About us
Innovation Grove is run by a small team of neuroscientists, clinicians and educators, based in Champaign, with Chicago next and more locations on the way. This is who we are, how the academy came to be, and the guests who taught Technology Hour in summer 2026.
Innovation Grove is a hands-on STEM academy for middle schoolers in grades 5 to 8, based in Champaign, Illinois. Its weeklong Summer Academy runs in June at Next Generation School, with Technology and Engineering weeks and Science weeks built around real projects, expert-led sessions and a 5 to 1 student to instructor ratio. It is run by F8 Studio LLC in partnership with the ID8 Lab Foundation, and was founded and is taught by neuroscientist Loretta Sutkus, PhD.
Why we built this
On purpose.
Middle school is a pivotal moment. School gets more serious, expectations rise, and students start deciding what they are good at. We give them the space to build confidence first, through hands-on experimentation, expert-led demos, teamwork and real design challenges.
In an age where technology is ever-changing, kids need to be ready to question, critique and think critically. Innovation Grove prepares students by equipping them with the tools to curate ideas, solve problems, and use AI effectively and responsibly.
Science, engineering and technology are woven into art, filmmaking, nutrition, design and invention. We want every student to leave inspired, more resilient, and more sure of what they can do, in high school and beyond.
Students do not only learn about a field. They design it, build it and test it, following the steps of an innovator.
designed by a neuroscientist, taught by the same one
Founder and academy director
Dr. Sutkus is the program designer, director and main instructor of Innovation Grove, and the founder of F8 Studio LLC. She is a firm believer that learning should be hands-on, interactive and engaging, and the academy is built in that image: every day is a project, and every project gets tested.
Learning should be hands-on, interactive and engaging.
a doctor who teaches by asking the better question
Co-founder
Dr. Cheng-ting (C.T.) Lee is a pediatric and adult anesthesiologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Carle Illinois College of Medicine. Dr. Lee is passionate about mentorship, education, community building, and innovation. She believes effective learning is grounded in critical thinking and personal growth, supported by simulation, technology, and thoughtful questioning.
Effective learning is grounded in critical thinking and personal growth.
Summer 2026 guests
Technology Hour is taught by people who use the tools for a living. In 2026 our guest instructors and speakers came from the labs and departments of UIUC, from Carle Foundation Hospital, from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, from a robotics startup and from a diagnostics lab in Washington DC. Here are all sixteen, and what they do when they are not in our classroom.
Neurosurgeon and Clinical Associate Professor, Carle Foundation Hospital
Dr. Pappu is a board-certified neurosurgeon and clinical associate professor at Carle Foundation Hospital. She conducts translational research, applying mathematical modeling techniques to neurophysiology, clinical outcomes and medical image analysis.
Assistant Professor in Animal Sciences, UIUC
Dr. Condotta earned her PhD in Agricultural Systems Engineering from ESALQ. As an assistant professor at UIUC she uses machine learning to improve animal well-being and environmental sustainability on farms.
Assistant Professor in Kinesiology, UIUC
Dr. Cerna earned his PhD in Neuroscience from UIUC. As an assistant professor he explores the cognitive, emotional and motor benefits of Tai Chi, yoga and meditation, using EEG and fMRI, with a focus on older adults.
Assistant Professor in Psychology, UIUC
Dr. Long is an assistant professor in the psychology department at UIUC. Her lab investigates how the brain functions when we form social bonds between family, friends and other relationships. Her work involves neural recordings, molecular genetics and behavioral analysis.
Assistant Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC
Dr. Xu is an assistant professor of mechanical science and engineering at UIUC. She directs the Wearable and Implantable Soft Electronics and Robotics Lab, where she creates sensors that help with monitoring and biomedical treatments.
Clinical Assistant Professor in Diagnostic Imaging, UIUC
Dr. Billhymer is a veterinary radiologist and clinical assistant professor in diagnostic imaging at UIUC. Her work specializes in abdominal imaging and vascular CT to diagnose and treat a variety of animal species.
Assistant Professor in Mechanical Science and Engineering, UIUC
Dr. Cai is an assistant professor of mechanical science and engineering at UIUC. Her work involves designing smart materials and wearable technologies that help people stay comfortable, safe and connected to information about their bodies and surroundings.
Assistant Director of the Beckman Imaging Center, UIUC
Dr. Anderson has been the assistant director of the Beckman Imaging Center for five years. He earned his PhD in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from UIUC and has spent his research career developing new neuroimaging methods.
Onsite Operations Manager, ARCpoint Labs, Washington DC
Alex earned his MS in Biology from George Mason University. He has been part of ARCpoint Labs for five years, a diagnostic testing provider in Washington DC that offers DNA and drug testing as well as wellness programs.
Senior System Administrator, Illinois Institute of Technology
Mr. Sutkus earned his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT, where he now serves as a senior IT systems administrator. He has volunteered with scouting groups and camps periodically across several decades.
Neuroscience PhD Research Assistant, UIUC
Zimu is a neuroscience PhD student in the UIUC piglet nutrition and cognition lab, which investigates the communication between the digestive system and the brain, and how brain connectivity is shaped during early development.
Neuroscience PhD Research Assistant in Dr. Adrienne Antonson’s Lab, UIUC
Arnav is a neuroscience PhD student in Dr. Antonson’s developmental neuroimmunology lab, which investigates how inflammation during pregnancy can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Neuroscience PhD Research Assistant in Dr. Matthew Taves’ Lab, UIUC
Diana is a neuroscience PhD student in Dr. Matthew Taves’ immunoregulation lab. Her research investigates how immune cells decide when to protect us from germs, when to fight cancer, and how stress can affect those decisions.
Cognitive Psychology PhD Research Assistant in Dr. LaTasha Holden’s Lab, UIUC
Claire is a cognitive psychology PhD student in Dr. LaTasha Holden’s learning and achievement motivation processes lab. Her research focuses on learning, memory, and how generative AI tools shape the way students remember and use information.
CEO and Founder, Dark Matter Robotics
Michael is the CEO of Dark Matter Robotics, a company that builds robotic hardware and software to automate labs and production settings. He studies Electrical Engineering at UIUC and interned at Psyonic, a bionics startup, before founding Dark Matter Robotics.
Summer Intern, Innovation Grove
Hailey is a high school summer intern who came from California to assist us with Innovation Grove Summer Academy. Over the summer she assisted with multiple academy projects and led a session for the students on endangered species and oil spills.
Thank you, every one of you, for sharing what you know.
The origins
A chance meeting at a UIUC event.
It led to an invitation to an ID8 Lab showcase event.
And the showcase led to a partnership: ID8 Lab and F8 Studio LLC.
Driven by a common desire to revamp the education system, the partnership was grounded in the same principles and one shared mission.
To make learning innovative, engaging and, most importantly, fun.
The idea
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics can be found in
Yet these are rarely the fields where STEM gets taught. So we teach it there. It is why a Science week includes a natural dye lab, why the Human Body Series has students design a meal, and why an engineering week ends in a catapult tournament. With ID8 Lab’s network in the Champaign area and F8 Studio’s creative vision, Innovation Grove was born.
Two names on the door
Non-profit. Founded by Dr. Chen and Dr. Yao.
ID8 Lab Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting local innovators who inspire social change, through regular community networking and ideation events.
More at id8lab.usStartup. Founded by Dr. Sutkus.
F8 Studio LLC is a recently established startup focused on creating cognitively beneficial games for kids. Grounded in neuroscience, the games are designed to be fun and tailored to different developmental levels.
Next
Registration for the 2027 academies opens this winter. Want the first email?
Registration is open. Places are limited.