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Exciting Opportunities for Recent Graduates!

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) is seeking motivated applicants with a strong scientific background and excellent communication skills for the NIAID Technology Transfer Fellowship Program (TTFP). Fellows will be mentored by technology transfer professionals that service world-renowned NIAID and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists. Fellows will learn the elements of federal technology transfer as part of a team that helps transfer innovations from the lab to commercial products (including vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics) that benefit global public health. 

The NIAID is one of the largest Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAID conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. For more than 60 years, NIAID’s and the CDC’s research has resulted in therapies, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and other technologies that have improved the health of millions of people in the United States and around the world. TTIPO’s work managing inventions, managing patent portfolios, licensing intellectual property rights and materials, and negotiating agreements fostering collaboration between Government scientists and academic or commercial partners plays a critical role in improving public health outcomes through the use of NIAID and CDC-developed technologies.

The goals of the TTFP are: (1) to present fellows with a unique learning opportunity to experience the multiple facets of technology transfer from the Government’s perspective including relevant laws and policies; (2) to provide fellows with a fundamental skill set conducive to launching a career in technology transfer; and (3) to introduce the fellows to NIAID’s cutting-edge research.  During the program the fellows will learn how TTFP supports TTIPO’s mission of making the fruits of NIAID’s discoveries available to the American Public and to the world. Upon completion, the fellows will be able to pursue a future academic, industrial, or governmental technology transfer career. 

What will I be doing?

The fellowship offers fellows an immersive opportunity to learn about the federal Government’s role in advancing scientific innovation and technology transfer through the NIAID and CDC. Under the guidance of a mentor, fellows will gain hands-on experience in evaluating, protecting, and commercializing scientific discoveries, as well as fostering collaborations across academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, and Government agencies. Through engaging projects and activities, fellows will contribute to the commercialization goals of the NIAID and CDC by analyzing intellectual property strategies, facilitating agreements, and driving innovation across diverse portfolios of research and development.

Learning Objectives:

• Technology Commercialization & Intellectual Property:  Fellows will learn how to assess scientific inventions for patenting, licensing, and marketing while gaining insights into intellectual property strategies and aligning technologies with societal needs.
• Collaborative Agreements & Partnerships: Fellows will learn how NIAID develops and executes agreements like confidential disclosure agreements, material transfers agreements, cooperative research and development agreements and clinical trials agreements to support scientific advancement.
• Licensing & Innovation: Fellows will explore licensing strategies to connect discoveries with commercialization opportunities addressing public health challenges. This area of focus will provide fellows with a deeper understanding of the strategies involved in translating research into impactful solutions.
• Portfolio Engagement: Fellows will be exposed to a portfolio of patent applications and issued patents, enhancing their knowledge of intellectual property systems and the role of patents in advancing innovation.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Fellows will foster partnerships between NIAID scientists and external stakeholders to drive innovation across diverse sectors.

Why should I apply?

The goals of the TTFP are: (1) to present fellows with a unique learning opportunity to experience the multiple facets of technology transfer from the Government’s perspective including relevant laws and policies; (2) to provide fellows with a fundamental skill set conducive to launching a career in technology transfer; and (3) to introduce fellows to NIAID’s cutting-edge research.  The fellow’s contributions under the TTFP will support TTIPO’s mission of making the fruits of NIAID’s discoveries available to the American Public and to the world. Completion of the TTFP positions the fellow to pursue a future academic, industrial, or governmental technology transfer career. 

Where will I be located? 

Remote participation in the TTFP is currently available but may be subject to change.  While Applicants from all over the USA are encouraged to apply, proximity to the Washington, DC area or willingness to relocate to the Washington, DC area if needed is considered a plus, but not a requirement for consideration.

What is the length of the appointment?

Appointments are typically made for one year and are renewable yearly at the discretion of NIAID and ORISE, for a total of three years.  Renewals are contingent on the availability of funds.

What provisions will I receive?

• Monthly Stipend: Stipend amount for first-year participants will be $70,623 per year and is non-negotiable. Second and third-year stipends are currently $85,447 and $102,415 per year, respectively and are subject to change.

• Health Insurance Supplement: A supplement will be provided to offset health insurance costs.

• Training and Travel Allowance: $4000 per year appointment period is allocated for each fellow to use towards approved travel and training purposes.  

When are selections made?

TTIPO anticipates making selections within 3 months of the application deadline, subject to completion of TTIPO's vetting process for qualified applications received by the indicated deadline.  Candidates who are selected will be notified at that time. Please visit the NIAID TTIPO website for more information. Candidates should send their questions to NIAIDInnovation@mail.nih.gov.

The qualified candidate must have received a Master's or Doctoral degree within the last five years of the anticipated start date in one of the relevant disciplines listed below. Current graduate students who are nearing the completion of their degree may apply but must have completed their degree by the start of the fellowship and must provide proof of completion of all degree requirements before the fellowship start date. Applicants with a Master's degree in Business Administration, or a Juris Doctor degree may also apply, if they have an underlying Bachelor's or Master's degree in an eligible scientific field.   

Applicants must also be a U.S. Citizen to apply. 

An ideal candidate will have a background in STEM fields, which will provide the foundational knowledge to understand complex scientific concepts in research discoveries. Fellows will engage with cutting-edge technology transfer processes, and a STEM background will enable them to effectively contribute to the advancement of research and development through the process. Candidates should also demonstrate creativity, enthusiasm, and a strong interest in scientific innovation and technology commercialization strategies.  An ideal candidate will also have communication skills that allow them the ability to collaborate with scientific, technical, professional, and administrative staff. 

A complete application consists of:

• A complete Zintellect profile

• Completed application questions

• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list.

• Transcript(s) – Submit a copy of your most recent official transcript. For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic record printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted to complete the application requirement, if you do not have a copy of your official transcript at the time of application. The transcript or academic record must include the name of the academic institution, name of the student, courses completed/in progress, grades and degree expected/awarded. A copy of your official transcript and/or letter showing proof of your degree may be required prior to starting the appointment. 

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation, and all documents must be submitted via Zintellect.  All application components must be completed in the Zintellect system by 11:59 PM EST on May 29, 2026.  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.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  Supporting materials must be uploaded as PDF files to ensure the document can be searched by Zintellect's search engine.  Documents sent by email, postal mail, or fax will not be considered. 

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (1 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (11 )
  • Engineering (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (26 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (1 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (1 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age

Yes, I affirm that I have received my Master's, Juris Doctor, or Doctoral degree within the last five years of the anticipated start date or am currently enrolled in a graduate program. If currently enrolled, I understand that my degree must be received before the appointment start date.