The Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-I) at the University of New Mexico seeks an Entrepreneur in Residence to advance quantum research toward commercial applications, industry partnerships, and new businesses in New Mexico. The consultant will support translation activities within QNM-I’s $3 million New Mexico Economic Development Department funding by identifying promising opportunities, building teams, and connecting projects with the resources needed to reach market.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Identify resources for commercialization. Map relevant researchers, technologies, facilities, equipment, entrepreneurial talent, industry partners, and funding sources at UNM and collaborating institutions.
• Assess commercial opportunities. Engage potential customers and industry partners to identify market needs. Evaluate technologies for commercial relevance, maturity, differentiation, intellectual property position, development requirements, and time to market.
• Build and maintain a prioritized opportunity portfolio. Recommend projects for advancement based on market potential, team readiness, available resources, and a credible commercialization pathway.
• Advance selected projects. Work with researchers and entrepreneurial leads to define milestones, assemble teams, develop business models, and pursue validation, prototypes, industry pilots, licensing, or startup formation as appropriate.
• Support and drive intellectual content for Entrepreneurial Boot Camps.
• Prepare teams for funding and partnerships. Develop business cases, presentations, and funding strategies; facilitate targeted introductions to customers, investors, collaborators, and commercialization funding programs.
• Document progress and build the next set of opportunities. Track project milestones, partner engagement, funding pursued and secured, and commercialization outcomes. Share results and lessons with participating researchers and partners.

Direction and Coordination

The consultant will report to the Director of QNM-I, who will establish project priorities and review deliverables. Services will focus on translation and commercialization, with external engagement and travel as needed to advance selected projects.

Support for Translation Programs

The consultant will advise program leads, recommend opportunities and partners, and provide commercialization expertise for the activities below. QNM-I and designated partners will lead program delivery, administration, event logistics, and communications production. Authorized university and laboratory offices will manage intellectual property and negotiate and execute agreements.

• University–laboratory–industry projects. Support development of interdisciplinary projects addressing commercially important use cases. Help teams prepare collaboration plans that connect academic research, national laboratories, and companies and identify intellectual property management needs, licensing opportunities, and required agreements. Coordinate input from the responsible technology-transfer and legal offices.
• Industry workshops. Support workshop planning with the Ellis School of Business Leadership by recommending application topics, participants, and commercial opportunities. Prioritize New Mexico companies and national laboratory partners. Participate in discussions and help define structured follow-up, responsible leads, and next steps toward active collaboration agreements and commercialization projects.
• Quantum entrepreneurship bootcamps and accelerators. Advise on program design and contribute mentoring in business planning, pitch development, and early-stage fundraising for students and faculty. Help connect UNM faculty and program leads with established accelerators and venture partners, such as Roadrunner, Playground, and Rainforest, to extend access to mentorship and capital beyond the programs and support new quantum-sector companies in New Mexico.
• Public awareness and marketing. Advise on commercial themes, industry and laboratory speakers, and partner participation for a recurring public seminar and engagement series. Contribute examples and review commercial content for accessible communications explaining QNM-I’s value and New Mexico’s quantum economy to business leaders, policymakers, students, and the public. Support participation in regional economic development convenings to strengthen partnerships and inform long-term public investment.

Contributions will be prioritized with the QNM-I Director within the agreed contract hours and budget. Monthly updates will document advice provided, introductions made, mentoring, and follow-up actions for the programs supported.

See the Position Description for additional information.

Please refer to posting information for specific minimum requirements for this classification description.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Greater than 10-years demonstrated experience translating research or early-stage technology into commercial products, industry adoption, and new businesses preferred, 5+ years minimum.
• Greater than 10-years demonstrated experience building and leading technology ventures, developing interdisciplinary teams, and mentoring researchers and entrepreneurs, 5+ years minimum.
• Experience assessing markets, developing business models, and securing commercialization grants, investment, and strategic partnerships across diverse deep technology disciplines.
• Established relationships within New Mexico’s entrepreneurial, investment, university, national laboratory, and industry communities.
• Ability to evaluate emerging quantum technologies with technical experts and translate their capabilities into credible customer applications and commercial opportunities.
• Strong execution, communication, and project management skills, with a record of delivering measurable results within limited budgets.
• PhD in a stem field preferred, MS at a minimum.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.