Question: I am an attorney dealing with intellectual property issues, with an undergraduate degree in biology. (I couldn't decide if I wanted law or medicine as a career.) Recently someone told me about technology transfer jobs at universities that often combine law, medicine and business. How can I get more information?
—Bill

Response: Technology transfer is a term describing a formal transfer to the commercial/business sector of new discoveries and breakthroughs derived from scientific research conducted at universities. One way this occurs is by universities patenting the innovations of their professors.

The major steps in this process include:
1. the disclosure of innovations;
2. patenting the innovation concurrent with publication of scientific research;
3. licensing the rights to innovations to a company for commercial development.
The technology transfer officer at a university may be involved in conducting research to identify companies that can develop the product and/or writing a business plan to present to companies. Ultimately, university technology transfer officers manage intellectual property to help make the results of academic research available to the public. Additional benefits derived from useful products developed as a result of academic licensing include jobs created and/or supported to develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell the products.

Academic technology transfer in FY 1999–specifically the licensing of innovations by universities, teaching hospitals, research institutes, and patent management firms–added more than $40 billion to the U.S. economy and supported 270,000 jobs. It has helped to spawn new businesses, create industries, and open new markets. Moreover, it has led to new products and services that improve our quality of life.

Employment Outlook:
Academic institutions have seen a significant increase in technology transfer activity. According to the latest survey compiled by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), prior to 1980, fewer than 250 patents were issued to U.S. universities each year and discoveries were seldom commercialized for the public's benefit.

In contrast, In 1999, AUTM members reported that 3,914 new license agreements were signed. Between 1991 and 1999, annual invention disclosures increased 63% (to 12,324), new patents filed increased 77% (to 5,545) and new licenses and options executed increased 129% (to 3,914).

Salary:
Each year the College and University Personnel Association (CUPA), administers a salary survey on hundreds of administrative positions in academia, including the position Chief Technology Transfer Officer.

According to the latest survey, with respondents representing universities, colleges, and institutions of higher education, the national annual median salary for Chief Technology Transfer Officers was $109,000.

The median annual salary for universities in the 3rd quartile was $81,000 and the median annual salary for universities in the 4th quartile was $110,100. No data was reported for universities falling into the 1st and 2nd quartiles.

Salaries were based on those in effect as of September 15, 2000, and were at an annualized, full-time rate. For more information, see the website www.cupahr.org

Training Options:
According to a representative from the Association of University Technology Managers, there is no specific educational track to pursue before entering this field. Some employees are looking for lawyers, since there are a great deal of legal issues related to technology transfer, other employers are looking for candidates with a business background, and still others are looking for background and expertise in the specific research areas conducted by the university.

Association:
Association of University Technology Managers
60 Revere Drive, Suite 500,
Northbrook, IL 60062.
(847) 559-0846,
fax: (847) 480-9282
Website: www.autm.net
Denise Baran, Membership Manager
Joyce Paschall, Administrative Director
AUTM is a nonprofit association with membership of more than 3,000 technology managers and business executives who manage intellectual property-one of the most active growth sectors of the U.S. economy. AUTM's members represent over 300 universities, research institutions, teaching hospitals and a similar number of companies and government organizations.
Universities transfer technology to:
• Facilitate the commercialization of research results for the public good
• Reward, retain, and recruit faculty
• Induce closer ties to industry
• Generate income and promote economic growth
Benefits of membership include: annual licensing survey and results of other research activities, membership directory, annual and regional meetings, professional development courses and meetings, AUTM publications, public education.

Job Availability:
Since passage of the 1980 Bayl-Dole Act, almost all U.S. research universities have established an office of technology licensing intended to facilitate technology transfer to private companies.

The following are recent examples of job openings in the Los Angeles area. The UCLA online job site listed a position:

Technology Transfer Officer
Office of Intellectual Property Administration
Individual will evaluate incoming invention disclosures for patent potential and commercial viability. Will also market portfolio of unlicensed inventions to industry, formulate patent strategy and monitor patent prosecution.

Individual must have sufficient knowledge to be able to convey salient features of University technologies to engineering, information technology, and computer science companies.

Salary range is $4,925 to $8,858 per month, approximately $60,000 to $100,000 per year.
Submit resume to:
Campus Human Resources, Attn EM-71
10920 Wilshire Boulevard
Suite 205, Los Angeles, CA 90024-6504
Fax (310) 794-0895
In addition the AUTM online job board posted these positions:
Business Development Manager
UCLA.
Requires extensive knowledge in business development and technology transfer in a high-tech corporate business environment. Ideally this will be someone with experience in industry, who understands the university or research setting.

Individual will support development of business licensing terms, define and implement strategies for expanding industry-sponsored research and licensing for the major research schools, institutes and organized research units in the areas of biomedical and/or engineering.

Advanced degree in a related field strongly preferred.
Please submit resume to
Campus Human Resources.
Fax (310) 794-6504
Assistant Director
Office of Technology Alliances
UC Irvine.
The position provides guidance, service and support to the UCI life science faculty in identification, protection and commercialization of UCI's life science intellectual property.

The Assistant Director supervises a Life Sciences Team and provides leadership in developing strategies for the evaluation, patent prosecution, marketing, licensing and ongoing management of individual inventions in the subgroup's portfolio.

Salary Range: $71,500 to $114,400.
Send resume to Office of Technology Alliances
UC Irvine
380 University Tower
Irvine, CA 92697
Fax: (949) 824-2899