Maryland Carey Law’s Intellectual Property Program congratulates Don Kim ’24, Min Ji Suh ’25, and Jonathan Shaham ’25 for being selected as 2024 Presidential Entrepreneurial Fellows.
The Presidential Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program, sponsored by UM Ventures, a joint initiative by the MPowering the State Program, is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in advancing early-stage business ventures by collaborating with companies seeking to commercialize technologies developed at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).
This competitive fellowship selects a diverse group of nine students from various disciplines, with a notable representation from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, which contributed three fellows this year. Don Kim , Min Ju Suh, and Jonathan Shaham were selected as 2024 Presidential Entrepreneurial Fellows, allowing them to engage directly with biotech startups, fostering both professional development and innovation.
The benefits of the fellowship extend beyond the participating students. Startups gain access to bright, motivated individuals who can contribute fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to their challenges. By working alongside industry professionals and faculty mentors, fellows develop critical skills that are often not covered in traditional law school curricula, such as business strategy, negotiation, and the practical application of legal principles in a commercial context. Students have the opportunity to connect with a diverse range of professionals, from entrepreneurs to seasoned attorneys enhancing their understanding of the biotech field but also expanding their professional networks.
Shaham noted, “I had the opportunity to work with a team comprised of doctoral research students and law students, which showed me the value in engaging in interdisciplinary research. I was privileged to present to a group of researchers, doctors, and other professionals research on the intellectual property of deuterated drugs and provide a crash course in patent procedure. Additionally, working under the supervision of seasoned industry veterans provided much-needed real-world context and experiences that enhanced the quality of the final product. Finally, sitting in on weekly meetings to learn more about the other, and usually highly technical, projects as a part of the UM Venture Presidential Fellowship Program allowed me to continue learning more about FDA approval procedures and frontline research in critical areas of cancer care.”
The Presidential Entrepreneurial Fellowship Program has served as a vital bridge between legal education and the burgeoning field of biotechnology entrepreneurship. By engaging students in meaningful projects that require them to navigate the complexities of patent law and commercialization, the program equips them with practical skills and insights that are essential in today’s legal landscape.