Michelle John

Biography

Dr. Michelle John is a tenured professor of Biology and the inaugural Vice President for Research and Innovation at Texas Southern University, where she oversees 14 research centers and institutes. She leads the $40M Catalyst for Urban Transformation and launched the Institute for Urban Public Health & Housing. Under her leadership, TSU proposal submissions grew from $90M to over $156M, and external funding rose from $32M to over $54M. She is a PI on the $9.9M+ FORGE initiative and leads a $4.9M U.S. Department of Education grant. She chairs the USRA HBCU Science and Technology Council and holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Sessions

1. Lab to Launch: Pitch Your Way In Presented by Texas Southern University

   Mon, Nov 2, 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM CT

   Track Entrepreneurship

   In this fast-paced, hands-on session hosted by Texas Southern University, you will team up with students from other schools, use a real university research capability, and pair it with an actual Houston problem. With AI tools and live coaching from recruiters and industry leaders, your team will shape a startup idea and pitch it for prizes. No experience, preparation, or STEM background needed. How it works (90 minutes): Join a pod (5 min). Sit with 6 to 8 students; your table becomes your team. Your team receives a card describing one Texas Southern research capability, such as flight simulators or drones that map storm damage, and a Houston problem it could help solve. Hear from the experts (30 min). A panel conversation with leaders in research commercialization, corporate innovation, and startups on how ideas become companies, followed by audience questions. Build your idea (30 min). Using a simple one-page worksheet, your team decides who has the problem, what you would build, and why it wins. You can use AI tools on your phone to research, and coaches will visit your table. Pitch (17 min). Every team shares a one-sentence pitch. Judges then pick 4 to 5 finalist teams to give a 60 second pitch on stage and get live feedback. Win and connect (8 min). Awards in four categories, including a crowd favorite chosen by the room, followed by networking. What to bring: a charged phone or laptop. Everything else, including the research cards and worksheets, is provided. Who it serves: This session is designed for career-focused students as well as aspiring founders, emphasizing the skills employers value most: pitching, problem solving, teamwork, and effective use of artificial intelligence. What you walk away with: Face time with recruiters and industry leaders who coach and judge your work Hands-on practice in skills employers want: pitching, problem solving, teamwork, and using AI Who it serves: Students attending AfroTech U from any college or university. The session is open to all AfroTech U attendees. This session is designed for career-focused students as well as aspiring founders, emphasizing the skills employers value most: pitching, problem solving, teamwork, and effective use of artificial intelligence. Why it matters: Black founders may lack access to the resources that turn ideas into companies, such as labs, research expertise, data, mentors, and paths to market. Universities, especially HBCUs like Texas Southern, already have many of these resources. This session shows students how to find and use them while they are still in school.