Research with Industry is a new (since 2021) and selective (application process required) two-course program offered through the Drexel Solutions Institute to enhance students’ understanding of research in applied contexts. I designed the 2023 version of the course to focus on the e-sports industry, featuring guest speakers and working with the students to carry out Drexel’s second national intercollegiate e-sports tournament. In the first course, I guide students in creating their own research questions, literature reviews, hypotheses, and study design. In the second course, I guide students in data analysis and communicating findings to stakeholders in a presentation and final paper. Prioritizing experiential learning, I designed the course as a consulting model to empower students to develop as professionals and leaders and to build their confidence and adaptability. 

For the first tournament in 2022, we engaged a team of PhD students, master's students, and undergraduate students to collect data and to engage in paid work at our live watch party for the championship tournament.

Growing our reach, the 2023 tournament was a collaboration between Drexel and students and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh. The watch party for 2023 was held live online via Twitch.