Design Thinking for Scientists - BCH2200H

This is a graduate level course focused on developing entrepreneurial, design thinking skills and its application to graduate research and/or lab productivity, and other scientific, business, education, organizational, communication or start-up pursuits in basic biomedical sciences such as biochemistry or in any discipline the student would like to pursue.

Interactive lectures will include classroom discussions regarding design thinking, team brainstorming and ideation techniques, and methods of idea development. Students will develop entrepreneurial skills by a) Identifying problems as observers in their own research, lab, departmental, career environment or via another person while also considering feasibility and potential impact, b) narrowing the focus to one problem with a clear market analysis, and c) Ideating, prototyping, testing and pitching to facilitators. Some examples which students may choose to ideate for may be annual lab goals, lab meetings for designing experiments, skills development, course or workshop development, student group initiatives. The skills learned in this course will enable the student to lead meaningful engagements throughout graduate school and enhance EQ skills in self-awareness, motivation, and empathy to potentially become Canada’s future scientific thought and entrepreneurial leaders.

This module is only available for PhD students and is designed for PhD students with an entrepreneurial, teamwork spirit.
Graduate Professional Development Course preferred as a prerequisite, but not necessary.

Recommended Reading:
The Art of Innovation: Lessons in Creativity from IDEO, America's Leading Design Firm by Tom Kelley
The Field Guide to Human-Centered Design by IDEO.org (2015-05-03) 

Method of Student Evaluation:
30% Class Attendance and Participation
20% Teamwork (based on teamwork assessment and check-in with instructor)
25% Pitch Presentation  (15% Content, 10% Presentation)
25% Final Reflection Report (1000-1200 words)

Course Coordinator:
Nana Hyung-Ran Lee

Course Time:
Thursdays 10am -12pm 
Dates: May 12th and 26th, April 9th and 23rd, May 7th and 21st ( 2026) 

Course Location:
MSB 5231

Enrollment Limit:
8