National Security Innovation Fellows

The National Security Innovation Fellows (NSIF) program was launched in January 2026. Each participant was selected based on their experience in the National Security sector, professional network, technical expertise, and current leadership role in the commercial sector. The benefit for UC San Diego is the ability to tap into this cadre of professionals versed in both the National Security and commercial sectors.

During the year, each NSIF will develop close ties with our inventors, entrepreneurs, students, and staff from our innovation and commercialization team to further develop our most impactful technologies. We hope to identify dual-technology opportunities that may be appropriate for startups or new business products and involvement is typically oriented to a range of activities including, but not limited to:

Providing guidance to faculty, student entrepreneurs, and accelerators to foster startup formation
Engaging with UC San Diego inventors to share commercial and industry development perspectives
Speaking on campus about areas of expertise through lectures, workshops, panel discussions, or departmental presentations

Current Cohort

Open Call for Future NSIF Program

Each year UC San Diego invites inquiries for the following year's National Security Innovation Fellows program. We’re looking for experienced and successful national security domain experts to help our students and faculty develop their ideas, advise teams on the road ahead.

Submit Interest Form

Scope

Each year, we anticipate opportunities for 5-10national security domain experts beginning in March. Successful NSIFs must be able to commit time, energy, and advising insight to teams within our innovation ecosystem. In practice, this can mean spending time at office hours to meet with entrepreneurs or inventors, speaking at events, serving as a judge for competitions, or lecturing for certificate or bootcamp courses. The fact is that this is an open-ended approach for NSIFs with well defined outcomes - the formation of startups at UC San Diego.

Objectives

The NSIF program is designed to accelerate new venture creation in San Diego. This is a hands-on program that partners alumni and other seasoned entrepreneurs with campus innovators to develop new startups.

NSIFs have access to a portfolio of high-potential opportunities, resources, people and programs. You’ll have significant autonomy to develop commercialization strategies, consult with campus innovators, and contribute to the entrepreneurial culture. Depending on your interests, you might:

guide early-stage entrepreneurs and researchers
hold office hours
participate in demo days, programs and events
make professional connections
serve as a guest lecturer
act as an advocate for UC San Diego entrepreneurship

NSIFs will be asked to report quarterly on the progress of opportunities, engagement with campus resources, and other community-building activities. You’ll also engage with fellow NSIFs and campus innovation leaders as a domain expert.

Ideal Fit for NSIF

We’re looking for experienced national security domain experts who are excited about the energy on campus. Ideal candidates will be driven to identify and solve problems independently, with a demonstrated ability to work with students and/or researchers--particularly engineers, scientists and healthcare professionals.

Success in this program is measured by the number of technologies evaluated, new companies formed, funds raised, teams advised, and introductions made, in addition to community engagement.

Those selected will be expected to:

comply with university IP and conflict-of-interest policies (you may not enter into direct fee-based arrangements with campus companies during your residency)
submit quarterly updates on activities
Agree to the expectations of the program and the innovator's agreement

NSIFs are asked to sign an agreement and to acknowledge the program expectations with signature. Given the open approach and individualized structure of the program, these documents enable a freer flow of information among our NSIFs, teams, faculty, and students.

As long as you are able to spend regular time on campus, San Diego residency is not required.

Tracks

Medical Device Technology
Drug or Therapeutic Development
Energy, Transporation and Smart Cities
Blue Technology (Marine, Oceans, Rivers, etc.)
Defense: Dual-Use Technologies
Social Impact (Education, Political Science and the Arts)
Software Engineering and Applications
Life Sciences (Biome, Biologics, Food and Nutriceuticals)
Pitch, Media and Product Development
Agriculture and Environmental
Other - as needs and fit appropriate

Resources

You’ll also receive an initial campus orientation, access to licensing staff and invention portfolios, and introductions to university resources, entrepreneurs, and researchers. Other perks include free access to special events, invitations to private industry/university functions, and inclusion on university-wide committees for advancing the development of the innovation ecosystem.

We find that many entrepreneurs don’t want a lot of hand-holding, but we’ll be here to make your life easier however we can!

Selection Criteria

We value all experience but prioritize substantial national security domain experience, relevant industry knowledge, ability to communicate, leadership, and understanding of university systems and culture. If you have not already, please fill out the interest from or copy and paste this link:
https://forms.gle/Z8kSkZswMdymdkzm6.

How to Inquire

Expressions of interest are always invited. To help us understand your background, we welcome hearing about past company successes, fundraising, and any experience with mentoring or education as it relates to National Security.

We’ll follow up with select candidates. For questions, please contact Rachel Costello.

Schedule an Appointment

NSIFs enjoy meeting UC San Diego inventors and learning about technologies at all stages of development. Faculty, researchers, postdocs, students, and staff are invited to schedule introductory conversations. For questions about the program, or to schedule a meeting, contact Rachel Costello.