Academically rigorous.

Practically
relevant.

The L.I.F.E. Research Lab was established in 2018 to develop research, teaching and practice focused at the integration of faith and entrepreneurship across religious and faith traditions.

L.I.F.E.’s focus on entrepreneurship is innovative and intentional. It aligns with the rapidly growing industry trend of integrating faith and entrepreneurship around the world and complements this trend with academically rigorous, practically relevant knowledge creation. L.I.F.E’s research, open to all faiths and inter-faith examinations, builds on Miami University’s leadership position in interdisciplinary research and practice-based entrepreneurship education and in the areas of social entrepreneurship and impact investing. As part of the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship in the Farmer School of Business, L.I.F.E. is one of the first academic programs in the world to integrate faith and entrepreneurship.

To date, L.I.F.E. has developed a pioneering international research conference, several academic studies, a budding student organization, and an academic course. The goal of L.I.F.E. is to increase knowledge at the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship and explore how students, entrepreneurs and investors may bring their whole selves into entrepreneurial ventures. L.I.F.E. attempts to give students the opportunity to learn about the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship and examine how they might use this knowledge after graduation.

— Brett Smith, Founding Director

Every Entrepreneur, Authentically

Through pathways of knowledge creation and hands-on experience, students will have a toolkit of practices and wisdom that will enable them to integrate their faith into their work to the degree that is authentic to them.

Who is L.I.F.E. for?

L.I.F.E. is open to scholars and students of any (or no) faith or interfaith examination. We encourage study across a variety of facets of entrepreneurship and faith for the purposes of growing our understanding of the field and for giving students practical tools they may choose to use in their professional careers, whereby they can bring their “whole selves” into their work, respecting their own and others’ full selves.
What does L.I.F.E. do?

Our two-pronged approach emphasizes the development and dissemination of excellent academic knowledge as well as the communication of knowledge to students. This manifests in a variety of activities including publishing in top-tier journals, building connections with scholars and practitioners across industries, teaching undergraduate courses, and developing a student organization on campus.
Where is L.I.F.E.?

The L.I.F.E. Research Lab was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While Miami is the home-base, the network of professors and scholars connected to the L.I.F.E. Research Lab transcends national and continental boundaries, including Germany, New Zealand, France, Italy, Canada, and Israel. Within the United States, L.I.F.E. is connected to professors from Indiana University, University of Tennessee, Columbia University (New York), Colorado State University, Baylor University, Virginia Tech, University of Missouri, Dartmouth College, Catholic University of America, Oklahoma University, and more.
Why does L.I.F.E. matter?

With roughly 80% of the global population ascribing to some type of belief system, we believe it is not only applicable, but necessary to understand the role of faith in entrepreneurship if we are to comprehend the practice of entrepreneurship. We understand that a single professor will engage with roughly 4,000 students over the course of an average teaching career. By reaching professors with academically rigorous scholarship, we can influence the influencers, giving students practical knowledge and tools while simultaneously growing our understanding of entrepreneurial mindsets and action.