Upon embarking in my graduate studies, I was struck by the vast amount of amazing research that happens on a daily basis. On the other hand, I felt disheartened by the substantial amount of research that failed to make a tangible impact in the “real world.” This realization highlighted the critical importance of effectively commercializing discoveries and optimizing technologies for their practical application. I aspired to pursue a career with a direct, translational impact.
Sophie Yount
To gain a more comprehensive perspective, I joined Emory’s Biotech Consulting Club. Through this club, I discovered its intimate collaboration with Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). After meeting with Dr. Catherine Murari-Kanti, senior licensing associate and the internship program coordinator, I felt inspired to join OTT as an intern.
As an intern with OTT, I was exposed to the fascinating, new-to-me field of technology transfer. The initial bootcamp provided a solid foundation for understanding key aspects within the field. It covered general patent structure, key patent elements, patentability assessment for disclosed technologies, and effective patent strategies to ensure technologies reach the people and patients who need them. Additionally, the bootcamps offered insights into commercialization strategies and marketing, fundamental components for bringing innovations to market. Throughout the internship, I assessed patentability and determined intellectual property filing strategy for disclosed technologies. I also had the pleasure of collaborating with the marketing team, authoring technology briefs to attract licensees. This role enabled me to comprehend a wide array of innovative research, from antiviral therapeutics to imaging software, through a unique lens. The internship honed my ability to evaluate innovations for both their scientific merit and commercialization potential — a skill I would not have developed without this experience and one that will undoubtedly benefit my future career. While graduate school research is certainly challenging, this exposure to new research fields enhanced my ability to grasp new concepts. Overall, the experience broadened my perspective on the exciting innovations happening close to my own lab and was entirely invigorating.
Beyond the technical knowledge gained, the most significant benefit of this internship was the opportunity to work with the talented individuals at OTT. Each team member I interacted with was genuinely invested in my professional development and eager to help advance my skill set. The weekly techHuddle meetings provided invaluable experience in collaborative teamwork, where mutual trust and diverse perspectives were highly valued. Learning from this cohesive team illustrated the power of coordinated efforts toward achieving a common goal. This internship has afforded me an invaluable opportunity to apply my scientific expertise in new ways and reignited my passion for working at the intersection of science and business. If you are contemplating a career outside of academia, I cannot recommend the OTT internship enough!
— Sophie Yount
Learn more about OTT’s internship program and how to apply at bit.ly/ott_interns.