Research Driven Inspiration (RDI): Applied Research

Catalog description

Note: This course will only meet formally for 5 of the 9 sessions. Students can use the remaining time blocks to focus on their research. RDI Applied Research is a follow-on, project-based course in which students conduct original research in a domain of their choosing. Students work independently or in teams to design and execute their research, building deep expertise through primary research, stakeholder engagement, and iterative synthesis. The course is intentionally self-directed. Students are expected to take ownership of their research. Rather than a fixed weekly curriculum, class time supports student progress through working sessions, roundtables, and facilitated discussions. Students will: Engage in sustained primary research through conversations with industry insiders, Iterate between exploration and focused deep dives as patterns emerge, Regularly synthesize learnings into themes, tensions, and hypotheses, Share progress and insights with the cohort to learn from one another. The expectation is not to complete RDI exhaustively, but to develop a prepared mind and a grounded point of view in a chosen domain. Past students have used this work as a foundation for company formation, career transitions, investment theses, and deeper academic or practical exploration. Completion of (or concurrent enrollment in) RDI Foundations is required.