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.
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 Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and from a diagnostics lab in Washington DC. Here are seven of them, and what they do when they are not in our classroom.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.