Congratulations to Meharry SACS Data Science Ph.D. students, David Lockett, Loni Taylor and Courtney Quarterman on their acceptance into the prestigious 2025 NSF I-Corps Winter Cohort!
This exclusive program, offered by the Office for Research and Innovation at Meharry Medical College in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is a 10-week intensive training designed to equip graduate students, scientists and healthcare professionals with the entrepreneurial skills necessary to bring groundbreaking technologies to market.
Before new technologies are introduced into the marketplace, the I-Corps is dedicated to helping researchers first hone and refine a user-focused research approach, as well as amplifying the real-world impact of their work. As part of the program, David, Loni, Courtney and the rest of their cohort will gain access to up to $50,000 in grant funding to support their research.
“In this age of innovation, participating in the NSF funded I-Corps Spark program has been critical for my own calibration and testing of ideas,” says NSF I-Corps cohort member and Meharry SACS Ph.D. candidate, Courtney Quarterman. “The collaboration with other leaders and entrepreneurs in data science and AI has been invaluable.”
The NSF Mid-South I-Corps Hub spans multiple prestigious institutions, including Meharry Medical College, University of Virginia, Jackson State University, George Mason University, Tennessee State University, University of Louisville, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Kentucky, and Vanderbilt University.
With such a broad research network, NSF I-Corps and Meharry SACS are able to focus on translating innovative student research into commercial ventures, fostering a thriving ecosystem of inclusive innovation.
Locket is also the school’s grants proposal development and awards management specialist.
