4th Cohort of the SEED Program at Ohio State Fosters Innovation in Biomedical Engineering

Columbus, OH – The Ohio State University celebrated the 4th cohort of the Student Experiences in Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) program, which is a collaboration between the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, the College of Engineering and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, designed to empower biomedical engineering students by merging research with entrepreneurship. 

Participating student Sohini Parsi, who is studying biomedical engineering. shared their enthusiasm for the program, which they discovered through the Morale Scholar newsletter. “I had never done research before, so I found the SEED Program intriguing. I was looking for more experience, especially in applied research,” Parsi said.

As part of the SEED Program, students interview and rank their preferred labs based on their interests. Parsi chose to work with Dr. Dane Miller’s lab, focusing on improving indoor environments. “Our research aims to monitor chemical and biological factors while developing methods to identify different species of mold. Given the current climate, where humidity levels can promote mold growth, our goal is to create effective detection strategies,” Parsi said.

The program’s recent accomplishments were highlighted when Parsi's lab successfully reached out to the I-Corps program, which supports entrepreneurial initiatives within the scientific community. “Winning I-Corps was a major milestone for us,” Parsi said., emphasizing how it has opened new avenues for their research.

“We launched this cohort to blend various fields, including engineering and entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Carlos Castro, a mechanical and aerospace engineering professor at Ohio State. “Our goal is to empower underrepresented students and provide them with opportunities in both research and business development. Many students have published research papers, which significantly enhances their paths to graduate school or launching their own ventures” 

Parsi eager to leverage the skills and knowledge gained through the SEED Program. “The support from our mentors and the opportunity to work on real projects has been invaluable. It’s inspiring to see how far we can take our ideas,” Parsi said.

Editor's Note: Effective Feb. 28, 2025, the university’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has been sunset, along with some of its services. Additional details are available on Ohio State News.