UCLA Biodesign Discovery Fellow

Description

Help shape the future of healthcare innovation.

The UCLA Biodesign Discovery Fellowship is a highly immersive, year-long program designed for accomplished professionals in medicine, nursing, engineering, design, business, and related fields who are passionate about solving meaningful healthcare challenges. Beginning in September 2027, Fellows will join UCLA Health, one of the nation's leading academic health systems, to identify and develop transformative medical technologies that improve patient care.

As a Discovery Fellow, you will collaborate within a multidisciplinary team of innovators, clinicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs to uncover unmet clinical needs and translate them into impactful solutions. Through direct mentorship from faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and industry leaders across the medtech ecosystem, you will gain hands-on experience with proven methodologies in clinical innovation, product development, and healthcare entrepreneurship.

The fellowship begins with an intensive innovation bootcamp, followed by approximately two months of clinical immersion across UCLA Health settings. During this phase, Fellows observe firsthand the realities of patient care, identify critical healthcare challenges, and evaluate opportunities for innovation. The remainder of the program focuses on needs validation, concept development, prototyping, and early commercialization strategy with guidance from experienced mentors and subject matter experts.

Fellows gain access to UCLA's robust innovation infrastructure, including:

• Clinical and healthcare operations experts

• Health IT resources and data science support

• Advanced prototyping and fabrication facilities

• Bench-top testing capabilities

• Patient simulation environments

• UCLA's extensive entrepreneurial and startup ecosystem

UCLA is consistently recognized as one of the world's leading universities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup creation. The Biodesign Discovery Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and business while building solutions with the potential to transform lives.

If you are energized by complex challenges, driven by innovation, and motivated to create meaningful impact in healthcare, we encourage you to apply.

Learn more: biodesign.ucla.edu

Compensation: $74,445 - $152,460 annually

Appointment: One-year limited-term fellowship with potential pathways to extended opportunities

Application Deadline: October 16, 2026

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Design, Business, Nursing, Medicine, or a related field (e.g., MS, PhD, MBA, MSN, MD) or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated interest in healthcare innovation, technology development, entrepreneurship, or product commercialization.

• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in product development, software development, medical technology, product design, engineering, or related industries.

• Demonstrated entrepreneurial initiative, including startup, innovation, research commercialization, or new product development experience.

• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Passion for improving patient outcomes through technology and innovation.

UCLA Health welcomes all individuals, without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or disabilities, and we proudly look to each person’s unique achievements and experiences to further set us apart.