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Working/Functional Title

Physical Sciences Technology Transfer Fellow

Position Summary

Summary:

MSUT Intellectual Property Officers are Technology Managers who provide technology evaluations, high quality licensing strategy, outreach to industry and others interested in commercializing University and jointly owned technology, negotiation of business terms, license agreement development, and execution. Tech Transfer Fellows support Technology Managers and MSUT Coordinators, have a background on the technology’s developmental and marketing needs, and will develop and maintain productive relationships with faculty inventors and corporate representatives to build a pipeline of invention disclosures and licenses. This position works under the supervision of the Associate Director and assigned Technology Managers to manage technologies with applications in physical sciences, including engineering and related disciplines. This position will need to be available to handle technologies across all similar applications as needs arise within MSUT.

Duties and Responsibilities:

45% - Faculty Engagment (outreach):

• Develop and manage strong relationships with faculty inventors and prospective inventors.
• Work with faculty and graduate researchers to identify potentially protectable and marketable intellectual property. This could include identifying candidate projects by screening grant awards and scientific publications.
• Promote the transfer of information, knowledge, and expertise from the University to the general public.
• Is committed to leadership and excellence in the delivery of technical and educational information and knowledge to off campus clienteles.
• Consult with, collaborate with, train, and support faculty, students and other clientele in the development of service/outreach programs.
• Develop independent projects/programs or is involved in projects directed by others. 
• Disseminate to students/professionals/clientele groups relevant research findings and technical information for practical application. 
• Conduct needs assessment studies and applied research with the ability to work out an appropriate solution for the people and groups involved. 
• May be a liaison with, respond to requests from, and/or develop cooperative programs with other universities, agencies, and organizations as well as the general public. 

45% - Technology Management:

Work under the direction of the Technology Manager to license technologies including evaluate and screen disclosures; identify and qualify licensees; assist with marketing strategies and plans; draft business terms for license agreements; manage agreements; interact with MSU Office of the General Counsel and outside patent attorneys on legal and intellectual property matters. Assist Technology Manager to manage portfolio of technologies including some complex technologies and issues. With the Technology Manager and Associate Director, build knowledge base related to the physical science technologies most frequently under MSUT responsibility.

10% - Agreement Management: 

• Negotiate Material Transfer Agreements, Confidential Disclosure Agreements and Data Use Agreements under the supervision of the MTA/CDA Coordinator and Associate General Counsel.
• Support the administration of agreements using established processes and the office database.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Engineering or Physical Sciences

Minimum Requirements

• Candidates must have the capacity to comply with federally mandated requirements of U.S. export control laws.
• The successful candidate will have a master’s level education or above, and a minimum of one to three years’ educational experience in an engineering or physical sciences discipline in combination with experience in a university technology transfer office.

Desired Qualifications

Demonstration of the following attributes is preferred:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, self-starter, works well with others, pays close attention to detail, ability to prioritize, and follows through on tasks.
• The ability to manage/coordinate multiple tasks and to work successfully with academic scholars, entrepreneurs, industry executives and staff.
• Experience in or with university technology transfer, preferably including experience triaging incoming invention disclosures is a plus.
• Knowledge of intellectual property is highly desirable.
• Interest in an alternative career in technology transfer is desired.

Required Application Materials

Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter with their application. 

Special Instructions

To view information about the MSU Technologies office and the MSU Innovation Center, please review the website: https://innovationcenter.msu.edu/tech-transfer-commercialization/

Review of Applications Begins On

07/12/2023

Website

https://innovationcenter.msu.edu/tech-transfer-commercialization/

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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