Events

INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2026

Empowering STEM Students to Shape the Future

February 23-April 6

Virtual Workshop

Facilitated by Lorraine Marchand—a biotech strategic adviser, executive and entrepreneur—the six-week Innovation Challenge is open to all Hood STEM students. As part of the challenge, you’ll meet with entrepreneurs, work alongside expert mentors and showcase your most innovative STEM ideas.

Students will:

Develop and practice leadership skills.
Enhance communication/public speaking.
Build an innovative business plan.
Collaborate in a team environment.

Are you ready to join the challenge?

Questions? Contact khan@hood.edu.

NO FEAR, NO FAILURE WITH LORRAINE MARCHAND

February 16 | 5-6 p.m.
Beneficial-Hodson Library and Learning Commons

Join Lorraine Marchand—a biotech strategic adviser, executive and entrepreneur—for an overview of her latest book, “No Fear, No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation.” Marchand will discuss a framework for sustained growth built on the “5 Cs” of customer first, culture, collaboration, change and chance.

This event is free and open to the public.

RSVP for this event here

SUMMER CAMPS

Calling all high school students! Are you ready to be a STEM superstar? Immerse yourself in the world of bioscience and biotech with hands-on lab experiences.

DNA DOMINATORS CAMPS FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS: ENGINEERING GENES & EXPLORING GENETIC TRAITS

July 6-10 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
$650 (includes lunch)

Featured Labs

Synthetic Biology: What's That Light?
Learn how synthetic biology researchers clone and mutate DNA to see how genes work using colorful reporters—your findings will contribute to a research-grade database!

Genetic Analysis: What's in Your Pet's DNA?
Examine genetic concepts to better understand the world around you. Discover the secrets of molecular biology and practice DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing as you study the genetic traits of domestic housecats.

BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CAMP: THE BUSINESS OF BIOSCIENCE

July 13-17 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
$650 (includes lunch)

Discover how to turn your STEM research into a business venture with startup strategies and innovative career pathways. You'll work with real entrepreneurs to explore cutting-edge STEM trends and pitch your own biotech business idea!

Questions? Contact khan@hood.edu.

See previous events below.

Description: Hosted by the Bioscience Research and Education Center (BREC) at Hood College, this two-day workshop equips you with entrepreneurship skills to leverage your background in bioscience and biotechnology.

Led by Lorraine Marchand, a product development and commercialization executive with more than three decades of experience in the life sciences industry, the From Science to Startup workshop is designed for scientists who are seeking opportunities to transform research into revenue.

Featuring interactive lectures, guest speakers, case studies and hands-on exercises, you will learn to translate scientific discoveries into viable business ventures and earn a digital badge credential.

Event Recap:

The "Entrepreneurship for Scientists" workshop was a resounding success. The participants with varying levels of experience were highly motivated and jumped tight in. In two short days the teams took a biotech idea from concept through market and customer research, created a business model and crafted and delivered an impactful 5-minute presentation to a panel of experts. Biotechnology expert and serial entrepreneur, Prof. Lorraine Marchand , led an inspiring and energized workshop!

Lorraine Marchand | Workshop Leader

Innovation Strategist | Board Director | Life Sciences Growth Architect

Lorraine Marchand brings an innovative yet pragmatic mindset shaped by decades of executive leadership in life sciences, healthcare and emerging technologies. With experience in P&L ownership, M&A, clinical development and digital product innovation, she has helped companies navigate market complexity and unlock longterm growth. Lorraine serves on private boards and advisory committees, with a focus on translating science and technology into commercial and shareholder value. She has led the human resources and compensation committees and advised on healthcare M&A.

Lorraine’s executive background spans global roles at IBM Watson Health, Bristol Myers Squibb, IQVIA, LabCorp and Cognizant, where she led businesses up to $350M in revenue. She’s built and exited startups in diagnostics and pharma services, designed and launched innovative product platforms, and overseen more than 250 clinical programs from pre-clinical through global launch.

She serves on the board of directors of SeromyX Systems; served on the board of Morood Capital, Saudi Arabia; and is on the advisory boards of Ocean Genomics, Extern, Praava Health (Bangladesh) and Science&. She provides trusted counsel on innovation and product pipelines; scaling, transformation, customer-centric business models and M&A readiness.

Author of The Innovation Mindset (Columbia University Press,2022; Axiom Gold Medal Winner), she has served on the faculty of Columbia University, Princeton University, the Wharton School and Moravian University. She holds MBAs from Columbia Business School and London Business School, an M.S. from the American University and a B.S. from the University of Maryland.