OTMC INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
OTMC Mission:
Advancing Technologies Through Partnerships
with Faculty, Staff and Industry
Moffitt Cancer Center
• Single Mission – To contribute to the prevention and cure of
cancer
• Statutorily created as free-standing instrumentality of state of
Florida
• Moffitt is one of the busiest cancer centers in the U.S.
(325,000 outpatient visits a year)
• Moffitt is a major research center (>82 MM annually in
grants)
• Moffitt is the only Florida-based NCI designated
Comprehensive Cancer Center.
OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT
AND COMMERCIALIZATION (OTMC)
Patents &
Licenses
Startup
Support
OTMC
Industry
Collaboration
OTMC OVERVIEW
• Office established in 2003 to protect and advance Moffitt
Cancer Center’s inventions
• Office Structure
• Business Development Team
• Core Services Team
• Operations Team
• Office Metrics
• Invention Disclosures Submitted - 357
• Original Patent Applications Filed - 250
• Licenses Executed – 90
• Startups Formed - 13
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM HISTORY
• OTMC began its internship program in 2007
• OTMC has hosted approximately 30 interns
• The internship program transformed in 2012
• Instituted cultural change in office
• Created formal program structure
• Established program features to deliver enhanced
internship experience
CULTURE CHANGE IN OFFICE
• Interns are integrated into the office
• Staff meetings
• Department retreats
• Teambuilding activities
• Project presentations
• Focus on maximizing educational opportunities
• Business of Biotech Conference investor
forum
• Company presentations and business plans
• Webinars
• Shadowing OTMC staff
• Promote interactions among interns
RECRUITMENT
• Promotion
• Website
• Information sessions
• Flyers
• Science Interns
• Moffitt Cancer Biology PhD Program
• Moffitt Post Doctoral Fellows
• Universities
• Business Interns
• Business schools
• Legal Interns
• Law schools
APPLICATION PROCESS
• Internship application and resumé
• Why do you want to intern at Moffitt and what
knowledge do you hope to gain during this internship
program?
• What experience do you have that relates to the
Technology Transfer field and/or Intellectual
Property?
• Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years?
• Interview all applicants
• Faculty approval for internal candidates
• Internship Program Steering Committee makes selection
decisions for internal candidates
ONBOARDING
• Distribution of Internship Program Guide
• Department Orientation
• Requirement of 120 hours
• Magnetic Board
• Journal
• Work-Product Presentations
• No promise of permanent position
• Tour of office and shared drive
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Primary mentor assigned
EXITING
• Exit interview
• Evaluation form by mentor
• Intern’s strengths
• Intern’s major accomplishment
• Growth opportunities for intern
• Evaluation form by intern
• What did you learn?
• What was the highlight of your experience?
• What are suggestions for improving the program?
• Certificate of completion
• Letter of recommendation
• Farewell reception
INTERN PROJECTS
• Disclosure analysis
• Technology offering memorandum
• Marketing list and contacts
• Company presentations
• Startup business plans
• Patent prosecution
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES
• Watch presentations at Business of Biotech
Conference Investor Forum
• Join business student teams in writing startup
business plans
• Attend office seminar series
• Join staff for lunch, teambuilding activities, staff
meetings, and department retreats
• Participate in faculty interviews
• Observe license negotiation meetings
• Network with former interns at annual intern reunion
TESTIMONIALS
Latanya Scott
“This internship has opened new doors for me in a scientific market with an abundance of biomedical PhDs. The
opportunities and training I have received have also put me in a position to be considered for employment by
technology transfer offices and intellectual property law firms. Additionally watching inventors pitch their
technologies to investors, gave me great “real-world” insight of the business side of science.”
Sebastian Nishimoto
“The highlight of my internship was being able to witness the interaction between science, business and law, as they
relate to the development of new technologies. I felt like I was really putting the past six years of my university studies
to good use. I had the opportunity to review a variety of complex agreements involving some of the largest
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the world. I am sure that my time in the OTMC will benefit me
greatly in my future legal career, no matter what area of law I end up practicing in.”
Jessica McDaniel
“Professionally, this entire internship experience has been essential for me to gain experience in intellectual property
outside of the laboratory setting. As a research PhD student, this internship has given me hands-on experience in patent
law that employers outside of research academia desire. I have learned how to write technology offering
memorandums (TOMs) that summarize the potential value of a technology so it can be marketed to licensing partners.
One TOM that I wrote even resulted in an option agreement between Moffitt and a small start-up company.”
John Diamantas
“As a graduate entrepreneurial student and budding web designer, this internship has really opened doors for me.
While in the office, I routinely work with startup CEOs, researchers, physicians and lawyers. I've also had the
opportunity to learn the ins and outs of technology transfer. A particularly valuable facet of my experience in tech
transfer has been my research into current marketing techniques.”
PROGRAM SUCCESSES
• Recognition in multiple publications
• Job offers received by interns
• Increased OTMC’s marketing and licensing
productivity
• Integration of components of OTMC’s program
by other Moffitt departments
• Elevated intern engagement and satisfaction
• Greater researcher awareness of OTMC’s
functions
FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS
• Intern boot camp
• Senior interns coaching new interns
• Integrate into PhD program
• Augment program to include financial and
marketing interns