Job Description

The Bakken Grant Writer serves as a catalyst for medical technology research and commercialization within the Institution for Engineering in Medicine (IEM) and the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center (BMDC) together with the medical device industry in Minnesota. This position reports to the BMDC Director and works closely with entrepreneurs to help them secure non-dilutive funds through federal and state grant opportunities as well as university and local funding sources to translate their medical technologies to clinical practice. This position aims to expand the IEM and BMDC research and technology portfolio, and build a diverse and equitable culture that connects biomedical engineering ecosystems across communities and society. 

Key duties include the following:

• Oversee and contribute detailed writing of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants submitted by entrepreneurs through the BMDC. The mission of the SBIR/STTR programs is to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.
  • The programâ™s goals are to:
    • Stimulate technological innovation
    • Meet Federal research and development needs
    • Foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by women and socially or economically disadvantaged persons
    • Increase private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development funding.
    • Foster technology transfer through cooperative R&D between small business and research institutions
• Identify other non-dilutive technology or business grants (e.g., through ARPA-H, DOD, NIH, NSF) that can support entrepreneurs and contribute detailed writing of those grants together with entrepreneurs to advance their technology and success towards commercialization.
• Work closely with the BMDC and IEM leadership and other experts to identify collaborators and appropriate resources to support the grant applications and entrepreneurs with critical tasks and milestones needed for their companies to succeed.
• Present progress reports and develop presentations for internal and external use.
• Develop a library of templates, awarded proposals and strategy documents for successfully seeking non-dilutive funding through various federal, state, and local grant and foundation opportunities.
• Advise sponsors, investigators, and departments across the University of Minnesota on successfully pursuing and writing technology and business grants, such as SBIR/STTRs.
• Work closely with the BMDC director to help support numerous entrepreneurs and companies coming through MedTech3.0, which is a state-wide initiative across Minnesota to build the next frontier of medtech innovation and inclusive economic growth that will open doors to millions in federal dollars and catalyze new capital and talent (

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS with at least 8 years of experience;
• Writing experience with different types of technology and commercialization grants (e.g., SBIR, STTR) submitted to NIH, DoD, NSF, ARPA-H, industry, and/or foundations. 
• Project management experience with grant proposals, publications, and/or complex documents/series of documents.
• Mature judgment and demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise discretion, and manage multiple priorities at once.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and critical thinking skills; adaptability to meet changing demands.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and address a wide variety of issues and problems in a high-intensity environment.
• Collegiality, approachability, and diplomacy at all levels of an organization.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent level degree and/or experience in biomedical or medical technology.

The ideal candidate will have experience functioning at a faculty or senior research level within an academic institution, and also have some business experience with start-up companies. Experience serving on SBIR/STTR and other technology grant review panels is helpful for this position.

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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