Accelerating Research-Based Technologies from Lab to Market

Last Offering!

Apply to the last I-Corps Cohort by November 12 - final deadline November 18 - for a hands-on opportunity at the Materials Research Society Fall meeting and exhibit and be eligible for up to 5K for prototyping!

UMass Lowell (UML) was awarded an I-Corps Site grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide I-Corps training to expand researchers' focus beyond the laboratory and increase the impact of basic research.

Are you working on something related to materials? Would you like to gain real-world insights into customer discovery while networking across the materials industry? Apply now for a chance to join the final UML I-Corps short course of the year, offered in conjunction with the Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall meeting & Exhibit in Boston this December.  

I-Corps at UML: Special Cohort at MRS Conference

In this immersive, hands-on course you  - you will learn the customer discovery methodology and become eligible for further NSF I-Corps program by:

  • Talking to potential users, decision-makers and buyers before you have built something
  • Test hypotheses about the problem to be solved
  • Reduce the risk of building something nobody wants
  • All in just 5 Days!


The short course is designed to help researchers and engineers maximize their customer discovery at the MRS meeting by effectively utilizing the exhibit floor.  Participants will explore the commercial potential of their innovations through this process.  As a part of the program, you will receive:
  • Full reimbursement for MRS Meeting registration, meals, travel and hotel (with pre-approval and compliance with UML policies).
  • Up to $5,000 for prototyping (All expenditures much be made by January 1, 2025)

About the conference: The MRS Fall meeting delivers a combination of interdisciplinary cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and collaborative networking with the field's leading minds, which leads to new discoveries in areas ranging from quantum materials to energy and sustainability. More information can be found on the MRS Website.

Program Objective

  1. Explore taking your new technology to the marketplace
  2. Get entrepreneurial training to identify your customers and engage with the ecosystem
  3. Learn how to apply for $50,000 from the NSF
  4. Increase your chances of receiving an Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award (Learn more on the NSF SBIR/STTR website.)

Program Timeline

Special course design: program completed over 5 days total

  1. Virtual Kick-off workshop: November 26, 2024, from 5pm to 8pm.  Conducted via zoom.
  2. On-site 3 days at MRS Conference: December 3-5, 2024 in Boston, MA
  3. In-person Lessons Learned Workshop: December 6, 2024, from 9am to 12pm at UMass Lowell, followed by a celebratory luncheon.

How the program works:

The interactive course begin with a virtual evening kickoff workshop where teams will learn how to:

  • Identify their top customer segments
  • Develop hypotheses about the value proposition they offer each segment
  • Find and effectively interview potential customers about their problems/needs

Over the course of three days at the MRS meeting, you'll engage in customer discovery interviews with guidance and support from experienced instructors.  Your goal will be to complete 24 interviews with potential customers, decision-makers, or industry partners, gaining valuable insights from across the materials sector.

On the first two days of the conference, you'll have dedicated office hours with an instructor to check in, receive feedback, and refine your approach.

The program concludes with a final virtual workshop at UMass Lowell, where teams present their findings, receive additional coaching, and explore next steps for advancing their ideas.

Teams who complete this part of the program may continue to conduct additional customer discovery through a post I-Corps program. The goal is to determine whether you are solving a real-world problem with a viable market opportunity.

Meet your Instructors:

Beth Kahn
Beth is the Associate Director, New England Innovation Node at MIT and a Lead instructor for the NSF I-Corps program.  She is also a part of several research-based translation programs at MIT.  Prior to joining MIT, she was Senior VP of Operations at E-Band Communications, a start-up maker of high frequency point-to-point radios.  She received her SM in Mechanical Engineering from MIT.  (Beth's LinkedIn Profile)


Enrique Shadah
Enrique is an instructor at MIT's New England Regional Innovation Node (I-Corps) and an affiliate at the MIT LinQ program for biomedical innovation, housed within MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Sciences.  His work fosters collaboration between academics, entrepreneurs, and industry.  Enrique holds an Masters in Business Administration from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Venezuela. (Enrique's LinkedIn Profile)

Who should participate in the program:

Your I-Corps project must be based on new, innovative, and differentiating technology that could be a candidate for a future SBIR proposal. The program is open to individuals and teams across New England.

Current faculty, postdocs, students, and staff at UMass Lowell are eligible.

Note for Principal Investigators:

Researchers from your lab are encouraged to apply with any application of technology you would like to investigate in the course. Your personal participation is welcomed, but it is not required. We invite you to select a team member from your lab to participate in this program to explore the commercialization potential of your research.

Last Cohort!  Apply Now and Secure your spot by November 12, 2024. Final deadline is November 18, 2024!

You can apply to the UML I-Corps by filling out the I-Corps Application.

For questions regarding the UML I-corps award program please email the I-Corps at: icorps@uml.edu.

What to learn more about NSF I-Corps?

Visit the National Science Foundation website to learn more about what NSF does and visit the NSF I-Corps Website to learn more about the I-Corps program.

Read the most recent NSF I-Corps Biennial Report (.pdf).

Join our virtual short course and get up to $8,000 for travel and prototyping! Apply by November 12, 2024 to guarantee your spot – the final deadline is November 18, 2024.

Apply now by filling out the UML I-Corps application form.

For questions, please email I-Corps at: ICorps@uml.edu.