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The New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (NM LEEP) is a two-year program tailored to help deep tech entrepreneurs bridge the gap between groundbreaking innovation and commercialization through tailored mentorship, business training, and the expertise and resources of Los Alamos National Laboratory. You will leverage our vast network of investors, government agencies, and world-class subject matter experts to advance your technology and find product-market fit rapidly.

Sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Los Alamos National Laboratory, and in partnership with Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation, Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, National Institute of Standards and Technology – Manufacturing Extension Partnership and U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, NM LEEP supports critical deep-tech innovations that impact national security and economic competitiveness in the advance materials, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, biotechnology, energy security, and space sectors.

Through DOE/NNSA support, NM LEEP innovators receive up to two years of non-dilutive funding and the opportunity to advance, test, and validate technologies needed to transition breakthrough ideas into scalable products. Participants also benefit from a comprehensive program featuring intensive mentorship, customized business development support, strategic networking opportunities, and frequent engagement with angel and venture investors to strengthen the company narrative, refine pitch decks, and close business and technical gaps that prevent fundraising.

Our goal is simple: Make your start-up investable by empowering participants to mature their ideas from concept to prototype to first commercial product, identifying the most suitable commercial path to launch their technology into the commercial market.

This opportunity will be offered as long as Los Alamos National Laboratory is able to complete the onboarding process and ensure a meaningful experience to participants. We encourage you to apply and submit your application as soon as possible. Updates to this opportunity will be provided on this page as needed.

NM LEEP offers innovators:

• A two-year collaboration to advance their technology with DOE National Laboratory researchers.
• A customized curriculum tailored to your deep tech venture aimed at achieving critical milestones in product development and company growth, including specialized training on leadership and team building. Frequent engagement with angel and venture investors to refine pitch decks and to address business and technical gaps necessary to become an investable company.
• Strategic connections to potential partners, investors, customers, and broader business resources to accelerate commercialization.

Program Provisions:

• Stipend: Annual stipends range from $54,000 to $120,000, plus health insurance allowance, travel reimbursement, and relocation allowance (for eligible candidates). Stipend rates are determined by NM LEEP officials and are based on the candidate's academic and professional background.
• Mentorship: Guidance on product strategy, business model, governance, and pitch refinement.
• Technical Collaboration: Testing, validation, and early product development through a two-year technical collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory researcher(s) through a funded Cooperative Research and Development agreement (CRADA).
• Commercialization Support: Business model development with an experienced network of resources aligned to your technology and market opportunity.
• Curriculum: Tailored training covering product design & development, investor strategies, financial projections, pricing strategy, pitch development, and more.

For more information about NM LEEP Program, please visit https://nmleep.com/ or email us at nmleep@lanl.gov.

Nature of the Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, the DOE, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

Qualifications

Qualifications for acceptance into the program:

• Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) at the time of application and through the duration of the program.
• Candidate must have completed requirements for a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree by the anticipated start date of the appointment.
• Candidate must relocate to New Mexico for at least the duration of the 2-year program.
• Candidate must declare affiliations with:
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory, or Triad, LLC’s partner institutions: Battelle Memorial Institute, University of California, and/or Texas A&M University system

A complete application consists of:

• Zintellect Profile and responses to opportunity-specific questions.
• Transcripts/Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Selected candidates may be required to provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, and relevant experiences. 
• A slide deck of your product

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect in order to be considered and must be in English or include an official English translation. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (11 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 )
  • Physics (16 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age

New Mexico LEEP Fellows must relocate to New Mexico for at least the duration of the 2-year program.