Are you interested in science and technology as well as business? Do you enjoy meeting with many different types of people, negotiating, public speaking, and traveling to distant parts of the globe? If so, you might enjoy a career as an industry liaison officer.
Industry liaison officers weave the connection between industry and universities. They help researchers license their inventions. And they find companies to fund research projects. They also help industry to communicate their research needs to university scientists.
Steven Price is the director of university-industry relations at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After receiving his PhD in genetics, Price was hired as a junior scientist with an oil company. Before long, he moved into management and became responsible for disposing of the inventions of 35 scientists and moving their technology out of the laboratory.
In his job, Price learned about patents, venture capital, business formation, accounting and entrepreneurship.
Later, Price moved to Iowa State University. His job was to help market biotechnology to industry and to bring industrial money into the university. "This was a new occupation in the U.S. at that time," he says. "After a few years, I became the director of patent licensing. I ultimately brought in $35 million."
In 1994, Price applied for the director's job with the University of Wisconsin at Madison. While he worked for the oil company, he had continued to publish as a scientist. He was also involved with starting over 30 companies. "I think that these things helped me beat out the competition when I applied here," he says.
Price spends much of his time performing managerial and administrative tasks. He supervises 13 people and must ensure that all are moving towards the objectives that have been established. Much of his time is spent in meetings, answering technical questions and discovering any concerns that the corporations may have, or any concerns that the university may have regarding the technology transfer.
Plus, he manages a grant program that allocates money for research. "I also give talks here at the university on topics such as patent issues. Once a month, I give a talk out in the community."
The work involves international travel. Price's work has taken him to places like Scotland. He estimates that he is away one week out of four.
Although Price finds that dealing with personnel matters can be difficult, he considers most of his work to be stress-free. The highlight of his career occurred when he was working at Iowa State University. "I brought in 21 Japanese companies for infringement of a patent. I was involved in negotiating a multimillion-dollar licensing settlement," he says. "It was extremely exciting -- a real adrenaline rush."
People interested in this line of work would do well to have a technical background, Price advises. "Plus you need experience in industry. An understanding of law would be helpful, too. Then wrap it all up with great enthusiasm!"
Pamela Freeman works with a university. She contacts industry to discover what technologies they would like to see developed. "I approach from a different angle," she says.
Freeman has an MBA. She is also a certified management consultant (CMC). After working for 15 years in the private sector as a management consultant, Freeman heard about a new initiative under way at the university.
The university was looking for people to work with industry to determine their business needs. Then, the person would report to the university to determine whether the university is doing research in that area. Freeman was hired to help implement this new program.
"I just started here in May," she says. "So it is all very new." Freeman finds the work has similarities to her previous work. The job also offers variety and requires a lot of creativity.
"I have to understand that businesses are motivated in one way and researchers are motivated in another way," she says.
Freeman finds that she has to be able to "change gears" quickly. One moment, she could be talking to a businessperson about business needs. The next moment, she could be discussing a complex scientific issue with a researcher.
"I get to work with people across the campus and I get to work with people from companies that could be situated across the country or even internationally. It is just a great job!"
Freeman finds that the work is demanding -- there are always tight deadlines. "I thrive in this kind of stimulation," she says. "Without that type of energy level, I wouldn't enjoy the job."
There is no typical day. Freeman finds that she must respond to a lot of inquiries from industry, and that she must also initiate a number of contacts herself. At any time, she could be working on a number of different proposals. The work involves travel, public speaking, attending meetings or talking to people one to one. "Our job is really all about developing relationships, " she says.