Longtime readers of the Fuentek blog know that we have a lot of experience setting up new internship programs for technology transfer offices (TTOs). From planning the program to selecting the candidates to training and mentoring the interns, we’ve done it all. We even published a white paper about it. So today I’d like to have a little fun while I share Fuentek insights about tech transfer internship programs.
Now that we’ve sprung forward into Daylight Savings Time, it is also time for university technology transfer offices (TTOs) to spring ahead with their summer internship programs. March is usually the month when TTOs issue their “Apply Now” announcements for summer interns. But all is not lost for TTOs who are just getting started. Although there are significant advantages when you begin planning a new summer internship program the previous fall, March is not too late to start. For example, it was last spring when a university TTO asked Fuentek for help with establishing their internship program. They wanted to start that coming summer, so we jumped in to help them, using the tricks that we have learned over our long history of establishing effective internship programs…
Updated September 2016 • Even though next summer feels far away, now is the time to begin planning for next summer’s internship program, especially if you’re establishing a new one. Ideally, interns should begin working in the technology transfer office (TTO) at the beginning of the summer following the first year of their graduate program. If you start planning now, you can have the call for applicants go out in early March, interview and select candidates in April, and train them in May.
Last week, I was talking with a tech transfer professional about our webinar to train interns on performing technology screenings. And the question came up: Why interns? Shouldn’t technology managers screen technologies? I can understand why he asked.
This Story from the Field is based on Fuentek’s real-world experience with training tech transfer interns at a major research university. The tech transfer office hired interns to begin work at the start of the fall semester. Kick-off training sessions were held in late August and early September, before academic classes ramped up. These sessions provided an overview of the tech transfer process. They also gave basic information about the stages of intellectual property (IP) management. Fuentek then provided an in-depth series of webinars over 4 weeks.
Get useful tech transfer tips and news delivered right to your inbox!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive emails from: Fuentek, LLC. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.
