Director Innovation and Commercialization - Radiology

Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 129,800 - 228,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 22 days of vacation

Competitive health insurance

Tuition coverage for employees and families

Job summary

Washington University in St. Louis seeks a Director for Radiology Innovation & Commercialization to lead efforts in translating academic research into commercial opportunities. Responsibilities include managing partnerships, identifying innovations, and working closely with faculty to develop commercial strategies. Candidates should possess a Master's degree in Radiochemistry and significant experience in imaging research and analytical chemistry, as well as a strong background in building industry relationships. The role offers competitive benefits and salary range between $129,800 - $228,400 annually.

Qualifications

• Must have a Master’s degree in Radiochemistry.
• 5+ years experience in Imaging Research.
• 10 years experience in Analytical Chemistry for Radiopharmaceuticals.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercialization efforts in the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology.
• Manage a pipeline of commercial opportunities.
• Engage with faculty for identifying discoveries with commercial potential.

Skills

Commercial strategy development

Scientific evaluation of technologies

Engagement with industry partners

Building credibility with researchers

Education

Master’s degree in Radiochemistry

PhD or terminal degree

Job description

Position Summary

Scheduled Hours: 40

Seeking a scientifically sophisticated leader who understands both academic research and the commercial landscape for imaging and radiopharmaceutical technologies. Ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with industry experience evaluating biomedical innovations within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, imaging, or venture environments. This individual will be comfortable engaging faculty investigators, assessing complex scientific opportunities, and shaping early- stage discoveries into compelling commercial strategies.

Must be able to build credibility with scientists and clinicians while engaging effectively with industry partners and investors. Bring experience evaluating technologies, structuring partnerships, and guiding innovations toward licensing, collaboration, or startup formation.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead a proactive commercialization effort within the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology focused on identifying, developing, and advancing innovation emerging from radiology research and clinical infrastructure.
• Build and manage a structured pipeline that converts departmental intellectual and operational assets into commercial opportunities including products, services, licensing agreements, and startup companies.
• Identify promising innovations across MIR’s research and clinical programs, conducting early commercial assessments, and developing strategies that position opportunities for licensing, industry collaboration, or venture creation.
• Engage closely with faculty investigators to identify commercially relevant discoveries and capabilities, while working with institutional innovation resources such as the Office of Technology Management and the Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Commercialization to advance opportunities through appropriate commercialization pathways.
• Maintain a dotted‑line relationship with the Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Commercialization (VCIC) and work closely with the VCIC and related institutional offices to ensure alignment with university commercialization strategy and industry partnership processes. In particular, the Director will collaborate with the VCIC to ensure that external industry engagement and partnership development are coordinated through Washington University’s central innovation and commercialization infrastructure.
• Structure is designed to strengthen institutional coordination of industry partnerships while expanding the pipeline of innovation opportunities emerging from MIR.
• Focus on expanding strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, imaging and medical technology firms, radiopharmaceutical developers, and venture investors. These partnerships may support sponsored research collaborations, licensing agreements, industry service engagements, or startup formation.
• Priority areas for opportunity development may include radiotracers and molecular imaging agents, imaging‑enabled diagnostics, AI and imaging software tools, clinical trial imaging services, and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
• Director will help establish a sustainable pipeline of commercial opportunities that translate MIR innovation into clinical and commercial impact.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Typically sitting at a desk or table
• Office equipment

Education

Required Qualifications: Master’s degree in Radiochemistry

Certifications / Professional Licenses

No specific certification / professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience

Imaging Research (5 years), Analytical Chemistry for Radiopharmaceuticals (10 years), Nuclear Medicine (10 years)

Skills

Not applicable

Driver’s License

A driver’s license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

The Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (MIR) is a global leader in imaging science, molecular imaging, and radiopharmaceutical development. The department produces a significant volume of discoveries, technologies, and clinical capabilities with the potential to transform patient care. Many of these innovations have substantial commercial potential but require focused development, industry engagement, and strategic commercialization to reach real‑world impact.

Washington University is establishing a Director of Radiology Innovation & Commercialization to build and lead a structured effort to identify, develop, and translate these opportunities. Working closely with faculty, institutional innovation offices, and industry partners, the Director will help convert MIR discoveries and capabilities into commercial products, strategic partnerships, licensing opportunities, and startup companies.

Director must build trust with faculty investigators while translating academic discoveries into commercial opportunities.

Will help accelerate the translation of radiology innovation while creating sustainable new revenue streams and long‑term industry partnerships for MIR and Washington University Medicine.

Success Requires The Ability To

• Translate complex science into compelling commercial narratives
• Build credibility with clinicians and researchers
• Facilitate productive innovation discussions with investigators
• Guide faculty through commercialization pathways
• Connect innovators with industry and venture partners

Preferred Qualifications

PhD or terminal degree or combination of education and experience may substitute for minimum education.

Grade

G18

Salary Range

$129,800.00 – $228,400.00 / Annually

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U‑Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate‑level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.