Many technology transfer positions both in the US and abroad are at research universities. Lucas Laursen discusses this field and making the transition to tech transfer in an article titled “Transferring Skills to Tech Transfer.”  For advice on “Breaking into Technology Transfer,” read an article from Helen Latham.  For more information, check out the PhD career guide and consider how to choose a career path in technology transfer.

Read about Angela Loihl’s transition from bench research to tech transfer.

• Assistant Technology Manager
• Associate Director of Corporate and Strategic Partnerships
• Chief Financial Officer
• Director of Licensing
• Director of New Ventures
• Entrepreneurial Investment Manager
• Intellectual Property Manager
• Licensing Assistant/Associate/Manager/Specialist
• Research Support Manager
• Technology Licensing Director
• Technology Manager
• Technology Transfer Associate
• Technology Transfer Liaison

• The best way to get experience in tech transfer is to do an internship
  • UCSF Innovation, Technology, and Alliances
  • NIH Technology Transfer Fellowship Program
  • UNFCCC Internship of Climate Change Technology Transfer
• Take a technology transfer training course through PraxisUnico
• Take additional courses such as UC Berkeley Extension's Marketing or Technical Writing classes
• Really serious? Consider an MBA or law degree

• Nearly every research University
  • Some examples: Rockefeller University, Cal Poly, UCSF, Ohio State University, California Institute of Technology
  • Universities in Germany, UK, and Norway
• Biotech Companies such as Pfizer and Genentech
• Non-profits such as LABioMed

• Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
• Licensing Executives Society (LES)
• Association of European Science and Technology Transfer Professionals (ASTP)
• Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL)
• California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)
• Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO)

Good question! Find out by completing an assessment.

• If you're in basic or biomedical sciences, use AAAS's My Individual Development Plan Assessment Tool, which OCPD co-created. Answer three assessments and it will calculate and compare your skills/interests/values responses to key factors for 60 different career paths within 20 different career categories that are options for you as a scientist.
• If you're in social or population sciences, use the ImaginePhD Skills, Interest, and Values Assessments. Make an account for free and then click the Assessments tab at the top. They will match your skills, interests, and values to families of jobs and provide resources for learning more about the jobs in the families that are best suited to you.

Come to our event to hear PhDs in technology transfer and intellectual property careers talk about how their values played into their career decisions and help them find satisfaction in their current roles. You'll reflect on your own values and then can ask follow-up questions to determine whether work this field aligns with your values.

Tech Transfer jobs don't have a "typical" day. Tech Transfer professionals interact with many different stakeholders in many ways. Having a PhD, analytical skills, and broad interests are good prerequisites for this work!

Take a look at some sample job descriptions.

Internship opportunity examples.

**these are meant to serve only as examples. Actual job listing may be closed.

Resources for your online job search.

• techtransfercentral.com/job-listings
• http://careercenter.autm.net/jobseeker/search/results/
• https://vortechsgroup.com/technology-transfer-jobs/