Applications Opening for Cyclotron Road

September 1, 2021

Science innovators are invited to apply for the two-year fellowship program hosted at Cyclotron Road, an opportunity to advance hard technologies that have the potential for broad societal impact from concept to viable first product. 

Cyclotron Road is a division of the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The fellowship program is run in partnership with the non-profit Activate. Applications are open from October 15 to November 30, 2021. 

Fellows gain access to world-class research facilities and expertise, and a program of training, mentorship, and networking tailored to support the challenges of technology innovation. Applicants for Cohort 2022 can learn more about how to apply and what the program is like in a series of online events being held periodically until applications open. The next event is on September 14, 2021, and is an informational webinar that will provide an overview of the fellowship, eligibility, and application process. Other events are listed here at Activate’s website, activate.org/apply.

Since its inception six years ago, Cyclotron Road has been supporting research-driven products to improve the sustainability and scalability of modern energy systems. The most recent cohort, which was announced in June, includes fellows developing low-cost energy storage, nontoxic agricultural pest management, and next-generation plastics designed for infinite recyclability.

“Last year we saw a record number of applicants for the fellowship program,” said Cyclotron Road Division Director Rachel Slaybaugh. “The growing interest is a testament to the incredible work we’ve seen from the past seven cohorts.”

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, with access to the Lab’s world-class research tools, equipment, facilities, and expertise.

"The Cyclotron Road fellowship provides me with the facilities and resources I need to bring nematode pheromone technology to market and provide eco-friendly pest control solutions to farmers," said Fatma Kaplan, CEO of Pheronym and member of the 2021 cohort.
“Being a member of the Cyclotron Road community is incredibly empowering,” said Aaron Hall, founder and chief executive officer of Intropic Materials and a member of the 2021 cohort. “The financial support enables me to focus on doing what is best for driving my business forward, and the network and resources are unparalleled.”