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Cancer Research Training Awards: Agreement Negotiation Track

The NCI's Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) Fellowship Program is designed to provide advanced training in the application of state-of-the-art techniques of technology transfer to effectively disseminate information on advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.

The Technology Transfer Center is responsible for managing the intellectual property portfolio for the scientists working at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other NIH Institutes under the Competitive Service Center. These responsibilities require that the successful candidate possess an advanced degree in the sciences. Additional degrees or related experience in law or business are desirable. For some fellowship positions within the TTC, an advanced degree in law is required. In the TTC, CRTA Fellows work with the TTC's senior staff as well as NCI scientists and outside collaborators such as pharmaceutical companies, universities and other research institutions in the development of new technology for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Through this placement Fellows are exposed to a wide range of interesting and complex issues in the area of biotechnology, patent law, and licensing.

Work may be in one of five Units, each Unit serving the needs of the NCI Division(s) or NIH Institutes to which it is assigned. Fellows serve all the technology transfer and customer service needs of the laboratories in the Division or Institute to which he/she is assigned.

Work will be under the direction of a Unit Coordinator/Supervisor and typically includes:

a) managing the Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and potential inventions involving all interested parties including:

• advising pharmaceutical and other commercial organizations as well as universities and other non-profit institutions about the suitability of their proposed projects to the research and development goals of the NCI;
• working closely with industrial, academic and assigned Division/Institute scientists in originating and drafting CRADAs; and
• representing the NCI or client NIH Institute in negotiating CRADAs with the profit and non-profit organizations who will be parties to said agreements, including planning and execution.

b) planning, negotiating and executing Material Transfer Agreement (MTAs), Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDAs), Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs), and other agreement types as needed for the assigned Division/Institute laboratories;

c) overseeing patent-related issues for the assigned Division/Institute laboratories;

d) helping to develop and conduct educational programs designed to train scientists about technology transfer issues, CRADAs, etc.;

e) generating periodic activity reports for the assigned Division/Institute laboratories; and

f) other duties as needed: each Unit has unique needs such as assisting in the protection of trademark applications, drafting and editing new technology transfer agreements, involvement in responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, etc.

Location: The TTC has two offices. The main office is located in Rockville, Maryland. A satellite office is located in Frederick, MD.

Eligibility: Fellows must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (must have green card), eligible for citizenship within four years. Those who have received their most current degree more than eight years ago are not eligible for the CRTA Program.

Program duration: Initial award is for one-year with potential renewal for up to five years. Renewal is based on demonstrated progress in the training assignment and mutual agreement between the Fellow and the appropriate NCI sponsor.

Stipends: Stipends are determined by the level of education and number of years post-graduation. Stipends are paid monthly in arrears. Annual stipend increases are given on the Fellow's anniversary date.

Benefits:

1) Travel may be authorized for the Fellow toward one move to a duty station. The maximum travel allowance is not to exceed $2,500.

2) Health insurance is available through the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). The TTC pays the insurance premium for Fellows for individual or family coverage through FAES.

3) Fellows are permitted the equivalent of a first year federal employee's annual and sick leave. Thirteen days of annual leave and 13 days of sick leave are granted on an annual basis.

Application process:

To apply to the TTC, please submit a copy of your resume or CV and a statement of interest explaining why you are interested in the TTC's Cancer Research Training Award Fellowship Program. Also, have two (2) letters of recommendation sent on your behalf to the TTC. These materials can be faxed:

Attention Karen Griffin@ (fax #: 301-402-2117)

or mailed:

Technology Transfer Center,
National Cancer Institute,
6120 Executive Blvd.,
Suite 450, Rockville, MD 20852,
Attn: Karen Griffin.

October 17, 2003