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Meet the 2019–2020 LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellows

This fellowship, formerly known as the LifeArc-AUTM Fellowship, empowers graduate and post-doctoral academic life scientists to take control of their careers and transition into the field of technology transfer.   

Since completing the fellowship, our class of 2019-2020 fellows have secured exciting technology transfer roles across prominent institutions.    

Here is what they had to say about their experience as a LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellow. 

LifeArc fellows sat around a meeting table with a presenter at the front

Jesse Peterson, Team Lead, Domainex 

Headshot of Jesse Peterson

Why I joined the programme

While working as a postdoctoral scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, I wanted to transition from bench research to translating discoveries into clinical applications. Familiar with LifeArc’s role in commercialisation at the MRC Laboratory, I saw the fellowship as a unique training opportunity in technology transfer. 

Reflections on the programme

I honestly did not know what to expect as there are few opportunities for this kind of training within the normal academic scientist track. The programme really impressed me with the quality and breadth of the training, the extensive feedback and one-on-one mentoring, and the opportunity to build an international professional network. Starting essentially from scratch, I learned the essential concepts in the technology transfer process, and I soon felt comfortable speaking with people in the field, despite having little on-the-job experience. This training along with the extensive career guidance from LifeArc has given me confidence in my understanding of technology transfer and helped to steer my longer-term career goals. 

The AUTM Essentials course was a highlight, as it offered the chance to finally meet with the wonderful group of people in my cohort. The AUTM community was universally welcoming and supportive.  

Neha Dhimole, Technical Sales Specialist, NanoTemper Technologies 

Why I joined the programme

As a post-doctoral research scientist at Hannover University, I wanted to move away from the bench but did not want to completely leave science behind. I wanted to build a new career where my scientific knowledge and skills would be an asset. It is also important for me to work on something that has the potential to positively impact the world. To explore my options, I went to local networking events. Here, I met someone who introduced me to the field of technology transfer and guided me towards this fellowship. 

Reflections on the programme

The fellowship programme surpassed my expectations in every way. It provided great course material covering both the theoretical and practical aspects of technology transfer and introduced me to a great network of technology transfer professionals who were very supportive and welcoming. 

One of the biggest highlights was the opportunity to learn from peers and other professionals. For a scientist like me, coming from the field of basic research, transitioning to the business side is an intimidating prospect. This training gave me enough confidence and made it possible for me to successfully pursue a full-time job.  

Headshot of Neha Dhimole

Dana Koludrovic, Business Development Manager, Oncode Institute 

Headshot of Dana Koludrovic

Why I joined the programme

My interest in academia grew during a Cancer Research UK postdoctoral fellowship at the Beatson Institute, where I worked on an industry collaboration project. To explore the practical applications of research, I took courses from the intellectual property organisation WIPO and interned with Ximbio, Cancer Research UK’s technology transfer licensing team. This gave me experience in commercialising research materials and connected me with the technology transfer community. 

The fellowship was recommended to me by an alumnus of the programme. With my growing interest in technology transfer, the fellowship seemed like the ideal opportunity to gain structured training and mentorship for an entry-level role. 

Reflections on the programme

The fellowship was extremely insightful and informative and provided an amazing sense of community within the technology transfer field. I was particularly impressed with the mentorship part of the programme. My mentor, Richard Cox from the University of Notre Dame, shared insights from details on agreements and personal development, to the overall process and strategy around technology transfer. 

A few months into the programme, I secured a Translation Manager role at Cancer Research UK. The fellowship was instrumental in boosting my CV and preparing me for the role. 

  Monika Magon, Product Discovery Lead, Roche 

Why I joined the programme

My passion for science communication began during my PhD at University College London, where I explored cell and molecular biology, nanotechnology, and advanced imaging. This passion grew as I transitioned to postdoctoral research in biomedical science at the University of St Andrews, focusing on rare neuromuscular diseases. When I heard about the LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation fellowship, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to merge my interests in translational science and communication.  

Reflections on the programme

The programme has exceeded my expectations, providing foundational knowledge in intellectual property, licensing, and commercialisation strategies. The AUTM Essentials course equipped me with a fundamental toolkit for launching my new career in technology transfer and provided an opportunity to network with leading professionals. It also opened doors to new opportunities, including a fellowship at a venture capital firm and freelance writing for technology transfer collaborations.  

I would definitely recommend the programme to any scientists who are passionate about transforming discoveries into innovative solutions and who want to grow professionally outside of hands-on academic research. 

Headshot of Monika Magon

Marie Mifsud, Knowledge Transfer Office, University of Malta

Headshot of Marie Mifsud

Why I joined the programme

After three rewarding years as a managing pharmacist, I was looking to shift my career to research and discovered my passion for commercialisation through an internship at the University of Malta’s technology transfer office. When I heard about the LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation fellowship, I was eager to apply, knowing it would provide the fundamental skills and mentorship needed to transition into technology transfer. 

Reflections on the programme

The programme provides an excellent foundation for newcomers to technology transfer and offers dedicated continuous mentorship. The AUTM Essentials course in Oakbrook was particularly helpful for understanding important terms and how agreements are handled, while also facilitating networking with valuable contacts. With the help of this fellowship, I secured a position at the University of Malta’s Knowledge Transfer Office as an executive, mainly focusing on the commercialisation of life science projects. 

Marie-Therese Rached, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Manager, LGC Limited

Why I joined the programme

With over a decade of experience in cell and molecular aspects of metabolic diseases, I sought a new challenge that complemented my scientific expertise. A colleague introduced me to the LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellowship, which peaked my interest in technology transfer as it complements science and technology.   

Reflections on the programme

Coming from a scientific background, I found some of the topics challenging and it was a steep learning curve; however, the programme provides free access to great training resources, helping me build my knowledge on things like intellectual property, licensing, and marketing. I appreciated being allocated an individual mentor in the US who played a crucial role in my training and our monthly discussions helped keep me focused and on track. Plus, the opportunity to attend courses and conferences and meet with other fellows was one of the things I will cherish the most. The fellowship was well worth the effort and laid the groundwork for my Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) certification journey.  

Headshot of Marie-Therese Rached

Rachel Spruce, Industry Partnerships and Commercialisation Executive, Imperial College London 

Why I joined the programme

Prior to joining the fellowship, I was a senior postdoctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham. With 11 years of experience as an academic scientist, I had little knowledge of how to get ideas from the bench to the patient. When I began to seek patent protection for some of the lab’s inventions, I realised that there was more to commercialisation than developing an effective treatment. To progress my research and because I was interested in a career in technology transfer, I wanted to learn more about the process. The LifeArc Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fellowship allowed me to acquire this knowledge.  

Reflections on the programme

The fellowship providided so many opportunities for me and has been instrumental in enabling me to make a career change from academia to technology transfer. After starting the fellowship, I completed an internship at the University of Birmingham Enterprise and secured a permanent role at Imperial College Innovations Limited.  

My highlight was attending AUTM’s 2019 Essentials Tools course. It was a fantastic way to kickstart the fellowship. I had a really enjoyable time, learnt a lot and was able to make several connections. The webinars have also been fantastic, they have been a real help during my internship and as I began my new role as a Business Development Manager. 

Headshot of Rachel Spruce

* The fellows’ titles reflect the positions held at the time this blog was compiled in January 2025; †an up-to-date job title could not be found for Marie Mifsud or Marie-Therese Rached.

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