Open Positions — UW Tech Exploration Lab 2026–27
The UW Tech Exploration Lab moves applied AI and emerging technology ideas from campus exploration into real-world validation. We are expanding our team for 2026–27.
Application deadline: August 14, 2026
Graduate Student Positions — Leadership Fellows
Open to graduate students, MBAs, and post-doctoral researchers.
$25/hour | Up to 20 hrs/week | Reports to: Associate Director (except Industry & Alumni Engagement Fellow, who reports to Executive Director)
Industry Projects Fellow
Owns the Lab’s industry Co-Lab partnerships and sponsored project engagements end-to-end — from problem scoping through final deliverable.
- Primary contact for industry partners, managing timelines, communications, and expectations
- Executes the Digital Health Challenge and other industry-sponsored engagements
- Produces project documentation, partner-facing materials, and progress reporting
Best fit: MBA or graduate student with strong project management skills, professional presence, and interest in corporate innovation.
Research Translation Fellow
Owns the Lab’s research-to-market pipeline — engaging UW faculty, identifying commercial potential, and moving opportunities into student projects or venture pathways.
- Builds and maintains relationships across UW research centers, labs, and academic units
- Produces commercialization briefs and market framing documents that make research accessible to students and industry partners
- Prioritizes which opportunities enter the active project pipeline
Best fit: Post-doctoral researcher or graduate student with interest in tech transfer and the range to work across domains.
Student Venture Pathway Fellow
Owns the operational rhythm of the Lab’s student venture pathway — from Self-Directed Innovation through Discovery, Build, and Founder Lab.
- Tracks team milestones, runs check-ins, and flags teams that need additional support
- Manages logistics for Build Nights, BuildFest, and Founder Lab sessions
- Owns student onboarding into the pathway and internal communications
Best fit: MBA or graduate student with strong project management skills and genuine interest in entrepreneurship programming.
Industry & Alumni Engagement Fellow
Reports to: Executive Director
Owns the Lab’s partner outreach, alumni relationship management, and external engagement pipeline.
- Manages the Lab’s CRM and partner/alumni contact database
- Drafts outreach, schedules meetings, and tracks follow-up across the partner pipeline
- Coordinates partner and alumni engagement events and stewardship touchpoints
Best fit: MBA or graduate student with strong professional presence, excellent writing skills, and genuine interest in partnerships and alumni relations.
Undergraduate Positions — Lab Associates
Open to currently enrolled UW undergraduates only.
$15/hour | 10–15 hrs/week | Reports to: Leadership Fellow
Lab Associates are assigned based on skills and Lab needs — some work on internal Lab programs and operations, others are embedded in industry Co-Lab or campus research projects. Students come from CS, engineering, data science, business, design, communications, and beyond.
Current openings:
AI/Technical Builder Associate — Embedded in active Lab projects building prototypes and running experiments with frontier technologies across AI, blockchain, XR, and emerging platforms.
Events & Operations Associate — Owns logistics behind every Lab event from weekly Build Nights to BuildFest and partner showcases.
Student Engagement Associate — The Lab’s community builder, making sure students feel connected, recognized, and plugged in.
Communications Associate — Manages the Lab’s day-to-day content and social media presence across channels. (Day-to-day direction from outside marketing consultant)
Not sure which role is right for you? Learn more about how we work and how to get on our radar.
Application deadline: August 14, 2026