Frequently asked questions

We would love to learn more about it! Let’s discuss your needs and interests. Email us at ideahub@bu.edu. Our team loves to brainstorm and problem solve.

Yes! idea hub can help figure out which of our 300+ public health faculty would be best to connect you with.

Our faculty work at the cutting edge of population health science, generating scholarship that propels population health forward. If you would like to tap into that expertise, perhaps gaining unique insights earlier than your competitors, then you should partner with a university. If you already know what you want, and it is something that does not require the application of cutting edge research, then perhaps working with a consulting firm might be a better solution for your company. However, before engaging a consulting firm, you may want to consider hiring one of our graduate students for an internship or practicum. Many of them get hired by those very same consulting firms to do the work that you require.

In addition to a faculty member who will lead each project, BUSPH has a highly skilled, knowledgeable, and dedicated pool of public health research staff, graduate, and doctoral students who can help. We are happy to facilitate practicums/internships or research assistant roles for your project.

Yes, we can! BUSPH has over 400 highly skilled graduate and doctoral students who are eager to get to work. Our curriculum requires an internship / practicum for students to graduate, contact us at ideahub@bu.edu and we can tell you more.

As a research university, our mission is to generate scholarship. We will work with you to identify ways that we can publish scholarly work that improves population health while protecting your company’s confidential information.

Check out our How it Works section and feel free to contact us at ideahub@bu.edu. We’re happy to tell you more.

We can! In addition to their regular offerings, BUSPH’s Public Health Exchange (PHX) offers custom training programs designed around the needs of your organization. Previous programs have included a summer leadership institute, SAS program training, American health policy program for international healthcare professionals, and environmental health online technical trainings. Contact us at ideahub@bu.edu to learn more.

See our Success Stories

idea hub has an ethics review process to ensure collaborations with industry meet high ethical standards and do not limit a faculty member’s academic freedom. Contact ideahub@bu.edu to learn more about the ethics review process.

idea hub can help you:

• Facilitate collaborations with potential partners and manage strategic relationships
• Brainstorm about big ideas and connect you to non-traditional funders and SPH collaborators
• Facilitate contracts with industry and take some of the administrative tasks off of your plate
• Help translate your research into more impactful outcomes, including products and services
• Fund pilot projects

Yes! idea hub is dedicated to creating an innovative space to meet our core purpose to Think. Teach. Do. for the health of all. Pilot funding is available in research, education, and practice, as well as targeted opportunities from industry partners. Pilot applications are accepted on September 1 and March 1 each year.

The two biggest things we will need from you is your flexibility and commitment to being timely in your communications. Industry typically moves much faster than academia and these collaborations will require some flexibility in the planning and startup of these partnerships.

We love to hear new ideas and discuss them with potential industry partners. We have a section on our website dedicated to potential collaboration opportunities and we would love to promote your idea there as well. Email us with a brief high level write up and let’s set up some time to discuss it. ideahub@bu.edu.

We work with our colleagues at Innovate@BU to foster student start-ups. Check out all they have to offer at https://www.bu.edu/innovate/.

We would love to hear about it! Email us with your idea and let’s set up some time to discuss how we can help.