Harvey Mudd College Selects First Innovation Accelerator Laboratories

Innovative ideas are jumpstarting Harvey Mudd College’s strategic planning efforts and helping lay the groundwork for the College’s next comprehensive fundraising campaign. During the spring semester, HMC community members put the finishing touches on proposals supporting bold, forward-thinking initiatives that align with the College’s strategic vision STEM for a Better World. The April 4 Innovation Showcase was the culmination of this effort and resulted in the selection of three projects from teams that will receive $240,000 over the next three years to help further develop their work as part of the newly created Innovation Accelerator Laboratory.

“From the early stages of launching our first Innovation Accelerator in fall 2024 and receiving 21 outstanding proposals, to presentations and pitches at our first Innovation Showcase last spring, and now to our three projects selected to advance, this has been an outstanding celebration of innovation at Harvey Mudd,” said President Harriet Nembhard. “It was truly a joy to witness the creativity, collaboration and community support that brought these outstanding proposals to life—each one advancing key aspects of our strategic plan.”

Launching Innovation Accelerator Laboratories

These inaugural Innovation Accelerator Laboratory (IA Lab) projects will integrate the high-impact research, hands-on learning and exceptional curricular innovation intrinsic to Harvey Mudd. By uniting faculty, students, alumni and community partners, these initiatives will create new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, real-world problem-solving and the application of cutting-edge tools and methods in STEM. Whether advancing ethical data science for social impact, expanding biomedical engineering and health technology pathways, or creating new curricular models that foster student success in the College’s rigorous Core Curriculum, each project blends research excellence with immersive learning experiences. 

Leading a STEM Education Renaissance

Together, they embody the College’s vision of STEM for a Better World, and serve as key examples of the College’s ongoing efforts to lead a renaissance in STEM education through its unique approach to integrating the humanities, social sciences and the arts with STEM fields to prepare engaged and civically minded leaders who are prepared to address the greatest challenges facing our world—both now and in the future. 

The College’s first Innovation Accelerator Laboratories were selected with input from an evaluation team of internal and external stakeholders as well as the President’s Cabinet. The Innovation Accelerator issued its first call for proposals in fall 2024, and community members submitted 21 proposals for review. From this group, several ideas were selected to begin immediate implementation. Of the remaining submissions, the field was narrowed from 21 to six teams that were given funds to begin testing their ideas. These six teams presented at the College’s first Innovation Showcase in spring 2025, and three teams were selected to receive up to $240,000 in funding to begin developing their ideas further. The three selected projects are:

Innovation Accelerator Laboratory for Data Science and Social Impact

Twelve proposers from the areas of life sciences, entrepreneurship, community engagement, mathematics, climate science, chemistry and computer science will leverage data science to address societal challenges. The team envisions making Harvey Mudd College a national hub for leveraging data science to address societal challenges by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing data science research and creating pathways to apply data-informed methods to real-world issues. Through conferences, datathons, workshops and deep partnerships with community-based organizations, they will connect data scientists, students and practitioners to co-develop impactful solutions in areas such as climate, education and health.

The team believes an emphasis on ethical frameworks, interdisciplinary research and real-world applications can accelerate the integration of social impact into STEM fields worldwide, promoting a new generation of data scientists trained to address the world’s most pressing challenges.

Innovation Accelerator Laboratory for Emerging Health Technology

Proposers from the fields of biology, engineering and computer science will expand career pathways for Harvey Mudd students into biomedical engineering and health sciences by creating a robust support system that includes alumni networking, partnerships with academic and industry leaders, and hands-on research opportunities. By showcasing these opportunities and leaning into alumni networks in health-related careers, the team aims to inspire current and prospective students while solidifying Harvey Mudd’s reputation as a leader in training future innovators in biomedical engineering and health technology.

Health sciences rely on data, engineering and artificial intelligence tools, and this initiative highlights the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches in modern healthcare. By fostering innovation and expanding career pathways, the program can inspire other organizations to adopt similar strategies, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes and advancing medical research worldwide.

Innovation Accelerator Laboratory for Thriving in the Core Curriculum

Proposers span the fields of academic affairs, physics, institutional diversity, chemistry and biology. They note that Harvey Mudd’s Core Curriculum, while foundational for developing STEM expertise and intellectual curiosity, can present significant challenges. Yet, through a tailored support program that addresses both academic and social needs, the College can increase academic achievement and joy in the Core Curriculum, thus fostering a sense of community and belonging. The team will provide structured resources from pre-first-year summer through the sophomore year, including skills preview sessions, a Summer Institute, customized one-on-one tutoring, and cohort-based mentoring with both faculty and student mentors.

Collectively these programs will build a strong community that empowers students to thrive in the Core, achieve academic success and develop a lasting sense of belonging. This initiative can provide other institutions with a replicable blueprint for creating inclusive, supportive environments that empower students to succeed in STEM, contributing to a more diverse and resilient global STEM workforce. Also, it can make STEM education more equitable and accessible to all students of diverse backgrounds, ultimately enhancing STEM innovation and research outcomes, which drive progress in scientific and technological fields.

Collectively these programs will build a strong community that empowers students to thrive in the Core, achieve academic success and develop a lasting sense of belonging. This initiative can provide other institutions with a replicable blueprint for creating inclusive, supportive environments that empower students to succeed in STEM, contributing to a more diverse and resilient global STEM workforce. Also, it can make STEM education more equitable and accessible to all students of diverse backgrounds, ultimately enhancing STEM innovation and research outcomes, which drive progress in scientific and technological fields.

Going Farther Together

During the 2025–2026 academic year, the selected teams will begin the work described in their proposals, with regular progress reports submitted to the President’s Cabinet and shared with the College community. Requests for future project proposals are planned for the Innovation Accelerator, the key engine developed by the College as part of its strategic planning goal on innovative education to engage the community in cultivating forward-thinking possibilities for the future of Harvey Mudd.

Visit the Innovation Showcase website to see highlights from the event, including recordings of the team project pitches, a photo album as well as videos of the Building Our Future Campus and Academic Spotlight sessions.