must complete the following steps to apply:
Students already enrolled in a Thayer PhD or PhD+MD program must assemble the following materials and submit them via email to apply:
LastName_Initials_Innovation_Program.pdfJessica Moody
PhD Innovation Program Coordinator
jessica.moody@dartmouth.edu
Email questions about admissions to:
engineering.admissions@dartmouth.edu