The Singh Entrepreneurship Lecture

Established by alumni Dr. Navjot Singh (PhD ChE '94) and Nithya Iyer Singh (MS Pharmaceutics '94), this lectureship mirrors the founders' own professional journey. It aims to equip CEMS students and faculty with more than just technical expertise, fostering the entrepreneurial mindset necessary to translate academic discoveries into real-world impact. 

Distinct from a traditional research seminar, this series serves as a platform for academics, scientists, and engineers to share the story behind their innovations. Speakers illuminate the complex process of translating research from the laboratory into successful technologies and companies. By blending hard science with business acumen and storytelling, the lecture inspires the next generation of CEMS innovators to see the commercial potential in their own work.

Inaugural Lecture (2025)

Speaker: Craig Hawker, University of California Santa Barbara

Topic: “From Therapeutics to Hair Care: Academic Innovation in the Marketplace” (October 9, 2025)

About the Singhs:

Navjot and Nithya, who met as graduate students at the University of Minnesota, are the co-founders of 2123 Frontiers. Operating at the intersection of science, business, and technology, their platform brings together driven innovators to enable high-risk, high-reward breakthroughs that shape the future of humanity. 

Dr. Navjot Singh previously served as a Managing Partner leading a Global Innovation Practice and as an R&D executive at General Electric, co-authoring over 15 patents. A long-time advocate for the department, he served as inaugural Chair of the CEMS External Advisory Board and is a current member of the CSE Dean’s Advisory Board.

Nithya Iyer Singh has built a distinguished career in the healthcare and biotech sectors, focusing on clinical drug development, specialty healthcare, and investing. She is passionate about leveraging her expertise in both science and business to promote innovative technologies and entrepreneurship.