Previous Training 2020-2021

The long-term objective of TOeP is to provide a skilled entrepreneurial workforce for Ontario and Canada, one that will fuel the creation of a hi-tech economy to replace the shrinking classical manufacturing sector, e.g. automotive and resource based industries. Our hypothesis is that by emphasizing alternative career paths focused on entrepreneurship and by equipping trainees with the necessary skills to succeed in these careers, we will be able to more efficiently transfer laboratory discoveries into commercial products and services. The specific aims of TOeP are:

1. Provide world-leading training of the highest scientific standard in microfabrication, microfluidics, polymer chemistry, organ-on-a-chip engineering and technology translation.
2. Provide training in hard (intellectual property (IP) law, business, finance) and soft (networking, etiquette, public speaking, pitching, critical thinking & analysis, team work) skills essential to entrepreneurial success.
3. Develop a network of partners committed to TOeP (e.g. business advisors, patent lawyers, venture capital (VC) firms and incubators) to assist trainees in their entrepreneurial activities.

It is mandatory that trainees take CHE1334H: Organ-on- a-Chip Engineering, offered Winter 2021, if they haven’t previously taken this course.

Introduction Seminar / Pitching and Public Speaking

Date: Thursday September 24th 2020
Time: 12:00PM-1:30PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Dr. Milica Radisic, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto and CREATE Leader

Entrepreneurship Seminar #1

Date: Tuesday September 29th 2020
Time: 1:00PM-2:00PM (updated 2020-09-25)
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Dr. Nina Tandon, CEO and Co-Founder of EpiBone

IP Law (Internal to UofT)

Date: Tuesday October 27th 2020 (updated 2020-09-30)
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM (updated 2020-09-30)
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Jae-Ho Yoo, Innovations and Entrepreneurship Manager at the University of Toronto

IP Law (External to UofT)

Date: Tuesday November 3rd 2020
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Ian P. Goodman, Patent & Trademark Agent at Marks & Clerk Canada

Entrepreneurship Seminar #2

Date: Tuesday November 17th 2020
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Dr. Michael Floros, CEO and Co-Founder of Cohesys

Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering #1

Date: Tuesday December 1st 2020
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Dr. Adam Feinberg, Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University

Organ-on-a-Chip Engineering #2

Date: Tuesday December 8th 2020
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Dr. Jordan Miller, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University

Business & Finance #1

Date: Tuesday March 9th 2021
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Susan Bruggemann, COO and CFO at Quthero, Inc.

Business & Finance #2

Date: Tuesday March 23rd 2021 (updated 2021-03-08)
Time: 12:00PM-1:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Susan Bruggemann, COO and CFO at Quthero, Inc.

Leadership, Critical Thinking, and Project Management

Date: Thursday April 15th 2021 (Updated 2021-02-18)
Time: 1:00PM-2:30PM (Updated 2021-02-18)
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Speaker: Albert Huynh, Leadership Learning and Curriculum Coordinator at the Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering, University of Toronto

Pitching and Public Speaking: Session #1

Date: Friday April 23rd 2021
Time: 12:00PM-2:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Judges: Dr. Milica Radisic, Dr. Paul Santerre, and Dr. Craig Simmons

Pitching and Public Speaking: Session #2 (If Necessary)

Date: Monday April 26th 2021
Time: 12:00PM-2:00PM
Location: Zoom (links to be sent via email)
Judges: Dr. Milica Radisic, Dr. Paul Santerre, and Dr. Craig Simmons

Electives