Dear Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers,
Are you working on plant biology research that could become a real-world product or the foundation of a company? We invite you to apply to participate in a unique career development workshop at the Mid-Atlantic Regional ASPB Meeting on May 27–28, 2026.
This workshop offers a hands-on opportunity to develop and present a product idea or concept rooted in your research. Here’s how it works:
- Selected participants will be paired with an experienced entrepreneur in the weeks leading up to the meeting.
- Through a series of Zoom sessions, you’ll work one-on-one with your mentor to shape your idea into a compelling presentation.
- At the workshop, you’ll pitch your concept to an audience of peers and professionals who will provide constructive feedback—not only on the idea itself, but on the skills and strategies you’ll need to successfully translate research into a product or company.
- If you do not have an idea or research concept yet, or are not selected to present in this round, do not worry! You can still attend this workshop and have a great learning experience! Non-selected participants can still interact with instructors and the rest of the audience during the workshop.
No prior business experience is required, just a promising idea and the motivation to explore what it takes to move science from the bench to the market!
To apply, please send a brief description of your product idea or concept (one page) along with your resume to danielrl@umd.edu by mid-April. Registration to the MAS-ASPB and UMD Plant Biology Symposium is required to participate or attend this workshop. Link to registration: https://midatlantic.aspb.org/meeting/registration-information/
We will select a maximum of 3 participants that will present their product concept/idea to ensure each person receives meaningful mentorship and feedback. We encourage all graduate students and postdocs in the plant sciences to consider this opportunity. Whether your idea is fully formed or still taking shape, this workshop is designed to help you develop both the concept and the entrepreneurial skills to bring it forward.
We look forward to hearing your ideas.
Best regards,
Daniel Rodríguez-Leal, PhD
On behalf of the organizing committee of the Mid-Atlantic Regional ASPB