Translational Research Officer

**Job Purpose**
Working as part of the Innovation, Engagement and Enterprise team (IEE), you will be responsible for identifying and managing translational projects within the College. Taking forward a portfolio of translational opportunities identified from various mechanisms including the College wide opportunity audits. You will be a key contact within the IEE Team and will be expected to build and develop effective relationships across the College and with external partners (including industry).

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**
- To proactively work with members of research staff, Translational Research Initiative (TRI), IEE and Research & Innovation Services to identify, review, develop and implement translational plans to increase opportunities for translation and consider translational potential of research outputs
- To lead on progressing the MVLS translational pipeline, by assisting academics in generating key deliverables to support the progression of technology along the translational pathway. Examples include (but not limited to) formal report submissions, financial tracking, design and implementation of tracking tools, contract, and legal discussions.
- Working in partnership with the Industry Engagement Team in the planning and implementation of the continuing programme of opportunity audits across MVLS, ensuring that key outcomes and recommendations are captured and disseminated, actions are followed up appropriately and promptly and translational plans are developed for specific opportunities.
- To create and develop translation roadmap(s) for MVLS, aligning research outputs with roadmaps and providing direct support for the progression of projects through generation of evidence, linking with industry, marketing/pitching, consideration of business models and identifying appropriate funding.
- To actively identify research staff training needs, and plan/implement appropriate training programmes, encouraging wide participation and carrying out post hoc surveys to ensure quality and value for money.
- Act as first point of contact for TRI when liaising with internal and external stakeholders, proactively creating, developing and enhancing relationships in support of research translation.
- Working in partnership with the Industry Engagement Team to promote MVLS research excellence to industry partners to develop sustainable, long-term partnerships, and drive growth of industrial and translational funding.
- To review, develop and implement appropriate systems and procedures for the collation and reporting of opportunity pipeline information for internal and external use.
- To lead on organising and coordinating a range of externally facing activities, which offer opportunities to further enhance College objectives, including the preparation of technical promotional material; industry visit programmes; events and other activities as required. This enables the identification of further opportunities for collaborative research and innovation and to support up-skilling of academics to enable translation and commercialisation of life sciences research
- Develop an awareness and understanding of translational funding and knowledge transfer funding opportunities, ensuring that these opportunities align with relevant research outputs from the College.
- Keep up to date with current knowledge and advances within this translational research.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by The Innovation, Engagement and Enterprise (IEE) Team.

**Knowledge / Qualifications**

**Essential**
A1. Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9 (Ordinary Degree, Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 4), or equivalent in biomedical or other relevant science, with evidence of continued professional development.
A2. Knowledge of translational research and/or business development environment.
A3. Knowledge and applied understanding of the knowledge exchange and impact agenda within the UK Higher Education sector.
**Desirable**
B1. Postgraduate qualification in biomedical or other relevant science area
B2. Studying towards a formal project management qualification
B3. Knowledge and understanding of the UK’s Research Excellence Framework
B4. Knowledge of University policies and procedures in relation to research, knowledge exchange and impact generation

**Skills**

**Essential**
C1.Significant organisational and project management skills - both short-term deadline driven and longer term involving multiple conflicting deadlines and coordination across multiple organisational units
C2. Ability to interpret and convey complex information (including scientific information and data) to non-specialists
C3. Knowledge and understanding of research and/or business development and project management
C4. Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels of seniority
C5. Ability to work well in a multidisciplinary team
C6. Abi