UROP Project

Entrepreneurship and Adversity: Field Research in Our Community

entrepreneurship, adversity, low-income, poverty

Research Mentor: Dr. Susana Santos, She / her
Department, College, Affiliation: Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Contact Email: ssantos@jmc.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Madison Miller She / Her
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: mpm25b@fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Dr. Dr. Eric Liguori he / him
Faculty Collaborators Email: eliguori@fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 6
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors, but students studying (or interested in) Business, Entrepreneurship, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, and/or Political Science may find a particularly strong alignment.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: Project is on campus
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Thursday, September 4
  Start Time: 2:00
  End Time: 2:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5640121627
• Day: Friday, September 5
  Start Time: 12:00
  End Time: 12:30
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/5640121627

Project Description

This forward-looking, applied research project is a collaborative initiative between the FSU's Entrepreneurship and Adversity Research Lab (EARL) https://jimmorancollege.fsu.edu/research/labs/earl-lab and the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (https://gppe.nd.edu/community-engagement/initiatives/urban-poverty-and-business-initiative/). Its overarching goal is to explore how individuals facing adversity (e.g., poverty, marginalization, and economic instability) navigate the process of starting and growing a business. The project seeks to understand both the barriers and enablers these individuals encounter, and to ultimately contribute to more inclusive, community-focused models of entrepreneurship development.

To explore these adversity dynamics, we will work with the Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP) https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/leap, a local community outreach initiative iwht a proven trackrecord for success. LEAP serves aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs in Florida’s Big Bend region, including Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties, by offering a multi-phase program that includes a business bootcamp, one-on-one mentoring, and customized consulting. LEAP is designed for individuals who may not have access to traditional forms of business education or financial capital but possess the drive and vision to build enterprises that support their families and strengthen their communities.

Working through the lens of the LEAP program, our research will be highly hands-on and rooted in real-world engagement. Students involved in the project will work directly with LEAP participants - local entrepreneurs navigating challenging circumstances - to conduct interviews, gather insights, and analyze their lived experiences. This immersive, field-based approach not only strengthens research skills but also offers students a meaningful opportunity to contribute to community development efforts and to witness firsthand the impact of entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment.

We anticipate that the findings will advance scholarly understanding of entrepreneurship in under-resourced environments and contribute to a growing body of research on entrepreneurship and poverty. Given the relevance of the topic and the novelty of the research design, we expect to produce publications in peer-reviewed journals and present at leading academic conferences. The work may also inform public discussions through media coverage and policy briefs targeting local community leaders and stakeholders.

This project provides students with a unique perspective on entrepreneurship as a tool for empowerment and social change, and fosters critical research skills applicable to both academic and policy contexts.

Research Tasks: Our work will proceed in phases, beginning with a comprehensive literature review of entrepreneurship, adversity and poverty. Then we will move into an active data collection phase, and students will support and conduct in-depth interviews, focus groups, and structured surveys with LEAP participants. Students involved in this project will participate in the research design and data collection processes, gaining hands-on experience with qualitative and / or quantitative research methods. This research offers a rare opportunity to engage with entrepreneurs at various stages of venture creation and development and to hear directly about their lived experiences, motivations, and challenges. Engagement with the LEAP bootcamp sessions (https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/leap) during the fall semester is requisite, so we will work to develop a rotating schedule that merges our research goals and needs with student schedules. Throughout the year, students will also engage in other LEAP program activities, deepening their exposure to applied research in the field. Students will also be able to participate in the University of Notre Dame's Urban Poverty and Business Initiative webinars and related programs.

The ultimate deliverables include a conference presentation with all participating students as co-authors. From there, depending on student engagement and the outcomes of the data analysis, we'll look at the viability of pursuing a journal publication. We also hope to share these insights with policy makers and community leaders, and are presently exploring opportunities in that regard.Image


Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required Skills: strong written and verbal communication skills; high attention to detail; reliability and commitment
Recommended Skills: critical thinking; collecting and analyzing data; conducting literature reviews