Science Venture Studio Names Three U of A Students as Commercialization Fellows

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From left to right: Alexa Dalluge, Ashley Fernandez-Chiru, Julia Davis.

The Science Venture Studio has hired three talented U of A students as Commercialization Fellows for the Spring 2022 semester.  

Each student has been paired with an early-stage science and technology company in Arkansas to aid in market research, commercialization planning and customer discovery as they prepare a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Grant with SVS.  

The commercialization fellowship is a partnership between the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Startup Junkie, which oversees SVS. The fellowship lasts one semester, with a $5,000 stipend. 

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

• Alexa Dalluge, who aspires to form two companies related to construction and engineering, is a senior mechanical engineering student. She has participated in the U of A's National Science Foundation iCorps® Site program and has served as a project lead for the McMillon Innovation Studio.  

  • "As an SVS Commercialization Fellow, I have the opportunity to connect and collaborate with budding entrepreneurs and offer support to bring their technology to the market." 

• Ashley Fernandez Chiru, a senior biomedical engineering student and a graduate of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation's Venture Intern Program.  

  • "I wanted to be a commercialization fellow because I like the fast-paced entrepreneurial environment and how important the creativity and innovation mindset is in startups. I'm very excited to work with my assigned company and help them grow and thrive by contributing to a successful proposal for federal funding."  

• Julia Davis, a veteran of multiple entrepreneurial programs, is a senior studying business management. She has participated in the McMillon Innovation Studio, Venture Intern Program, Seed Funding Pitch Competition, Social Innovation Challenge, Enactus, NSF I-Corps and S.A.K.E.  

  • "After working with two startups through the Venture Intern Program, I was eager to work with a startup once again. Through the Commercialization Fellows program, I hope to add lots of value to the startup I am working with and learn more about SBIR and STTR proposals."  

"These students bring a lot of experience and understanding in entrepreneurship and commercialization because of their involvement in various entrepreneurial programs that the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers," said Katie Thompson, director of Science Venture Studio.  

"I am very excited about the opportunities that will evolve this spring. This cohort is just beginning and the fellows have already given great support to the company that they have been paired with for the semester." 

About Science Venture Studio: Supported by the Walton Family Foundation, the Science Venture Studio in collaboration with Innovate Arkansas, the Northwest Arkansas Council, University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Startup Junkie aims to help Arkansas science- and technology-based startups apply for non-dilutive federal funding. The SVS team is composed of a grant specialist, advisor, commercialization fellows and technology mentors all with the passion for helping small science and technology businesses secure funding to develop their technology and grow their company. 

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, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.