At the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, students from across disciplines gathered for the first Bioinspired Innovation Course, a one-credit weekend course designed to explore how ideas born in the lab can take shape in industry and be applied for everyday use. 

“It made me realize how vast the scopes of these companies are,” said Morgan Yeager, a graduate student in the chemistry department. “Chatting with these industry professionals gave me an insight into the broad scale and interdisciplinary aspect of the work; there really are limitless possibilities.”

One-credit weekend courses at the Lake Tahoe campus provide a unique opportunity to blend academic growth with hands-on field experience. In one weekend, students deepen their understanding in a specific subject matter, engage directly with course material and connect with peers and faculty — all within the stunning Sierra Nevada landscape.

Students from across the Colleges of Science, Liberal Arts, Business, and Biotechnology and Natural Resources learned how designs in nature can inspire innovation and advance discoveries in medicine. They listened to innovators who had turned their “aha moments” into real-world breakthroughs, from the lab bench to life-saving HIV treatments. 

The talks were presented by industry professionals, including Michael “Mick” Hitchcock, interim CEO of Biomea Fusion; Dmitry Koltun, medicinal chemist at Bluejay Therapeutics; and pharmaceutical entrepreneur Scott Chadwick. Each relayed a common message: science is a shared pursuit, strengthened by collaboration across fields. Each leader underscored that their discoveries were only possible through focused, collaborative teams.

“I always believe that science is done by people and in fact often by multiple people working on different parts of the same problem,” said Hitchcock. “This can only happen when people get together and have conversations, build ideas and trust, and imagine possibilities.” 

The industry leaders said they viewed their participation as an investment in the future of innovation, stressing that true progress relies on a community driven by curiosity and collaboration. And this is the spirit that continues to position the University as a hub for science and forward-thinking research. After the lectures, students said they were leaving with a broader definition of success.

“You can be successful if you are a CEO of a company, you can be successful if you start a company from scratch, you can be successful if you are the synthetic chemist sitting at the lab bench,” Yeagar said. “There is more than one way to be successful in [the pharmaceutical industry], which is such a positive. It makes me look forward to entering the workforce knowing success can be right around the corner.” 

For Jeffrey, the goal was to test a new kind of learning environment, one rooted in the student’s experience, collaboration and connection and centered on innovation. As the Lake Tahoe campus looks to make the course a permanent fixture, the weekend stands as a model for how interdisciplinary learning can thrive when students are given the space and the resources to unplug from the typical hustle and bustle and find themselves lost in deep thought. 

“I wanted to see how a non-traditionally formatted class, an experiential class, hosted at the setting of the Lake Tahoe campus, with undergraduates and graduate students, and guest speakers felt like,” said Christopher Jeffrey, professor of chemistry and Harold Walter Siebens Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship. “What I learned was that the level of engagement with students was much higher than any classroom class that I’ve taught and I want to build on that model and continue these courses across many sectors of innovation.”

The Bioinspired Innovation Course wasn’t just about science; it was about students finding community, perspective and the confidence to imagine what’s next.

“When universities build real partnerships with industry, we give students and faculty a direct line to how innovation actually happens in the world. Programs like this show what the University of Nevada stands for: bringing ideas to life through collaboration and curiosity,” said Interim Vice Provost and Dean at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe, Douglas Boyle. “Investing in these connections signals to future students and partners that the University is a place where discovery doesn’t stop in the lab; it grows into something that makes an impact.”