NDSU doctoral student accepted into Harvard Business School’s Foundry Bootcamp

Aditya Goyal, a doctoral graduate student at NDSU, has been accepted into the Harvard Business School’s Foundry Bootcamp, which helps founders turn research breakthroughs and early-stage ideas into fundable ventures.

Goyal is a student in NDSU’s Materials and Nanotechnology program and was nominated for the bootcamp by Josie Hayden, NDSU Research Foundation (NDSURF) business development and licensing manager.

The NDSU Research Foundation advances the commercialization of intellectual property created by NDSU faculty, students and staff. By supporting NDSU’s teaching, research and public service missions, the Foundation enables faculty to engage in research, product development and business initiatives. It also fosters collaboration with domestic and international for-profit companies, enhancing NDSU’s capacity to translate research discoveries into commercial opportunities.

“We are here to help start-ups succeed,” Hayden said.

Goyal focuses on developing practical solutions to environmental challenges. A central research focus is the development of calcium peroxide nanoparticles for efficient phosphate removal from water, targeting nutrient pollution as a key driver of harmful algal blooms and deteriorating water quality in aquatic systems. Complementary work has explored biodegradable and sustainable material platforms, advancing a broader academic direction to design technologies that are both scientifically robust and impactful in real-world environmental applications.

“As someone who has spent years working on technical and research-driven problems, this opportunity feels like a bridge between innovation and implementation,” Goyal said. “It represents a chance to learn how to think not only as a researcher, but also as a founder who can take an idea from scientific discovery to practical impact.”

“He really wants to be an entrepreneur,” Hayden said. “He’s doing all the right things and has put in a lot of time.”

“This is a remarkable story. Josie Hayden, an RCA team member, recognized Aditya’s potential and drive and nominated him for the Harvard Bootcamp,” said NDSU interim vice president for research and creative activity Heidi Grunwald. “Watching an NDSU graduate student take their ideas all the way to the Harvard Business School Foundry Bootcamp is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when curiosity, hard work and bold thinking come together. As a start-up co-founder, a defining moment for my academic colleague and me was a 12-week bootcamp where we learned the language of startups. Bootcamps like these not only vet technology readiness and explore paths to market, they also equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the vocabulary they need to go forth with confidence.”

The Harvard Business School’s Foundry Bootcamp is a four-week virtual program designed to help founders evolve early-stage ideas or research breakthroughs into structured, fundable ventures. The camp offers a guided, hands-on experience focused on sharpening problem definition, mapping the market landscape and building a credible traction strategy.

The program uses a cohort model, allowing participants to learn alongside other founders facing similar challenges. The ultimate goal is to help participants move their ideas to a more pressure-tested pitch in a fairly short time.

“It is about turning strong technical work into a venture that is more clearly ready for the next stage,” said Goyal.

“Being nominated by the research foundation felt like a real vote of confidence in both my work and my potential,” Goyal added. “It told me that the people who have seen my research closely believe it has value beyond academic results alone. That kind of support matters deeply, especially as a graduate researcher, because it shows that the institution sees promise not only in the science but also in the potential to translate that science into something larger. I see the nomination as both an honor and a responsibility. It motivates me to represent NDSU well and to make the most of the opportunity.”