The Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship (DISF) is a summer fellowship program that provides undergraduate and graduate students as well as recent graduates a chance to serve their country by solving real-world national security problems in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Overview

  • DIU/NSIN hires fellows every summer to work on national security projects.
  • Full-time, project-based summer fellowships.
  • In-person, embedded with a military sponsor.
  • U.S. citizenship required
  • Open to undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates

About Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship (DISF)

The Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship, formerly known as the X-Force Fellowship, is a 10-week summer fellowship program that focuses on inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in national security. The program matches undergraduate, graduate, and recent graduate students with DIU Mission Partners to address real-world challenges in national security. Fellows engage in projects supporting DIU tech verticals including AI, Autonomy, Cyber and Telecom, Emerging Technology, Energy, Human Systems, and Space.

This is a 10-week, full-time (40 hours per week), paid opportunity where STEM student teams bring unconventional thinking and novel approaches to building solutions as embedded fellows with U.S. Department of Defense mission partners.

Important Dates

DECEMBER 23, 2024: Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship application opens for students

JANUARY 07, 14, 21, & 28th, 2025: Weekly “Ask me Anything” Sessions for prospective fellows at 4:00 p.m. EST. AMA Sessions will be hosted via Zoom; registration details will be available in January.

JANUARY 31, 2025: at 11:59 p.m. EST: Application closes for students

LATE-FEBRUARY - EARLY-MARCH, 2025: Fellow Interviews

LATE-FEBRUARY - EARLY-MARCH, 2024: Notification of Fellow Acceptances

JUNE 02, 2025: Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship 2024 Cohort Kickoff

AUGUST 8, 2025: Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship 2024 Cohort Concludes

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply?

Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates are eligible to apply for DISF. Top applicants will have demonstrated technical or entrepreneurial experience. Evidence of past self-directed work is strongly preferred.

Participants must be U.S. citizens.

Who is an ideal candidate for DISF?

Undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates are eligible to apply to the Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship. Top applicants will have demonstrated technical or entrepreneurial experience, particularly in their field of study. Evidence of past self-directed work is strongly preferred.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

Who is an ideal candidate for the Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship?

The Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship diversifies the national security innovation base by creating a new model of national security service. Minimal experience working with the military is not only acceptable, but preferred. Applicants with prior military or government work experience will be evaluated and accepted by exception.

Successful applicants should anticipate an expectation of proficiency in both technical and entrepreneurial skills. Strong candidates will have a robust technical skillset in STEM fields, solid project-based work, an entrepreneurial mindset, and demonstrated leadership ability. Additionally, applicants should have a demonstrated interest in one or more of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) various tech verticals including: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Autonomy, Cyber/Telecom, Emergy Technology, Energy, Human Systems, and Space.

What will participants be doing?

Fellows will embed with DoD partners for 10-weeks of applied problem solving. Participants will work on problems sponsored by the following DoD mission partners:

Participants will be expected to deliver a whitepaper, proof-of-concept, or early-stage prototype to their military sponsors upon the conclusion of the program.

In the past, Fellows have worked on a wide range of projects including hardware design and prototyping, software development, data analysis and visualization, technology scouting, communications and marketing strategy, and policy research. Fellows are matched with a problem and a DoD project military sponsor based on skill set, educational background, and interview feedback. Each Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship team will consist of 2-4 Fellows with complementary skill sets to ensure the creation of innovative, effective solutions.

Where will the program take place?

The 2025 Fellowship is expected to take place in-person. All Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship projects are sponsored by DoD organizations. Successful applicants will be notified of their specific placement in their acceptance letters. Fellows are expected to be located within commuting distance of their project sponsor for the duration of the summer.

The Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship will run from June 02 - Aug. 08, 2025.

Is this program paid?

All Fellows will be paid for the duration of the 10-week program. Additionally, certain projects may be provided a small budget for materials and other expenses related to the delivery of a solution to the project’s sponsor.

Will my housing, transportation, and meals be paid for?

No, but fellows are paid a competitive salary for the fellowship to ensure that they can cover these costs themselves for the duration of the program. Mission partners will also be able to provide insight into housing and transportation options at their respective locations.

Do I need a security clearance?

Security clearances may be needed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the project and the mission partner.

Who owns the intellectual property?

All intellectual property developed during the Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship program belongs to the program participants. However, students are required to turn over a copy of their product to their DoD sponsors at the close of the fellowship, with the understanding that the government retains government purpose rights to findings and solutions.

Questions about Defense Innovation Summer Fellowship?

Please direct any questions to DISF Program Manager, Ariel Fanger at afanger.ctr@nsin.mil.

Team