Market Research Student Associate

The University of Arizona (UA) Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) is seeking a self-motivated, responsible, graduate-level (or higher) student individual to join the Market Research team in the Student Associate position. This position reports directly to TLA’s Market Research Manager. 

TLA helps UA employees take their research and innovations outside of academia to drive economic and social impact in a process known as commercialization. This includes identifying and protecting intellectual property (IP), licensing innovations to existing companies, and/or helping innovators build new start-up companies. The primary role of TLA's Market Research team is to research and write reports assessing the market landscape around projects disclosed to TLA and how those factors (competing products, prior art/patents, published research) impact the commercialization path. Commercialization Assessment Reports evaluate a project’s potential based on conclusions of research and understanding of the commercialization environment and are used for making business decisions by TLA licensing managers and innovators.

The Market Research Student Associate is responsible for reviewing, editing, and expanding on research in drafted Commercialization Assessment Reports (CAR) prepared by the Market Research Student Analysts to ensure the report meets TLA standards for completeness and presentation. These reviews ensure the content aligns with the technology as described in the invention disclosure, as well as standard copy-editing tasks including spelling and grammar. Due to the technical nature of projects, experience/knowledge in these areas related to the major IP generating colleges is desired: Optical Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture, Science, Software, and Law.

TLA’s Market Research team only has two Associate positions available for graduate-level (and above) students. One Associate is responsible for reviewing Life Sciences projects (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, chemistry, etc.) and the other is responsible for reviewing Physical Sciences projects (ex: optics, engineering, etc.).

Position Duties

  • Gain a basic understanding of the disclosed IP’s functionality, capabilities, competitive landscape, and potential applications
  • Review and edit Commercialization Assessment Report drafts in a timely manner
  • Provide additional content to the drafted report as needed. This may involve conducting in-depth online research from a variety of information sources about patents, research publications, industry market size, statistics, competing products, and/or companies.
  • Provide comments and feedback to Market Research Manager based on reviews
  • Keep the Market Research Manager updated on workflow and completion of reviews
  • Other special projects as needed

Minimum Requirements

  • Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Graduate Student level or higher NOT on a Research/Teaching Assistantship contract 
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written 
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple projects 
  • Ability to independently manage, track, and execute several tasks and projects simultaneously 
  • Ability to manage time appropriately to meet project deadlines
  • Ability to execute work with thoroughness and attention to detail 
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and Box
  • Ability to commit to working up to 10 hours per week during the academic semester; up to 20 hours per week during summer

Preferred Requirements

  • Successful work experience in a technical or market research capacity (applicable educational experience can be applied)
  • Previous work experience in life sciences, physical sciences, optics, and engineering or any relevant science
  • Lab experience in a research setting
  • Ability to work over summer months 
  • Ability to make a year-long commitment
  • Excellent writing skills 
  • Keen interest in technology commercialization and intellectual property 

Other Details

  • 10 hours per week during academic semester; up to 20 hours per week during summer
  • $19/hour
  • Remote work allowed upon completion of in-person training 
  • Tech Launch Arizona's offices are located off-campus (1600 E. Idea Lane, Tucson, AZ 85713)

Get details and apply on Handshake, #9720350

If you have questions, contact Anne Gardner, anneg@tla.arizona.edu.