Skysong Innovations Fellow

The Skysong Innovations (SI) Fellows Program is an education program available to graduate (Masters/PhD/MBA/JD) students and Post-Doctoral Fellows at Arizona State University (ASU) with a focus on the physical and/or life sciences. The program concentrates on providing support for the assessment of the commercial potential of new technologies disclosed to SI. Working with SI, ASU’s exclusive intellectual property management and technology transfer organization, Fellows will be exposed to a wide range of emerging technologies and commercialization opportunities that are developed by ASU researchers in the physical and/or life sciences areas. Participants will interact with technology transfer professionals across multiple areas within SI.

SI Fellows will be expected to commit between 5-20 hours per week and a minimum participation of (1) one year.

What You’ll Do

Experiential Component

• Participate in a paid internship program focusing on assessing technical, commercial, and intellectual property (IP) aspects of ASU technologies, and assisting in the development and execution of commercialization and patenting strategies for ASU technologies
• Review invention disclosures submitted to SI for purposes of IP protection, including but not limited to following up with principal inventors (PI) regarding technical information regarding their disclosed technologies
• Work with SI’s business development team in the marketing and licensing of ASU-owned technologies, including preparing marketing materials, identifying marketing targets, and facilitating discussions between interested parties and ASU PIs regarding the technologies
• Engage with SI’s outside patent counsel in the preparation and prosecution of ASU-owned IP through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as patent offices of various foreign jurisdictions
• Assist the Life Science team in creating and fostering relationships with various faculty, schools, departments, and labs at ASU to promote and educate PIs on IP and commercialization activity at ASU
• Engage with outside investors, venture capital operations, accelerators, and/or incubators in furtherance of SI’s commercialization efforts
  
  

Instructional Component

• Participate in a series of activities and direct training that will provide the necessary elements to perform assessments of new technologies at SI
• Receive instruction on U.S. Patent Law as it relates to the preparation and prosecution of patent applications
• Receive instruction on aspects of marketing university technology and negotiating license agreements for university IP
• Other duties as assigned
  
  

What You'll Need

• Proficiency in scientific discipline with the ability to be trained in the feasibility of the commercial potential of scientific work
• Ability to clearly communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex scientific ideas
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent time management skills with the demonstrated ability to deliver projects on time
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to ASU Enterprise Partners, Skysong Innovations, and Arizona State University
• Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations involving numerous and sometimes competing constituencies
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to represent the institution well
• An advocate’s belief in the vision of ASU as the New American University
• Attention to detail and thoroughness in completing assigned duties
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects
  
  

Relevant Qualifications

• Arizona State University student at the master’s, doctoral, post-doctoral level, or professional level (MBA/JD)
• An ASU student at the master’s, doctoral, post-doctoral level, or professional level (MBA/JD) with the availability to work 5-20 hours per week. The SI Fellows Program requires a student to commit to a minimum participation of (1) one year and must be eligible to work in the U.S. in an off-campus position.
• A student must be willing to sign and abide by a confidentiality and invention-assignment agreement and must obtain consent from an acadmeic advisor/supervisor.
  
  

Application Documents

• Resume
• Statement of Interest
  
  

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule. We work from home on Mondays and Fridays!
• $30 bi-weekly cell phone reimbursement
• Hands-on experience in a professional environment
• Professional development plans
• Opportunity to network with ASUEP leaders and other ASU students
• Access to LinkedIn Learning and their 8,000 courses
• Professional skills workshops
  
  

At ASU Enterprise Partners

ASU Enterprise Partners is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide an ecosystem of services to create solutions and generate resources to extend Arizona State University’s reach and advance its charter. ASU Enterprise Partners supports ASU and several affiliates, including the ASU Foundation for a New American University, ASU Outreach Hub, ASURE, NEWSWELL, Skysong Innovations and University Realty.

ASU Enterprise Partners is home to several Centers of Excellence whose purpose is to provide professional services to its affiliates. The Centers of Excellence include Finance, General Counsel, Investments, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Human Resources, Facilities and Operations, Data Analytics and Insights Planning, Budgeting and Strategy, and Technology and Solutions. 

At ASU Enterprise Partners

We serve

ASU and one another with integrity, trust and compassion

We engage

step up, own it, collaborate

We innovate.

continuously, fearlessly, make decisions and take risks

We care

that everyone feels respected and valued for who they are

Skysong Innovations is an Equal Opportunity Employer