University of Southern Maine is pleased to announce the establishment of the Shaw Innovation Fellows Program that will award up to five incoming or enrolled USM Graduate students each year with a $5,000 fellowship award.
The purpose of the Shaw Innovation Fellows Program is to support students passionate about elevating their educational experience through research driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and exploration to solve problems.
The program seeks proposals that demonstrate impact in solving human, environmental, economic, and societal problems of the 21st century and beyond.
Candidates will propose a range of transformative projects some of which may require community-based or global partners with and for whom the project has impact, while also relating to a field of study. Through a highly selective competitive application process overseen by a diverse Advisory Board to include USM faculty, David Shaw, industry leaders and innovators, up to five Shaw Fellows will be selected annually.
Each selected Shaw Fellow will be awarded a $5,000 grant to conduct and execute their projects and to participate in a year-long interdisciplinary, collaborative program of featured speakers, professional development, innovation, community engagement and service, and mentoring opportunities all of which is designed to strengthen and broaden the Fellows’ skills and research projects.