Getting started
Companies and organizations engage directly with faculty to discuss potential projects. If both parties are interested, the faculty member must obtain formal approval for outside work to ensure compliance with conflict-of-interest and intellectual property policies. Faculty set their own rates — typically hourly — and act as independent contractors, not UW employees.
A global research leader, the university of Washington has more than 5,000 faculty experts available to consult with private industry and external organizations. Hiring a UW faculty member is a cost-effective way to address your complex challenges with specialized expertise.
Finding a faculty consultant
Companies and organizations hoping to work with a UW faculty consultant can search the UW’s comprehensive website for faculty profiles, or contact UW Corporate Relations directly for help identifying faculty aligned with your needs.
Consulting engagement guidelines
- Prior approval is required from the faculty member’s department, school or college, as well as the provost’s office.
- Full-time faculty may consult up to 13 days per quarter (averaging no more than one day per week).
- UW resources, including facilities, computers, telephones and equipment, generally cannot be used for consulting engagements unless there is no cost to the University and no support staff are involved.
- Faculty must report all inventions and discoveries to UW CoMotion, including those generated under a consulting project.
- Any intellectual property created through University activities belongs to the UW and cannot be transferred via consulting.
- Additional policies apply to School of Medicine faculty.
For full details, see UW Executive Order No. 57.