Blavatnik Fellow

Position Focus :

Working under the supervision of Yale Ventures directors for the full duration of their fellowships, Blavatnik Fellows provide valuable business and market-oriented assistance to Yale faculty members seeking financial support from the Blavatnik Innovation Fund.

Serving as an ad hoc consultant to a number of faculty innovators over the course of their year-long fellowship, Fellows play a key role in articulating the potential business case and quantifying the magnitude of unmet medical needs which faculty are seeking to remedy.

This work entails not only an aptitude and enthusiasm for understanding the novel science behind Yale’s many innovations, but also a penchant for framing the market opportunities which such inventions may create.

In the course of a Fellow’s work, there will also be numerous opportunities to better understand the intellectual property landscape, working in close contact with Yale Ventures business development directors.

Fellows will interact closely with Yale Ventures’ entrepreneur-in-residence network, a highly curated volunteer group of more than external business and scientific experts working in biotech, pharma, and consulting.

Fellows will also help refine early stage pitch decks for investor consideration, working closely alongside scientific founders.

Over the course of their fellowships, Fellows will build long-lasting networks of professional connections which invariably influence their careers, exposing them to a wide range of more-experienced entrepreneurs and investors working in the life science industry.

Essential Duties

1. Pre-Proposals : In support of faculty considering submission of early stage technologies (pre-proposals) : Assist in the evaluation and refinement of Yale innovations being considered as potential Blavatnik projects.

Review pitch decks, coordinate with staff and consulting entrepreneurs-in-residence on the framing of commercialization opportunities, conduct market research using industry tools to assess markets and competitors.

2. Finalists : In support of faculty whose projects are selected as Finalists : Work collaboratively and diplomatically with a small set of faculty investigators, Yale Ventures staff and consultants to prepare a detailed development proposal for board consideration.

Work closely with subject matter experts on an expanded commercialization plan, including building a deeper picture of the competitive landscape, as well as furnishing a review of the data package to date.

Help consolidate feedback from prospective investors to build one or more go-to-market strategies. 3. Active Projects : In support of faculty selected as recipients of Blavatnik funding : Working with just a few principal investigators, become a part of the on-the-ground development team in advancing high value technologies through external partner organizations.

Facilitate strong relationships, unity and focus with managers, directors and team members to achieve project goals. Effectively communicate logical project phases to participants, identify obstacles, recommend and implement solutions.

Support several projects and utilize team-building skills to facilitate timely completion of projects. 4. Track all projects and their associated deliverables using appropriate tools.

Monitor and report on the progress of the project, including problems and solutions. Intervene where necessary to keep projects on track in consultation with staff and faculty principal investigators.

5. Provide detailed information and written reports for decision-making and feedback to staff and Blavatnik Fund board members.

Compile and present status reports to management, keeping them abreast of projects with summary updates. 6. Present project detail / status to Yale Ventures staff and leadership at regular meetings when necessary.

7. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Masters’ Degree and three years of demonstrated experience in biopharma or an equivalent combination of education and demonstrated experience.

Required Skill / Ability 1 :

Critical / strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. Highly organized and detail oriented. Knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.

Required Skill / Ability 2 :

Excellent written and oral communication skills with demonstrated ability to facilitate a team-based approach to complete projects with tact and diplomacy, while interacting with internal and external contacts and staff at all levels.

Required Skill / Ability 3 :

Proven ability to work successfully within a team environment and as an individual contributor. Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Ability to be flexible to adjust work schedule to allow for team priorities to be met.

Required Skill / Ability 4 :

Demonstrated ability to manage several projects concurrently while balancing competing priorities and deadlines. Possess extreme flexibility in work focus.

Proven ability to switch among several different projects without any adverse effects.

Required Skill / Ability 5 :

Comfortable and confident enough to manage projects that are outside one’s current area of expertise. Willing to learn new things and ask questions to obtain required information.

Ability to redirect efforts to stay on course, resolve conflict and provide the voice of reason when necessary.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills :

Candidate should possess one of the following : PhD in life sciences / chemistry / pharmaceutical or data sciences; OR Medical degree;

OR an MBA with experience in evaluating life science or digital health commercialization. Acumen in life sciences to interface with a variety of faculty exploring novel concepts in therapeutics, diagnostics, digital health & medical devices.

Drug Screen

Health Screening

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

The University maintains policies pertaining to COVID-19. All faculty, staff, students, and trainees are required to comply with these policies, which may be found here :

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position.

Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

EEO Statement :

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Additionally, in accordance with Yale’s Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment, and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.