U of A Cohort Named For Spring 2021 Science Venture Studio

Photos Submitted

The three student fellows for the Science Venture Studio (from left): Astha Malhotra, Jean Morales and Toma Tomonari.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas' Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has selected three students as fellows for the spring 2021 cohort of the Science Venture Studio.  

Established last summer, the fellowship program is a partnership between OEI and Startup Junkie, which oversees the Science Venture Studio. The fellowship pairs students with early-stage technology startups for hands-on experience in market research, customer discovery and grant writing.  

Over the course of a semester, the fellows will be essential members of the companies as they work toward milestones necessary for a successful Small Business Research and Innovation or Small Business Technology Transfer proposal. 

The following students were selected from a talented pool of applicants: 

• Astha Malhotra is a doctoral student at University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock and a 2019 TL1 Scholar at UAMS for Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fellowship. Malhotra is also a member of Synflo, an OEI New Venture Development student team working to reduce the surgery risks and costs associated with vascular grafts. They have a patent pending and won up to $2,000 last month at a seed funding competition sponsored by OEI and the U of A School of Law.
  • "SVS is an excellent platform providing mentoring, and networking opportunities to help commercialize promising technologies and secure funding in the process. I am looking forward to working with SVS and different companies, learning from their experiences and journey, and contributing in whatever small way I can to their progress." 
• Toma Tomonari, a senior at the U of A receiving his bachelor's in computer science, was a team member last fall at the McMillon Innovation Studio. He was part of a team that sought to save consumers time and money by streamlining the online and in-store shopping experience at Walmart. He also has experience with rapid prototyping and mobile app development. 
  • ​"I have been looking for an opportunity where I can obtain deeper insight into both technology and startup ecosystems, and I believe that SVS is a great program to fulfill this goal. I expect to learn and experience a lot by working with other fellows and entrepreneurs." 
• Jean Morales, who received his bachelor's in chemical engineering from the U of A, is working toward his master's in microelectronics and photonics.
  • "Working with a new technology startup has been an exciting and rewarding experience because one gets to see the intersection where engineering meets innovation, and research meets commercialization." 

About Startup Junkie: Located in Fayetteville, Startup Junkie is building entrepreneurial ecosystems in Northwest Arkansas through providing no-cost, one-on-one consulting; events, workshops, and programs; and access to capital and talent. 

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio and Startup Village, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.   

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.