A bachelor’s degree and four or more years of post-baccalaureate scientific research, engineering, or technology development experience.

Leading a technical project or company relevant to our target industries and based in the physical or biological sciences or related engineering disciplines.

Leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology innovation for the first time i.e., not a repeat hard-tech founder. Co-applicants are welcome.

A project or company must be in development and not yet ready for full-scale product sales at the time of the application deadline.

Must not have raised more than $2,000,000 in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources for the proposed project at the time of the application deadline.

Must be able to work in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship and qualify for access to Berkeley Lab.

The ability to mobilize the physical, financial, and intellectual resources, identify and prioritize project milestones, and operate in situations with a high degree of ambiguity and incomplete information.

The ability to lead toward productive and responsible technical and non-technical outcomes, persuade and inspire others, identify professional strengths and weaknesses, productively respond to constructive criticism, and demonstrate a willingness to take responsibility.

Comprehensive knowledge of the field of the proposed project, and the ability to quickly learn new concepts, develop new skills, adapt to new technical information, and lead the technical work independently and safely in coordination with Berkeley Lab requirements.

History of being a positive contributor to teams, supporting others, and participating in professional communities. Willingness to relocate, or spend substantial time at Berkeley Lab to participate in the program’s community.

A project rooted in sound scientific principles and feasible within the proposed time frame. A clear and organized plan with well-reasoned technical milestones and a risk mitigation plan, including a credible path to scale, viable entry markets or the potential to pivot.

A project with potential for impact in one or more key industry areas in alignment with the mission of the fellowship. A reasonably differentiated project from existing solutions and commercial efforts.

A strong case for why you and your project benefit from the fellowship and access to Berkeley Lab. Your participation will meaningfully alter the trajectory of the project and improve the timeline or probability of success.