Assistant Director, Business Development and Licensing

Department

SING Polsky Business Development & Licensing

About the Department

The Polsky Center’s mission is to advance innovative ideas and technologies from the University of Chicago ecosystem to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center
supports faculty, students, staff, and alumni, as well as other entrepreneurs and community-based small business owners, in navigating the complex process of bringing new products, services, and research to market. The Polsky Center’s programming includes a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; a multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures; and deep tech accelerators focused on quantum, data science and AI, and clean tech. In addition, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

Job Summary

As a senior member of the Business Development and Licensing team, the Assistant Director develops and manages strong relationships with faculty members across the University who are engaging in translational research and works with industry partners and investors to bring new discoveries to the market. The Assistant Director is responsible for a diverse portfolio and works as part of the Polsky Center’s Technology Ventures team of intellectual property, contract, business development, and entrepreneurship specialists who protect and license inventions to existing companies and startups.

As part of their portfolio, the Assistant Director will be responsible for managing intellectual property, facilitating industry partnerships, and supporting the commercialization of oncology-related innovations from the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center. Key responsibilities include evaluating cancer-related invention disclosures, managing patenting and licensing strategies, negotiating agreements with industry partners, and guiding faculty in translating research discoveries into commercial opportunities. The role requires close collaboration with researchers, clinicians, and external stakeholders to advance the development and deployment of novel cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and technologies.

This position develops and implements program related to identification, investigation, and negotiation of licensing opportunities for permission to use intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents or technology. Solves complex problems related to the transfer and use of intellectual property. Provides expertise to faculty to transform ideas and discoveries into patents, licenses, products, services, and ventures.

Responsibilities

• Manages a diverse portfolio of technologies and works with a team of internal and external specialists to protect and license inventions for existing companies and startups. Uses transactional expertise and understanding of legal issues to draft, negotiate, execute, and manage intellectual property licenses and other agreements.  
• Uses depth and breadth of knowledge to build strong relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and actual licensees, and colleagues that promote the mission and business of the department.  
• Drafts, negotiates, executes, and manages intellectual property licenses and other agreements, such as licenses, options, inter-institutional agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, and negotiation of intellectual property terms in other agreements, as needed.
• Screens inventions for commercialization potential; evaluates and decides which inventions and software to pursue.
• In partnership with the Intellectual Property team, provides insights into the commercial aspects of inventions during the intellectual property protection process.
• In partnership with marketing colleagues, assists in the development and execution of marketing outreach for intellectual property assets.
• In partnership with the IP Compliance and Finance teams, ensures that all agreements are properly recorded in the intellectual property database of record and supports licensee relationship management and compliance activities.
• Collaborates with faculty members, researchers, colleagues, and other individuals across campus along with industry partners to achieve shared transactional objectives.
• Establishes and cultivates strong relationships with inventors, legal counsel, prospective and current licensees, University Research Administration, the Office of Corporate Engagement, and Polsky Center colleagues to promote the University’s mission and its Polsk