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Industry 4.0 Research Fellow

Company Overview

Innovation Portal is a forward-thinking business incubator based in Mobile, AL, dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and technology innovators. Our mission is to create a supportive environment where visionary ideas are nurtured and transformed into groundbreaking realities. As a small, adaptable team, we take pride in our flexibility and responsiveness to new challenges and opportunities.

Job Purpose

Innovation Portal is seeking motivated Research Fellows to conduct customer discovery research in Mobile’s key industries including maritime, logistics, aerospace, steel, and manufacturing. Fellows will interview industry professionals, document insights, and build a comprehensive research database that powers entrepreneurial ventures across our region. This isn’t just research for research’s sake. You’ll be building the intelligence infrastructure that informs real ventures, validates billion-dollar problems, and creates opportunities for future Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Your work directly shapes what gets built in Mobile’s innovation ecosystem.

The Research Fellow’s main duty is to conduct customer discovery interviews with industry professionals, prospect and book conversations via phone, email, and LinkedIn, document findings in Innovation Portal’s research database with full traceability, and synthesize research into actionable business insights and validated problem statements.

This is a part-time, stipend-based, fellowship (20 hours per week for 10 weeks, $3,000 total stipend). Fellows must be located in Alabama. This position reports directly to Jay Maru, Entrepreneur-in-Residence (jay@innovation-portal.com).

About You

You like to talk to customers, not just whiteboards. You’re obsessed with learning and aren’t intimidated by being out of your comfort zone. You ask “why” five times instead of accepting surface answers. You’re ready to learn fast and iterate faster. You might be the right fit if: you’re genuinely curious about how businesses operate and solve problems; you can make people comfortable enough in conversation to share real insights; you’ve had people-facing roles (sales, customer service, tutoring, retail, hospitality); you’re comfortable with ambiguity and iteration – progress over perfection; you take feedback as fuel, not criticism; you care about attention to detail and thorough documentation; and you can commit to 20 hours/week for 10 weeks and communicate like a professional. Current students or recent graduates (1–2 years post-graduation) from a college/university are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

Some of the duties and responsibilities include:

Weeks 1–2: Training & Foundation

Master customer discovery methodology, research best practices, and sales/outreach techniques from experienced practitioners
Get hands-on with research tools: Apollo, Clay, CRM systems, and learn business fundamentals (TAM, SAM, SOM, ICP, market sizing, problem validation)
Deep dive into Mobile’s core industries (maritime, logistics, aerospace, steel, manufacturing) and practice interview techniques with role-playing and AI agents

Weeks 3–9: Research Execution

Conduct customer discovery interviews with industry professionals, prospect and book conversations via phone, email, and LinkedIn
Document findings in Innovation Portal’s research database with full traceability; extract patterns, validate problems, and identify market opportunities
Build industry landscape maps and opportunity portfolios; collaborate with Innovation Portal team on research strategy and insights

Week 10: Synthesis & Presentation

Synthesize research into actionable business insights and create your digital research portfolio showcasing methodology and findings
Present findings to Innovation Portal leadership and stakeholders in a 45-minute presentation with top 2–3 insights
Demonstrate validated problems ready for venture development and impact on Innovation Portal’s opportunity pipeline

Qualifications

Qualifications include:

Previous experience in people-facing roles (sales, customer service, tutoring, retail, hospitality) or research
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with genuine curiosity about how businesses operate
Comfortable with ambiguity and iteration; takes feedback as fuel, not criticism
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Proficiency in basic office software (e.g., Google Workspace)
Self-motivated and proactive, with a problem-solving mindset and the ability to work with minimal supervision
Comfortable working with a variety of hardware and software applications
Displays a high level of ethics, empathy, and dependability

Organizational Environment:

The team is startup in nature, which requires you to move quickly, and that all staff to be flexible and operate well in teams
Expected to work independently and be given significant responsibility
Able to keep, maintain, and coordinate multiple schedules and projects
Excellent customer service skills that highlight a positive attitude
Aptitude to learn and understand the different industries and product lines.
Ability to prioritize and multi-task with high level of dependability
Ability to work well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Good listening and problem-solving ability

Additional skills such as:

Background in Psychology, Business, Entrepreneurship, Management, Communications, or related fields with demonstrated interest in research and people. Currently located in Alabama. Comfort with technology and learning new tools quickly.

Organizational Values

Empowering Others Through Service

We believe in opening doors for others. By helping others take their next step forward, we create a culture of mutual support and growth. We are committed to serving others and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone can thrive.

Curious Minds, Creative Solutions

We embrace challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Our passion for curiosity drives us to continuously innovate, experiment, and find creative solutions.

Progress > Perfection

We celebrate every step forward, recognizing that progress is more important than perfection. This mindset encourages us to build, measure, and learn from both our successes and failures.

Make It Happen

We take ownership and see things through to completion. Good ideas are common. Execution is what counts. We focus on what matters most and deliver. Our neon wall sign says it all: Make it Happen.

Benefits

$3,000 total fixed stipend for the 10 weeks fellowship
Access to Innovation Portal’s research tools and platforms (e.g., Apollo, Clay, CRM systems)
Access to a computer to be used exclusively for fellowship research
Professional training curriculum, materials, and direct mentorship
Certificate of Completion signed by Innovation Portal’s Executive Director
Reference letter from Jay Maru (Entrepreneur-in-Residence) citing specific achievements upon successful completion
Connection to Mobile’s industry leaders, Innovation Portal mentors, and priority consideration for future opportunities

Physical requirements

This position will be onsite at the Innovation Portal and will not be remote. Requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, operate a computer, phone system and other office equipment. Must also be able to lift and carry up to 10 lbs with or without accommodation

Stipend: $3,000 total fixed stipend for 10 week fellowship

Work Location: Must be located in Alabama | Application Deadline: February 28, 2026