UC Davis - Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology

Enterpreneurship

Background

Obtaining transferable skills for a competitive edge is a goal for our UC Davis graduates, especially our predoctoral candidates in science and engineering with a designated emphasis in biotechnology (DEB). According to Paul Watson (Nature Biotechnology, Feb 2003), "Transferable or 'soft skills' can enhance your career mobility and increase your chances of success in landing the job you want... The following skills can help give you a competitive edge: people skills; communication skills; negotiation skills; business skills; creative and strategic thinking; time management; motivation and commitment; and personal image and self-awareness."

The new National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) has been form to address many of these issues. According to Shirley Malcom, "Even in terms of a research career, the question remains whether postdocs are given the range of experiences that prepares them to become independent investigators. It entails learning how to write grant proposal, to develop budgets, to estimate levels of effort, to understand equipment-purchasing procedures and so on." "Should we think of restructuring the entire post baccalaureate period to divide the time across coursework, skill development, research and career exploration?" Reference: A Dream Deferred or Realized? Enhancing the Postdoctoral Experience for Scientists and Engineers. ASM News. 70:8. 2004.

Resources

In addition to the UC Davis Biotechnology Program and the DEB graduate program, the Office of Research and the Graduate School of Management are working to enhance entrepreneurial skills among UC Davis faculty and students. Both the Office of Research (OR) and the Graduate School of Management (GSM) are embracing the campus' strategic plan and objectives to increase the University's impact in regional economic development through new initiatives and programs that enhance the level and quality of technology transfer, business development and industry interactions in both education and interdisciplinary research programs. Furthermore, a substantial increase in the number of invention disclosures generated by the campus, coupled with the University's development of the Technology and Industry Alliances (TIA) unit within the Office of Research, brings more opportunities to promote a culture of entrepreneurialism among our researchers and through the classroom to our students.

The Graduate School of Management (GSM) in collaboration with the Office of Research - Technology and Industry Alliances (OR-TIA) is offering a one-year program in Business Development for graduate students (and postdoctoral fellows) in science and engineering starting in Fall 2004. This program provides an introduction and hands-on experience in developing new business ventures designed to commercialize research. Students will take courses in technology management, innovation, and entrepreneurship and participate in practicums working in interdisciplinary teams alongside GSM students and under the guidance of GSM faculty, Staff from OR-TIA, and investors and entrepreneurs. Starting in Summer 2005, the Graduate School of Management (GSM) will also offer a Business Development Intensive Program in the form of a one week summer workshop

The Business Development program will provide the range of skills necessary to commercialize research, whether in new venture start-ups or in corporate research and development settings. These skills are intended to prepare graduating scientists and engineers for careers in entrepreneurial firms as well as industrial research and development.

The GSM's Big Bang Business Plan Competition, UC Davis CONNECT Office Hours and SARTA (Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance) are other ways for entrepreneurial faculty and students to obtain hands on skills.

The Graduate School of Management (GSM) also regularly hosts Distinguished Speaker events, which among others include presentations by industry executives which are are involved with company startups in the Biotechnology Sector. Most recently, the school hosted John Harmer, Co-Founder, CEO and President of Arête Therapeutics, Inc., a local Davis startup using licenced breakthrough research by UC Davis entomology Professor Bruce Hammock for cardiovascular drug development, on Briding the Business and Academic Worlds (Windows Media).

Big Bang! offers those pursuing Master of Business Administration degrees as well as faculty and students in other areas, or anyone interested in entrepreneurship in general, an opportunity to develop considerable business plans to propose to potential investors. The contest at UCD kicks off every year in November and spans until final judging and awards are held in May. A recent article in The California Aggie provides an excellent overview of the variety of ideas and concepts that have been presented in the past.

UC Davis CONNECT is the UC Davis Program in Technology and Entrepreneurship. In addition to the Office Hours resource the CONNECT program offers additional opportunities that may be of interest: 1) Information Sessions; 2) Springboard mentoring program; 3) technology conferences; and 4) client-specific business consulting services that link technology entrepreneurs to funding, mentoring, business, technology and academic resources.

An informative book that is helpful for prospective entrepreneurials who want to learn about the process of starting a biotech company is written by Yali Friedman, PhD., entitled, "Building Biotechnology: Starting, Managing, and Understanding Biotechnology Companies". (Review of book by Aris Persidis is here) Dr. Friedman received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Buffalo University and teaches MBA-level classes on the business of biotechnology. He is a guest lecturer at the Tepper School of Business and University of Buffalo School of Management and an invited speaker at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Click here for a functional overview of the biotechnology industry.

The UCD Biotechnology Program is proud to be a co-sponsor of The Green Technology Entrepreneurship Academy (GTEA) along with the Kauffman Foundation and hosted by the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship and will be held March 26-30, 2007 at the Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences at Sierra Nevada College. This unique program bridges the gap between environmentally related research and the marketplace and provides participants the opportunity to experience the junction between cutting-edge research and the development of new market ventures. Selected science and engineering Ph.D. and post-doctoral students and faculty from across the country will spend a week learning to recognize, develop, and bring to market green technology and advances built on their cutting-edge research.

The Kauffman Foundation is working with the UC Davis Center for Entrepreneurship to further expand this curriculum nationally. Programs have already been implemented at UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Cal Poly, University of Illinois and University of Michigan during the past three years. For this program the recruitment of fifty clean-tech Ph.D. and post-doctoral students and faculty from across the country has been coordinated with key academic sustainability, environmental, energy and entrepreneurial organizations and centers across the nation.

Attached is the brochure and news article which provides details about the program. To learn more, visit the UCD Davis Center for Entrepreneurship website at: http://entrepreneurship.ucdavis.edu/green/ and please do not hesitate to contact them directly with any questions you may have.

ABOUT THE UC DAVIS CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Center's ongoing objective is to serve as the nexus for entrepreneurship education and research - and as a springboard for entrepreneurial initiatives on the UC Davis campus. To accomplish this, we bring science, engineering and business students and faculty together with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and corporate leaders in an environment that blends effective theory with hands-on participation and solution-driven innovation. The Center for Entrepreneurship is a Center of Excellence at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

The Center has been successful in obtaining funding for graduates of its programs including the recent A round for SynapSense, a developer of wireless sensor networking solutions and technologies.

The Center's Winter 2007 publication, "Paving the Way from Lab to Market" with quote from Biotechnology Program's, Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology(DEB) student, Riccardo LoCascio.

Jacob Jorgensen, M.D. (General Partner, Velocity Ventures) presentation, "What You Should Know If You Want to Start A Biotech Company"

Caryle Vann, PhD. (Chemical Engineer and Product Manager; Genentech) presentation, "Life After Dissertation: Deriving Maximum Value From Career Investments"

The Last Lecture by Dr. Randy Pausch

Suggested Articles, Books, etc.

Crossing Over; Academia or Industry; pdf OR www.genome-technology.com

Nature Article, "Actors as Teachers"

The Eagle Parable by James Aggrey

Tips on Getting an Internship/Job

Building Biotechnology: Starting, Managing, and Understanding Biotechnology Companies by Yali Friedman, PhD

The Speed of Trust; The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey

The 8th Habit by Stephen M.R. Covey

Working with Emotional Intelligence (1998) and Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (2006) by Daniel Goleman