The TI:GER Program (Technology Innovation: Generating Economic Results) at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business merges classroom instruction, technology innovation projects, and practical, real-world experiences. It brings together MBA and Ph.D. students who collaborate in teams to develop their entrepreneurial ideas into impactful technology innovation projects.
Meet Grace Tang, Ph.D. candidate in Biochemistry.
What school are you in?
I am in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and affiliated with the Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB).
Who is your faculty advisor, and what is your research area?
My faculty advisor is Vinayak Agarwal and my research area is in marine natural products. My interest there involves investigating marine bacteria through the lenses of genomics, metabolomics, and morphology.
What initially interested you about the TI:GER program?
My background has been primarily technical and biochemistry-focused. However, as I've progressed through grad school, I've become increasingly interested in exploring commercial roles in industry. TI:GER stood out to me as an ideal program to gain exposure to the business side of science and innovation. What ultimately convinced me was its emphasis on cross-functional teams that bring together diverse perspectives to drive impactful solutions.
What were you hoping to gain from the program when you enrolled?
What I hoped to gain from the program was a structured understanding of commercial strategy, particularly how key concepts translate into product development. I also sought hands-on experience in customer discovery and market analysis, as I see these skills as highly transferable to industry roles.
Was there a specific moment or conversation that helped you decide TI:GER was the right fit for you?
I was unfamiliar with the TI:GER program until I attended an information session led by Dr. Jonathan Giuliano and Simona Spagnoli. Immediately after the session, I realized the program aligned perfectly with what I had hoped to learn during grad school.
What skills did you develop or strengthen most through your TI:GER experience?
Through my TI:GER experience, I primarily strengthened my skills in customer discovery, stakeholder interviewing, and competitive landscape analysis. I gained hands-on experience conducting interviews to uncover customer needs and using those insights to evaluate opportunities. Additionally, I developed the ability to assess competitors and market positioning, which helped inform strategic design choices.
How did the program challenge you in ways you didn't expect?
The program went beyond traditional classroom learning by pushing us to engage directly with the real world. Our project required us to explore markets well beyond the Georgia Tech network, challenging us to identify genuine customer needs. This approach ensured our work was grounded in real-world insights and helped us design solutions with meaningful, tangible impact.
How has your TI:GER experience shaped your goals after graduation?
While I still plan to pursue a career in a scientific industry, my TI:GER experience has broadened my perspective and sparked interest in more commercial roles.
If you could describe the program in one sentence to a prospective student, what would you say?
TI:GER offers a unique opportunity for students to step beyond the lab, gain hands-on experience on the commercial side of innovation, and grow through that process.