How to Apply for a Fellowship at Cyclotron Road

Applications for Cohort 2023 Open This Fall

The fellowship program is co-run by Cyclotron Road and an independent non-profit, Activate. Activate administers the new fellow application process through a separate website for fellows at Cyclotron Road, also called the Berkeley community, as well as their other communities. Please visit activate.org/apply to receive application updates and information.

Meanwhile, check out our answers to:

Frequently Asked Questions

What We Look For

Diversity and Inclusion

In general, we select applicants annually each Spring/Summer for a two-year fellowship. We look for scientists and engineers who are entrepreneurial leaders in their field, those with the rare combination of exceptional technical skills, an impact-oriented mindset, and a commitment to solve commercially relevant problems.

It is best to start gathering pre-application materials as soon as possible. Applications for the fellowship program are accepted annually in October.

Below are details of the program:

Two Years of Funding

Fellows receive a yearly living stipend of $80,000 to $110,000, health insurance, a relocation stipend, and a travel allowance. This enables them to focus on their project full-time. Each project also receives $100,000 of research support at Berkeley Lab.

World Class Research Labs

Fellows access world-class research tools, equipment, facilities, and expertise through collaboration with Berkeley Lab. Fellows fully own or jointly own all intellectual property developed during their two-year fellowship term.

A Community of Peers

Bringing technology to market can be a long and lonely road. Our fellows take this journey together as part of a dynamic community of scientists, engineers, and technologists who share what they know and celebrate each other’s victories. In addition, the Cyclotron Road team at Berkeley Lab, led by Associate Professor at UC Berkeley Rachel Slaybaugh, works closely with fellows for networking opportunities, support, and mentorship.

Tailored for scientists and engineers and delivered weekly, our startup curriculum includes sessions on core business and product development concepts, VIP speakers, skill development workshops, and shared learning from other fellows and alumni.

Networking, Mentorship

Our experienced team meets with fellows one-on-one on a regular basis to help develop priorities, provide guidance, and make connections to our broader network of advisors, industry experts, and investors.

In addition, we facilitate connections between fellows and our broad network of industry executives, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and other experts from academia, industry, government, and finance—any of whom can serve as advisors or partners.