Valuable Opportunities for Research Programs
This informal seminar series provides SSOE faculty with useful information or resources to improve implementation, management, funding or translation of their research programs. Topics will cover a wide variety of areas under this general theme, and suggestions for new topics are more than welcome (and should be sent to the Associate Dean for Research's office at ehv3@pitt.edu).
All lectures will be in Benedum 102 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Registration is required for lunch.
**Please check back often for new details about upcoming sessions!
Cancellations and Special Requests
If you would like to cancel an existing registration or if you have any special dietary needs, please notify Emily H. VonderPorten at ehv3@pitt.edu.
Upcoming Events
Innovation in Action: How the IDEA Lab Accelerates Research and Student Entrepreneurship at Pitt
Wednesday October 15th at 12pm in 102 BEH
We are pleased to share that our next SSOE Valuable Opportunities for Research Programs Lunch & Learn session will be Wednesday, October 15th at 12pm in 102 BEH. The presentation is titled ‘Innovation in Action: How the IDEA Lab Accelerates Research and Student Entrepreneurship at Pitt.’
If you would like to attend the session and receive a lunch, please contact Rose Gerber (rog128@pitt.edu) or Emily Huffman VonderPorten (ehv3@pitt.edu) directly. Please let them know of any dietary restrictions. Please RSVP by noon on Friday, October 10th in order to have a lunch provided.
Abstract
In this Lunch and Learn session, Dr. Kevin Bell, Director of the IDEA Lab, will be joined by Amelia Gordon, Project Manager and IDEA Lab alumna, to share how the Innovation and Design Engineering Acceleration (IDEA) Lab is advancing Pitt’s research and educational missions. Established in 2021, the IDEA Lab operates as a university-wide service center, supporting researchers in designing, fabricating, and developing hardware, software, and mobile application prototypes to enable discovery and commercialization. It also functions as a living experiential laboratory where students gain hands-on experience in innovation, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design through projects that span additive manufacturing, electronics, embedded systems, software, and beyond. The session will highlight success stories—including startup formation, invention disclosures, and student-led ventures—while providing insight into how faculty, staff, and students can partner with the IDEA Lab to accelerate their research and innovation goals.
Learning Objectives
- Learn how the IDEA Lab supports faculty and student researchers in prototype development, innovation, and commercialization.
- Understand opportunities for student engagement through IDEA Projects and XProjects.
- Discover how Pitt faculty and staff can collaborate with the IDEA Lab to advance research outcomes and translational impact.
Targeted Audience
Any faculty, staff, or students engaged in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, or prototyping activities at Pitt.
Speaker Bios
Kevin Bell, PhD, Director of the IDEA Lab: Dr. Bell leads the Innovation and Design Engineering Acceleration (IDEA) Lab at Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering. Since its founding in 2021, the lab has grown into a hub for research prototyping, human-centered design, and student innovation. Dr. Bell’s leadership has guided the development of startup companies, invention disclosures, and commercialization-ready prototypes, while fostering experiential learning for students across disciplines.
Amelia Gordon, Project Manager, IDEA Lab: A Pitt alumna and former IDEA Lab student participant, Ms. Gordon now serves as a Project Manager, helping to coordinate and guide faculty and student innovation projects. Her transition from student innovator to professional leader reflects the Lab’s mission to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and provide career-shaping experience.