The National Science Foundation is seeking qualified candidates for an Interdisciplinary (SBIR/STTR Program Director) position within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), Division Translational Impacts (TI) in Alexandria, VA. For more information on TIP please click here.

Duties

The National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs provide grants to small businesses with the goal of stimulating the Nation's technological innovation. The SBIR/STTR programs play a key role in translating technical innovation and scientific discovery into commercial outcomes and associated broader societal impact, through support of innovation research at small business enterprises. NSF SBIR/STTR seeks to support companies with early-stage technologies that require additional research and development to enable successful commercialization. The technologies which NSF SBIR/STTR funds must be highly innovative with strong commercial potential and satisfy a market need. Emphasis in the proposal review process is placed on the novelty of the technology as well as the potential of the small business to translate NSF's support into commercial impact in the marketplace. These programs collectively support several hundred small businesses each year, across a vast range of technical and market areas. Program Directors have an unparalleled opportunity and responsibility to ensure the NSF SBIR and STTR programs fulfill their mandate as "America's Seed Fund," and that these programs support the next generation of innovative, high ¬growth technology enterprises. Program Directors solicit and review applications, consider external advice from technical and commercial experts, perform due diligence on potential awards, make funding recommendations, and provide guidance and oversight to awardee small businesses. They are also responsible for service to Foundation-¬wide activities and initiatives that together accomplish NSF's strategic goals to: 1) Transform the Frontiers of Science and Engineering, 2) Stimulate Innovation and Address Societal Needs through Research and Education, and 3) Excel as a Federal Science Agency. Individuals selected for this position will serve as Program Directors. Program Directors are responsible for:

Requirements

Qualifications

Candidates must have a Ph.D. in a science or engineering field relevant to the SBIR/STTR program plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position; OR a Master's degree in a science or engineering field relevant to the SBIR/STTR program plus after award of the degree, eight or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position. Successful candidates will have experience with startup/small business experience in agricultural technology, photonics and display technologies, robotics and neural growth for mobility projects, and microchip platforms and semiconductor electronics. Deep experience in technology translation from the laboratory to the marketplace in an industrial or startup setting. And an understanding of university and industrial technology translation processes, experience in simultaneous evaluation of multiple investment opportunities in deep technologies (translating fundamental science and engineering to novel applications), with a demonstrated capability to conduct rapid assessment of the associated business and technology risks.

Education

Please refer to the Qualifications section.

If your degree was obtained from a foreign institution, please also submit the certification from the Association for International Credential Evaluation Professionals, or certification equivalency.

Contacts

• Address NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, DIVISION OF TRANSLATIONAL IMPACT 2415 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314 US
• Name: Staffing and Classification Branch
• Email: [email protected]