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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!

From

Jamie Gurganus, Ph.D (Prof. G)

Assistant Teaching Professor In the Engineering and Computing Education Program

Director for the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) in Graduate School at UMBC

https://cirtl.umbc.edu/

College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT)