The NSRI Fellows program amplifies the University of Nebraska System's (NU) support to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies with national security missions by engaging leading researchers from the system's four campuses — University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO).

In 2012 the DOD designated NU as a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC), sponsored by U.S. Strategic Command. NSRI was formed to manage the UARC, provide support to USSTRATCOM mission areas and develop solutions to deter and counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) threats.

Addressing the complexities associated with the threats of today and of the future requires NSRI to optimally leverage NU resources. The fellows program does just that.