About this role
Job title: Technology Transfer Associate
About the Role The Technology Transfer Associate at UD supports faculty and inventors in identifying research results with patent potential and guiding them through assessment and commercialization. The role involves evaluating patentability, market viability, and development stage, and coordinating with legal, business development, and the OEIP network to move technologies toward licensing and partnerships.
What You'll Do
- Support faculty and inventors to identify patentable research results and manage all phases of assessment and commercialization.
- Review inventions for legal protectability, commercial viability, and stage of development, including prior art searches.
- Use business intelligence to vet disclosures, assess market potential, and understand potential markets and uses of the technology.
- Engage with legal personnel to develop intellectual property strategies, including high-quality provisional patent applications.
- Determine commercialization strategy and market technologies to licensing partners with established companies or startups.
- Develop and engage the University’s Subject Matter Expert Network to obtain key information for commercialization opportunities.
- Access Proof of Concept opportunities to advance product development based on commercialization research and insights.
- Collaborate with the OEIP and industry partners to identify commercialization opportunities; develop and execute option and confidentiality agreements, as well as collaboration agreements and research contracts.
- Cultivate high-trust relationships with faculty, units, and students; become familiar with innovation activities across units.
- Participate in university-wide and unit-specific communication and education regarding UD technology commercialization.
- Participate in data collection related to units and institutional metrics for technology commercialization.
- Work with industry relations and corporate engagement teams to enhance collaboration and innovation outcomes.
- Support sustainable partnerships by bridging gaps between research and commercial application of technology.
- Develop and maintain a network of industry contacts aligned with UD research innovation; align needs of academia and industry for successful, sustainable collaborations.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering‑related field.
- Interest or experience in intellectual property, licensing, and technology transfer.
- Ability to engage with legal, business development, and industry partners.
- Strong communication, networking, and relationship-building skills.
- Familiarity with university technology commercialization processes and a proactive, collaborative mindset.
Compensation & Benefits
- Total Rewards benefits are available; UD provides a compensation estimator to review the full package. No salary range is specified in the posting.