Deadline Extended: Applications for the 2023 Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship

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The University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, have seen great successes with their cross-campus programming and infrastructure to foster collaborative research to help recent graduates bring their ideas to market through the MPowering the State Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship.

This well-established and competitive fellowship has helped transition innovative medical device projects into great business ideas by utilizing various programs offered through the University of Maryland, including the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) program. Those interested in applying for the 2023 fellowship should consider the following criteria:

  • The sponsored project(s) should utilize technology developed at the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

  • The sponsored project(s) can continue as a Senior Capstone project.

  • Funding is awarded for one to two years.

Award Details

This fellowship is open to students graduating from engineering, pharmacy, or related STEM programs. Fellowship

benefits include:

  • Fellowship recipients will be enrolled in the Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) program beginning Fall 2023.

  • The fellowship stipend may be applied toward tuition costs for the M.Eng. program.

  • Fellowship recipients will have access to dedicated lab space and material support for prototype development.

  • Fellows will build connections with industry and regulatory professionals.

Selection Process & Criteria

  1. Phase I: Written application (Deadline April 28): Submit online here.

Requirements include a statement of purpose, business plan, and academic transcripts (unofficial online transcripts are acceptable). There is no maximum or minimum word count for the statement of purpose or business plan.

Business plans should answer the following:

What is the unmet clinical need that your idea/product will address?

What is the societal impact of your idea/product? How is the idea/product unique?

What technology will be used, and how do you envision manufacturing the product? Which regulatory pathway do you expect to take? (optional)

  • Applicants who do not have a current project or product for which they would like to submit a business plan may instead write a business plan for a relevant existing product in their area of interest. There is no minimum/maximum word count.

  • Letters of recommendation are not due until the completion of Phase II of the application process. They should be sent directly to fischellinstitute@umd.edu.

  1. Phase II: Presentation of business/medical device idea (By invitation)

Please note you don’t have to apply for the M.Eng. program prior to submitting a fellowship application (M.Eng. Deadline July 31)

For more information or to apply, click here.

If you have questions about the fellowship or the application process, please contact Dr. Martha Wang at martha@umd.edu

Published April 24, 2023