The School of Graduate Studies offers a 10-month training opportunity that will provide researchers with education and mentorship to further the impact of their aging-related research.
Doctoral students and postdoctoral scholars who have a defined research focus on aging or aging-related topics have an opportunity to improve their entrepreneurial and communication skills through a new program at the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies (UMSGS).
The Entrepreneurship and Science Communication for Aging and Aging-Related Research (ESCAAR) Program is a 10-month training program that teaches its participants how to translate research discoveries into solutions that improve the lives of older adults.
ESCAAR fellows will take part in an initial immersive in-person workshop, followed by monthly virtual workshops and an online curriculum consisting of both synchronous and asynchronous modules. The program culminates with an in-person showcase. The program is designed to provide participants with the skills, networks, and deliverables needed to amplify the impact of their research. The first cohort launches in July 2026 and concludes in April 2027.
The ESCAAR program opens with the Summer Institute, a 2½-day in-person workshop in July at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). The Summer Institute consists of team-building activities; panel discussions with experts in aging, innovation, and communication; and interactive workshops.
From August 2026 to March 2027, ESCAAR fellows will continue building their skills and practice through an online curriculum that combines structured learning with ongoing peer and mentor engagement. Each month will focus on topics such as "Reframing Aging and Combating Ageism"; "Steps to Commercialize Scientific Discoveries through Intellectual Property and Product Development"; and "Social Media, Blogs, and Podcasts." Each fellow is matched with a faculty mentor whose research aligns closely with their own, ensuring that fellows will receive individualized guidance and support to connect their expertise to broader applications in entrepreneurship, science communication, and aging-related innovation. Fellows are also matched with a mentor who brings expertise in translating scientific research for nonacademic audiences.
The ESCAAR program culminates in a Spring Showcase in April 2027 at UMB, where fellows will highlight their work from the 10-month fellowship. Invited attendees include research, industry, and commercial partners, thereby giving them the opportunity to share their work with diverse audiences and build valuable connections.
Isabell May, PhD, associate professor at UMSGS and director of the Science Communication Program, leads the ESCAAR program as the primary investigator and project leader.
By learning how to translate complex science into accessible messages for diverse audiences, the fellows will ensure aging research will make an impact on the communities they serve and are viable for commercialization.
“Through the ESCAAR program, early-career researchers will learn to translate the benefits of their discoveries to a variety of external audiences, increasing their chances of transforming research into therapies, technologies, programs, and policies that can benefit older adults,” May said. “Aging research only makes an impact if people understand it.”
Also serving as principal investigators are Diane Martin, PhD, MA, MSL, associate professor at UMSGS and director of UMB’s Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research (GGEAR) Program, and J. Howard Kucher, DPA, MBA, associate professor and director of the Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship at UMSGS.
The ESCAAR program is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program. Designed to complement traditional research training, the REDI program prepares early-career researchers for a wide range of impactful careers in academia and related sectors. This year’s cohort will be the first of four cohorts, concluding in summer 2030. To be considered for the ESCAAR program, applicants must be a current doctoral student in advanced standing or a postdoctoral scholar at a U.S. college or university, or a U.S. research institution; demonstrate a research focus in aging or age-related issues; are able to commit about 15 to 20 hours per month to the program; and can attend the Summer Institute and Spring Symposium in Baltimore.
Interested applicants can register for information sessions held through March and can apply until March 15, 2026.
For more information, visit the ESCAAR website or contact ESCAAR@umaryland.edu.