Applications are open for the spring 2021 Innovation Scholars Program.

The Innovation Scholars Program is a free, virtual program for STEM graduate students and postdoctoral researchers at the University of Arkansas who have an interest in bridging their academic research with applied environments.

The eight-week program will pair virtual workshops with one-on-one mentor sessions. Participants do not need prior experience with commercialization or entrepreneurship.

By the end of the program, participants will have gained exposure to principles of technology commercialization, intellectual property, identifying market opportunities and communication. They will have an opportunity to develop a customized commercialization plan for their own technology or line of research. Where appropriate, participants will be able to advance their plan to the next stage — whether that be a commercialization fund proposal, the development of an NSF I-Corps team or the identification of promising federal funding opportunities.

Applications close close Dec. 1.

A cohort of up to 20 participants will be selected based on their level of commitment and the degree to which the aims of the program complement their professional and academic pursuits.

The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Office of Technology Ventures have partnered to present this program in response to needs expressed by U of A graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty.

The program is led by Sarah Goforth, executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation; David Hinton, acting executive director of Tech Ventures; Amy Hopper, program officer, Winrock International; Douglas Hutchings, entrepreneur in residence at Innovate Arkansas and the academy director for the Arkansas Research Alliance; Katie Thompson, director, Science Venture Studio at Startup Junkie; Shaheen Lokhandwala, program manager of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation; and Weston Waldo, venture development program manager, Technology Ventures, U of A.