Sr. Licensing Associate Needed to Be a Part of the Big Picture

Name: Catherine Murari-Kanti

PhD: Cancer Research, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 2015

What is your current job?

I am a Senior Licensing Associate for Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

I am responsible to evaluate the ideas submitted by the faculty at Emory University and make decisions on whether to file IP protections. I am responsible for commercializing these ideas through licensing and other agreements to eventually get these ideas into the market. I am responsible for running the internship program every year.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love that each day is different. I love that I still get to do science and enjoy the "ideas" that come from it. I love that I get to be a part of the process of getting the ideas into the market. I love the internship program and the opportunity to mentor the next generation of grad students and in some small way give back to the community. I love that I get to do science along with law and business.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

• Reading/analyzing scientific papers and gleaning information.

• Being able to discuss science with faculty and asking intriguing questions

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I attended sessions on IP and then eventually participated in the bootcamp for tech transfer. I would reach out to the University tech transfer office and ask if there are internships available or if you could shadow the folks in the office. Ask if you could volunteer!

I set up multiple informational interviews with many tech transfer offices (TTOs) around the country to gather information. This was invaluable.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

I had to move to Atlanta because my husband's job moved him. At that time, Emory reached out to me to ask if I were interested in working for them. The timing was perfect, and I love it here!

PhD graduate ➡️ Licensing intern ➡️ Licensing associate ➡️ Licensing Specialist (University of Nebraska Medical Center/UNeMed) ➡️Licensing Associate ➡️ Sr. Licensing Associate (Emory University)

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Don't have a limiting mindset. You can do anything you put your mind to - you finished your PhD. You can conquer anything.

• Reach out to your TTO. Ask if they have internships.

• Scour through the AUTM/LES/BIO/CLP websites to learn more about tech transfer.

• Volunteer at TTOs if they don't have internship opportunities. If there are remote internships, tap into that.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

This was probably the clearest decision I made for my career. I LOVE SCIENCE, but I am a big picture person and delving into the microscopic answers of basic science was not stimulating enough for me. I also found the PhD program anti-social, alienating and lonesome. I didn't like the jealousy between grad students and the tensions between PI's and grad students.

I needed to be part of the big picture. I needed my job to scratch the science-itch in myriad ways.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

• Be flexible. The road you've pictured may not always work out the way you wish. If the journey pivots, learn something from each pivot.

• Network. Set time aside everyday to network with someone on LinkedIn or in your immediate personal network.

• Seek a counselor. Have someone who can tell you that you are being stupid and you need to change. Be ok with that someone speaking truth into your life.

• Create an Excel sheet with positions that interest you and then seek out folks who work in those positions and talk to them.

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

Being an immigrant and working to find a role through the immigration system was tough, but it strengthened my resolve to help others. I had some key friends who helped me in my career early on, and I vowed to myself that I would help others as well. I like being social and talking to people, and I love that my role allows me to do that.

And for those interested, what was your main area of research?

I pursued understanding the epigenetic changes that occur in the TGF-beta pathway in colorectal and pancreatic cancer. I tested a few Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) drugs that would play a role in the treatment of colorectal and pancreatic cancer.