Call for Applications: UMBC Entrepreneurial Learning Lab (ELL) – Student Cohort

 Apply now for the Spring 2026 cohort!

 Student Application Link: https://forms.gle/vy8EbBRz6PAQHVoU9

Dear UMBC students,

We are excited to invite applications for the Spring 2026 Student Cohort of the Entrepreneurial Learning Lab (ELL)—a unique, hands-on innovation experience that gives students the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills, gain internship credit, and work directly with UMBC faculty research to evaluate the potential commercial viability or social impact of their research or technology. 

The ELL is a semester-long, cohort-based program where students learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and innovation, then apply these skills by evaluating the commercialization or social-impact potential of faculty-led research projects. This experience is ideal for students interested in product development, consulting, research, design, entrepreneurship, or innovation in any field. 

Students who complete the program will earn internship credit and a $250 stipend.
There will also be an additional paid opportunity (up to $1,000) upon completion to work on a summer project related to the research development. 

Offered in partnership with the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ABCEI) and the Engineering and Computing Education Program (ECEP), ELL helps students build real-world skills that employers and graduate programs highly value.

 What You'll Gain

Throughout the semester, students participate in highly interactive workshops covering eight essential entrepreneurial competencies:

Opportunity recognition, Customer discovery, Market analysis, Problem/solution fit, Product/market fit, Demand validation, Value delivery, Pitching/storytelling 

By the end of the program, students will:

• Develop a professional Lean Canvas

• Work as part of a team to evaluate UMBC research for commercialization or community impact

• Create and deliver a professional pitch deck

• Earn internship credit

• Build résumé-ready project experience

• Strengthen communication, problem-solving, and innovation skills

• Connect with mentors, faculty innovators, and UMBC entrepreneurship leaders

 Eligibility

Open to:

• Undergraduate and graduate students from all majors

• Students committed to attending all workshops and completing project work

• Students seeking hands-on innovation experience or internship credit

No prior entrepreneurship experience is required. 

 Important Notes

• This is an in-person program. Attendance at all workshops is required to receive internship credit.

• Application Deadline: Tuesday, December 17, 2025 at 11:59 PM

• Apply here: https://forms.gle/vy8EbBRz6PAQHVoU9

• Applicants will be notified at the beginning of January.

 Questions

Dr. Jamie Gurganus – jgurganus@umbc.edu
Engineering & Computing Education Program (ECEP) / CIRTL

Kevin Fulmer – kevinf@umbc.edu

Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation

We encourage students who are passionate about innovation, eager to gain real experience, and looking to earn internship credit to apply. We hope to see you in the Spring 2026 Student Cohort of the Entrepreneurial Learning Lab! 

Photo by Joao Viegas on Unsplash

Dear Retrievers and Valued Riders,

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Dear graduate students and postdocs at UMBC,

The Graduate School at UMBC and the PROMISE program are partnering this year to host our Annual Fall Harvest Dinner and Networking event on Friday, November 21, 2025 from 6PM to 8PM in person on the UMBC campus in the Commons Building, 3rd floor, Skylight Room. 

We call this even a Fall Harvest Dinner to celebrate all that has been planted, sowed, and harvested this past year - in reality and symbolically. Of course, our event occurs very close to November when many American families celebrate a "Thanksgiving" meal. The Thanksgiving tradition often includes sharing food and verbal expressions of gratitude for what we have in our lives. Our PROMISE staff understands that this national holiday also has roots in a darker history, one of colonialism and the massacre of hundreds and thousands of indigenous Americans. Thus, we will be choosing to incorporate some non-traditional elements into out Fall Harvest celebration: we will pay our respects to the indigenous peoples of this land and their beautiful, deep connection to mother nature and celebrate the diversity of our community. We hope this time together will be an opportunity to connect with grad students and postdocs from other departments and share a delicious dinner with our peers. We hope you are available to join us!

Please make sure to RSVP. The dress code for this occasion is business casual. Bring your UMBC student ID to enter the event!

 If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at promise@umbc.edu.

Sincerely, 

The PROMISE team

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Photo by Kerstin Wrba on Unsplash

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to share a new opportunity from the Scholar Strategy Network's DC/MD chapter: the Academics in Annapolis Cohort, a structured and supportive way for you to contribute to real-time debates during the upcoming Maryland General Assembly session (January-March 2026).

The cohort is designed for academics (defined broadly!) at any level of experience with policy engagement—whether you are new to legislative advocacy or already active in this space. Participants will receive training (as needed), be connected to advocacy partners, and choose from a range of flexible ways to contribute during the session. The time commitment is minimal, but your impact would be much greater.

If this sounds interesting to you, please see the attached overview with more details about the cohort, as well as instructions for signing up [by filling out this short interest form by December 15, 2025]. Please feel free to also share this opportunity with colleagues as it is open to non-SSN members as well.

Please direct questions to: