Employment at the Center for Commercialization

The Center for Commercialization’s mission is to make the University of Washington the best place in the world to do research by providing unparalleled commercialization support to our entrepreneurial and inventive researchers. The Center for Commercialization manages University of Washington intellectual property with the goal of extending the impact of UW research through the creation of partnerships that encourage investment in innovation.

The University of Washington is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoy outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

We have the following openings at the Center for Commercialization:

Engineering Technology Manager

C4C has an outstanding opportunity for a Technology Manager – Engineering. Reporting to the Director, Technology Licensing, the Technology Manager will work with faculty, UW Center for Commercialization staff, and outside investors to facilitate the formation of new companies founded to develop UW technologies, as well as licensing to existing and new companies. The Technology Manager exercises independent judgment and provides guidance and mentoring to new Technology Managers in the following areas:

  • Decision making process on patenting and market feasibility of disclosures;
  • Licensing negotiation skills – initiating contact, drafting of agreements, contract negotiation and revenue generation;
  • Commercialization process – as market evaluator, investment strategist, valuation expert;
  • Start-up formation – initiatives developed and company creation.

Lead Responsibilities:

Supporting the development of UW IP projects towards commercialization:

  • Identifying commercialization gap funding sources and facilitating application for those awards;
  • Connecting with industry experts, C4C Entrepreneurs in Residence, C4C Advisors, community angel investors, local technology associations;
  • Identifying and supporting marketing of the project through presentations at technology showcases and local events;
  • Reviewing and revising business pitches to attract investment in projects.

Marketing and licensing of UW innovations:

  • Using business acumen, negotiation and presentation skills to market and license UW innovations;
  • Identifying potential licensees;
  • Preparing informational materials regarding UW innovations;
  • Initiating contact, drafts and negotiates license agreements;
  • Responsible and accountable for revenue generation for technology portfolio.

Coordinating protection of UW intellectual property:

  • As appropriate, coordinates the protection of UW’s proprietary rights in innovations via patent, copyright, or trademark;
  • Patent-related responsibilities include:
    • Selecting patent attorney
    • Searching and reviewing background literature
    • Coordinating communication between attorneys and inventors
    • Monitoring patent applications’ progress
    • Managing patent expenses

Encouraging and evaluating new innovation disclosures:

  • Assessing new innovations generated by University faculty and researchers for their potential IP and marketability;
  • Recommending whether or not to commercialize innovations.
  • As appropriate, developing plans for effective transfer of technology to industry or a new business venture.

Providing service to UW and the broader community:

  • Educating UW community and private sector about commercialization and intellectual property;

Facilitating interactions between the campus and industry:

  • Working with Deans, Chairs, Directors, Faculty, Staff and Students to determine intellectual property protection and commercialization needs and implement strategies to meet those needs;
  • Conducting presentations to schools and departments regarding commercialization, communicate UW policies on patents, inventions, and copyrights;
  • Participating in local and regional business groups;
  • Serving as faculty resource for questions on UW policies related to conflict of interest, outside consulting, and other relevant issues.

Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in Engineering with strong technical background.
  • Some course work in business, marketing or law. Or a combination of education and experience.
  • Four (4) years’ experience in scientific research, corporate R&D, product or business development, or intellectual property law, or related field.
  • Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills;
  • Strong project management abilities and desire to move opportunities forward by creating a strategy and bringing together the resources to make it happen;
  • Strong advocacy skills for promising technologies;
  • Good business sense;
  • Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures;
  • Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies;
  • Effective at setting priorities and obtaining closure;
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues;
  • Ability to think creatively, then translate into viable action plan.
  • Flexibility and availability for local and national travel.
  • Flexibility and availability to work beyond the normal workday as needed.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

  • PhD
  • Commercialization experience in an academic or corporate environment focused on software licensing;

Condition of Employment:

  • This position will require some local and national travel.
  • This position also requires making presentations at and attending meetings that cannot be accommodated during the normal eight-hour workday.

To Apply, Visit and Search under Requisition 78257:

https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/

Bioengineering Technology Manager

We have an outstanding opportunity for a Bioengineering Technology Manager (Licensing Specialist) to oversee and advocate for the commercialization of the University’s intellectual property, facilitating the business development required in converting these innovations into marketable products and services.

The Bioengineering Technology Manager proactively sources promising new technologies for development, identifies areas of research strength to build into commercialization opportunities, facilitates University collaborations with industry, supports project development through identification of value added milestones and putting in place the resources to meet those milestones, oversees the intellectual property protection strategy, formulates licensing strategy, and drafts and negotiates licenses. The Bioengineering Technology Manager will work with faculty, C4C staff, and outside investors to facilitate the formation of new companies founded to develop UW technologies, as well as licensing to existing and new companies.

Lead Responsibilities:

Supporting the development of UW IP projects towards commercialization:

  • Identifying commercialization gap funding sources and facilitating application for those awards;
  • Connecting with industry experts, C4C Entrepreneurs in Residence, C4C Advisors, community angel investors, local technology associations;
  • Identifying and supporting marketing of the project through presentations at technology showcases and local events;
  • Reviewing and revising business pitches to attract investment in projects.

Marketing and licensing of UW innovations:

  • Using business acumen, negotiation and presentation skills to market and license UW innovations;
  • Identifying potential licensees;
  • Preparing informational materials regarding UW innovations;
  • Initiating contact, drafts and negotiates license agreements;
  • Responsible and accountable for revenue generation for technology portfolio.

Coordinating protection of UW intellectual property:

  • As appropriate, coordinates the protection of UW’s proprietary rights in innovations via patent, copyright, or trademark;

Patent-related responsibilities include:

  • Selecting patent attorney, searching and reviewing background literature, coordinating communication between attorneys and inventors, monitoring patent applications’ progress, and managing patent expenses.

Encouraging and evaluating new innovation disclosures:

  • Assessing new innovations generated by University faculty and researchers for their potential IP and marketability;
  • Recommending whether or not to commercialize innovations.
  • As appropriate, developing plans for effective transfer of technology to industry or a new business venture.

Providing service to UW and the broader community:

  • Educating UW community and private sector about commercialization and intellectual property;

Facilitating interactions between campus and industry:

  • Working with Deans, Chairs, Directors, Faculty, Staff and Students to determine intellectual property protection and commercialization needs and implement strategies to meet those needs;
  • Conducting presentations to schools and departments regarding commercialization, communicate UW policies on patents, inventions, and copyrights;
  • Participating in local and regional business groups;
  • Serving as faculty resource for questions on UW policies related to conflict of interest, outside consulting, and other relevant issues.

Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in bioengineering, chemistry, or a chemical engineering discipline. Some course work in business, marketing or law.
  • Two years’ experience in scientific research, corporate R&D, product or business development Or a combination of education and experience.
  • Flexibility and availability for making presentations at and attending meetings that cannot be accommodated during the normal eight-hour workday.
  • Flexibility and availability for local and national travel as required.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

  • PhD
  • Commercialization experience in an academic or corporate environment focused on technology licensing;
  • Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills;
  • Strong project management abilities and desire to move opportunities forward by creating a strategy and bringing together the resources to make it happen;
  • Strong advocacy skills for promising technologies;
  • Good business sense;
  • Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures;
  • Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies;
  • Effective at setting priorities and obtaining closure;
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues;
  • Ability to think creatively, then translate into viable action plan.

Condition of Employment:

  • This position will require some local and national travel. This position also requires making presentations at and attending meetings that cannot be accommodated during the normal eight-hour workday.

To Apply, Visit and Search under Requisition 78150:

https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/

IP Legal Interns/Externs

UW C4C accepts legal interns and externs (“interns”) who seek to learn about protecting and managing the University’s intellectual property. The IP legal interns assist Patent Agents/Attorneys and/or a Copyright/Trademark Manager in evaluating, protecting, and commercializing the University’s intellectual property.

Primary functions:

  • Patent Searches—Search prior art related to UW innovations and provide patent search reports.
  • Patent Prosecution—Provide support to the Patent Agents for prosecution related matters, such as reviewing and/or drafting applications, claim amendments, and Office Action responses, and performing legal research.
  • Copyright/Trademark—Perform a variety of tasks involving UW copyrightable content, including legal research, registrations, copyrightability analysis, drafting permission/licensing agreements, and performing due diligence. Provide support to the procurement and management of C4C project-related marks, including legal research, third party rights analysis, clearance search reports, drafting filings and Office Action responses, and providing general advice to researchers and startup companies on various trademark/branding aspects.

Requirements:

Patent Interns:

  • Technical degree or background in engineering or life sciences
  • Coursework or experience in patent law or prosecution
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Copyright/Trademark Interns:

  • Coursework or experience in copyright and trademark law
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

To Apply: Please send a resume, a short statement of interest in the body of the email (including interested position and terms), and an unofficial law school transcript (and undergraduate transcript for patent interns) to Matt Barker and Emily Sampson.

New Ventures Technology Commercialization Interns

C4C is recruiting graduate students with strong business and marketing skills, and an interest in technology commercialization. Our year-round Technology Commercialization Internship program is a joint project of C4C and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Students may be assigned to work on a specific start-up project, or with an Entrepreneur-in-Residence or a Technology Manager on multiple projects. Students become integral members of C4C start-up teams, conducting market research, developing business plans, and exploring funding potential.

The C4C New Ventures Unit coordinates resources to evolve ideas from initial concept to first-stage start-up financing. Not every innovation should lead to a start-up; sometimes the result of our process is the determination that the best path may be the pursuit of an opportunity to license to an existing company. The goal of New Ventures is to determine the viability of a new company as early as possible so that resources can be focused.

Requirements:

  • MBAs who have completed their first year of coursework, Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate students, or entrepreneurially savvy graduate students (completed core classes or significant relevant experience)
  • Experience/training in market research and analysis
  • Experience/training in business development
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
  • Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies
  • Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures

Primary functions:

  • Market research and competitive analysis to assess commercialization potential:
    • Write a market assessment report identifying target markets
    • Track, follow-up on, and report on marketing contacts, marketing efforts, and feedback
    • Compile descriptions of competitors and their products
  • Prepare non-confidential business opportunity summaries
  • Identify additional applications for the technology
  • Draft a business/strategy plan (or specific elements of a plan)
  • Identify and assist in applying for funding opportunities

Internship Details:

  • These unpaid internships are available year round.
  • Interns may opt to receive academic credit. Internships qualify for 2 credits per quarter as an independent study. This course is graded credit/ no credit only.
  • Expect to spend about 10 hours a week on a combination of meetings, phone calls, and independent research.
  • Interns report to the New Ventures Program Manager and are matched with high-priority projects according to experience and interest.

Benefits:

  • Opportunity to work with C4C’s experienced Technology Managers in identifying and supporting promising new technologies for development and commercialization.
  • Mentorship from C4C’s team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, seasoned entrepreneurs and business executives who work closely with teams on product and market development as they explore funding opportunities and staffing needs.
  • Opportunity to collaborate with UW’s entrepreneurial researchers across campus.
  • Invitations to entrepreneurial seminars, showcases, and networking events.
  • Letters of recommendation from Technology Managers and Entrepreneurs in Residence.
  • Development of concrete deliverables to add to your resume and/or portfolio.

To Apply: To apply, please send a resume and a statement of interest to Quinn Read at qread@uw.edu.

Technology Licensing Interns

UW C4C accepts interns who seek to learn about protecting and commercializing the University’s intellectual property. The Technology Licensing Intern assists Technology Managers in evaluating, protecting, and commercializing the University’s intellectual property.

Primary functions:

  • Marketing/Licensing—Prepare informational materials regarding innovations from the UW’s School of Medicine and science departments
  • Disclosures—evaluate innovation disclosures for appropriate next actions. Evaluate information relating to patent and market feasibility of these innovations

Requirements:

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Good business sense
  • Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures
  • Ability to absorb technical details of new technologies
  • Effective at setting priorities and obtaining closure
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with other colleagues
  • Master’s Degree
  • Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications
  • Ability to interact effectively in both the academic and corporate cultures

Desired:

  • Ph.D.
  • Some coursework in business, marketing, or law

To Apply: Please email a resume and a letter of interest to Jennifer McCullar, Technology Manager, mccullaj@uw.edu.