Rice Venture Creation Postdoctoral Fellow

Special Instructions to Applicants: Please attach two PDFs with the information below to the Supporting Documents section of the application. Should there be any issues with uploading the documents, please email attachments to Bichtien.Thach@rice.edu.

PDF 1. Curriculum Vitae

PDF 2. Statement of Interest addressing the following prompts:

• Why are you interested in this opportunity over a "typical" postdoc?
• What makes an effective translational technology?
• What do you hope to accomplish in this role?
• Applications that do not include a Statement of Interest will not be considered.

The Rice Biotech Launch Pad is a startup accelerator in the Office of Innovation whose mission is to accelerate the translation of Rice University discoveries and technologies into clinical practice to provide rapid patient access to leading-edge therapeutic products. 

Position Summary:

The Biotech Launch Pad at Rice University and RBL LLC has two openings for a full-time Venture Creation Fellow. We seek highly motivated and strategic Venture Creation Fellows to bridge the gap between academic research and a venture-backable startup concept. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and stakeholder engagement to ensure success. This position is for an initial term of one year, with the possibility of renewal for up to three years, contingent upon performance, funding availability, and institutional needs.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate for the Venture Creation Fellow role is an entrepreneurial and strategic thinker with a passion for innovation and startup development. They are proactive, adaptable, and thrive in fast-paced environments where they can take initiative and drive new ideas forward. They are comfortable working with cross-functional teams, including product developers, scientists, and business stakeholders, to build and refine innovative solutions.

Salary

We offer a base salary of $65,000/year, plus benefits. This position is funded by soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding. 

Start date 

The selected candidate will begin employment no later than September 1, 2025.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. or other doctoral degree conferred within the past 5 years 

Skills Required:

• Strong technical background in inventing and developing biotechnology
• Proficiency in prototyping and data generation for risk assessment
• Ability to engage and collaborate with scientific and clinical experts

Preferences:

• Entrepreneurial Mindset
  • Willingness to take risks and embrace uncertainty
  • Proactive and resourceful in solving problems
  • Strong sense of initiative and adaptability
• Market Research & Customer Discovery
  • Ability to gather and analyze market trends
  • Strong curiosity about customer needs and pain points
  • Willingness to engage in customer interviews and feedback collection
• Business & Financial Acumen
  • Basic understanding of business models and revenue streams
  • Familiarity with financial concepts like budgeting, forecasting, and cost structures
  • Awareness of funding mechanisms (grants, investors, bootstrapping)
• Product Development & Prototyping
  • Knowledge of the product development lifecycle
  • Basic skills in prototyping and testing to validate ideas
  • Ability to assess product-market fit
• Networking & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Strong communication skills to connect with advisors, mentors, and industry experts
  • Ability to build relationships with early customers, investors, and partners
  • Comfort in collaborating with cross-functional teams
• Pitching & Storytelling
  • Ability to articulate business ideas clearly and persuasively
  • Confidence in delivering presentations and elevator pitches
  • Basic skills in creating pitch decks and business plans
• Resilience & Learning Agility
  • Openness to feedback and continuous learning
  • Ability to handle setbacks and iterate on ideas
  • Growth mindset with a passion for innovation

Essential Functions:

• Fellows will partner with an entrepreneur-in-residence at RBL LLC.
• Identify a clinical or technological unmet need; interview clinicians and experts to understand
• Develop and/or val