Description

Summary

The UT MD Anderson Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) translates institutional research into market-ready drugs, devices, diagnostics, and therapies. Part of the broader Strategic Industry Ventures team, it protects intellectual property, markets inventions, negotiates licenses with biotech and pharma partners, and helps launch faculty-led startup companies.

The Intellectual Property Specialist facilitates the licensing and commercialization of technology developed at the institution by working with faculty and staff to identify and evaluate new inventions, marketing to and initiating contacts with potential licensees, and negotiating and closing licensing agreements.

The ideal candidate will have exposure to oncology subject matter through technology evaluation, intellectual property assessment, or research translation activities. Strong collaboration skills and the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts with faculty are essential. Candidates located outside Texas must be open to relocating to the Texas or greater Houston area to support weekly onsite meetings.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluates new invention disclosures for patentability and technical merit through review of disclosure materials, prior art searching, and consultation with inventors.
• Prepares internal assessments and recommendations to support decisions regarding patent filing.
• Manages patent prosecution activities for assigned matters, working directly with outside counsel and inventors to guide drafting, filing, and response strategies.
• Coordinates prosecution actions and advance intellectual property protection, consulting with senior staff as appropriate to ensure alignment with institutional policies and portfolio objectives.
• Serves as a primary contact for faculty inventors regarding invention disclosures and patent prosecution activities.
• Facilitates communication between inventors and outside counsel and provide guidance on disclosure preparation and the patent prosecution process.
• Collaborates with internal team members to support coordinated intellectual property portfolio development, contributing technical insight and participating in evaluation discussions related to inventions and ongoing patent matters.
• Other duties as assigned.