Intellectual Property and Patent Law

Introductory Resources

• Intro to careers in IP, Patent Law, or Tech Transfer, EMBL Career Services.
• Introductory videos to Tech Transfer:
  • What is Tech Transfer?, AUTM (3-min YouTube video).
  • What is Tech Transfer – Emory OTT (3-min YouTube video).
  • Technology Transfer 101, Jim Freedman – TEDxBeacon Street (13-min YouTube video).
• More about Tech Transfer:
  • Road to Technology Transfer, URBEST.
  • From a PhD in Plant Biology to a Career in Technology Transfer, Women in Ag Science.
• About Patent Agent and Patent Law careers:
  • YouTube playlist – Patent Careers for Scientists (PLI, Practising Law Institute).
  • Career story – from PhD to Patent Law, ASCB.
  • From PhD to Patent Law, Interview with a PhD graduate, Stanford Biotech Group.
• Job qualifications, descriptions and day-to-day aspects:
  • Patent Agents – general info, description, skills…, BU Vault.
  • Patent Lawyers – general info, description, skills…, BU Vault.
  • Biotechnology Patent Lawyers – general info, description, skills…, BU Vault.
  • Intellectual Property Lawyers – general info, description, skills…, BU Vault.

Venturing further in this career area

• Intro to Biotech, how innovation is funded, and the journey of a couple of drugs from Brand to Generic – free, on-demand, online course by RA Capital.
• Intellectual Property & Patent Law:
  • Intellectual Property (history and overview of patents, copyrights, trademarks, brands, etc.) – Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career tool.
  • A Career in Patent Law – at the cutting edge of science, not at the bench, Salim Mamajiwalla, CSH Perspectives in Biology, (2018). Contents: career transition from biomedical sciences to patent law; law firm culture; work environment options in specialized firms vs departments within biotech of the pharma industry; dos and donts of a transition into patent law.
  • When a patent reaches its term:
    • Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Hatch-Waxman Act).
    • Biosimilars, Elizabeth Richardson, 2013.
  • Steps to take to become a Patent Agent and to progress in a patent agent career, Patents Integrated.
• Technology Transfer:
  • Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property, the Ohio State University (48-min presentation).
  • Understanding the Technology Transfer Process, Cornell University Center for Technology Licensing (1-hour presentation).
  • My Transition from Basic Research to a Career in Technology Transfer, Medium article.

Learning by doing job-related tasks

Job Simulations are job-related tasks that can be completed in a few hours, to help you assess how enjoyable and how much of a good fit a specific job could be for you. To make the most of job simulations, please set up SMART Goals to perform each simulation in a reasonable timeline. When you have completed the task, fill out the Self-Reflection Sheet, which will help you reflect on what you enjoyed (or did not enjoy) about the simulation, and how it can help inform your career exploration efforts.

• Patent Law Virtual Job Simulation.
• Intellectual Property in the US – Virtual Job Simulation.
• Intellectual Property and Competition – Virtual Job Simulation.

Preparing your transition into this career area

• Focus on your skills, Nature article.
• Science trainees, have you considered a career in technology transfer?, Nnamdi Nelson, PhD.
• Internship, networking, and career transition ideas to get into technology transfer, Rutgers Grad.
  • Intellectual Property course: Finnegan IP University (starts in early February).
  • Wolf Greenfield Summer Program – Summer internships as Technical specialists supporting IP projects at Wolf Greenfield.
  • Wolf Greenfield Diversity Fellowship to increase diversity in Patent Law.
• Look for, explore, and connect with members of Professional organizations, like:
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association.
  • Association of University Technology Managers.
  • Licensing Executives Society.
• Look for and join relevant thematic groups on LinkedIn, online communities, etc.
• Look for GMS Alumni who have transitioned into this career area.
• Analyze job descriptions to learn more about what institutions and organizations are currently looking for.
• Study company websites, follow them on social media and YouTube.
• Growing your network and having informational interviews with PhDs who have transitioned into careers of interest to you will enable you to learn more about the job’s daily responsibilities, hiring process, career progression, etc., and the sector as a whole.