Category: Career

Career in the Patent Field: Decision Pending?

4/4/2016

Conversation with Roshni Ghosh, PhD, Patent Agent, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
By Gayathri Raghupathy (Edited by Tessa Barrett)

I have to say that I am quite lucky to catch someone who commutes roughly 83 miles a day, NYC—Westchester—NJ—NYC!! I immensely thank Roshni Ghosh for generously sitting down with me at my favorite coffee place for a good 2 hours.

Roshni received her PhD in Developmental Genetics from St. Johns University, NY and is currently a patent agent at Regeneron while also working towards her JD at Seton Hall University.

What motivated you to look outside bench work?
A whole bunch of failed experiments! I started attending events and conferences to learn about career options that did not deal with bench work.

How did you get interested in patent law?
The first time I heard about patenting was at a NYAS (New York Academy of Sciences) event. I learnt how scientific skillsets could be transferred to the field of patenting, and that you are still connected to science in a way.

How did you pursue your interest in patent law?
To get a better understanding of the field, I searched for an internship opportunity in patent office and technology transfer office at my University. I also made a list of patent agents with a science background in the NYC region and sent out cold-emails. In fact, some of them replied and I connected with them for informational interviews.

Did you enroll in any courses or internships to learn more about patent law?
In the last year of my PhD, I enrolled in a certificate program in intellectual property (IP) at NYU. I also landed an internship opportunity at a technology transfer office in Albany. Yes, I was juggling between wrapping up experiments, writing my thesis, a manuscript, IP coursework and internship.

Tell us about how you managed to undertake an internship and wrap up your PhD studies.
My first internship was at a technology transfer office in Albany, NY. I was able to work remotely from NYC on a case for a client who wanted to license and market a product. I identified a product best suited to their need, identified the assignee of the patent and negotiated the license of the patent while working with a cross functional team. I also did an internship at the NY Blood Center, identifying potential licensees for their technologies. Overall, as a voracious reader, I had fun reading and digging information related to that project on patent websites. That was when I realized that this was a career path that I would really enjoy!

When did you start applying for full time jobs?
Towards the completion of my PhD program, I started searching positions with the patent field, and that’s when I came across a Regeneron job posting for a patent agent with a background in science. In preparation for the interview at Regeneron, I set up mock interviews with mentors from my internship. Some of the important aspects that they stressed were how to negotiate compensation and how to ask good questions during the interview.

What was your interview experience at Regeneron like?
Most of the questions asked were about my internship experiences and my coursework at NYU. I remember one of the interviewers asking me, “are you sure that you want to do this?” a question that I was asking myself for quite sometime was now being asked aloud by someone else. As an assertion to my own inner voice, I confidently said, ‘Yes, this is what I want to do’, and now there has been no looking back…..

Explain what you do at Regeneron as a patent agent.
I wear several hats within the patent ‘world’; broadly divided into patent research, surveillance, drafting new patent applications and inventor interviews, all which require a lot of paper work! I also perform competitive intelligence for new molecular targets. For instance, if our R&D team was interested in pursuing a new cancer target, I would research the current patent landscape to find out which companies currently hold patents in the field and their patent portfolio. The research aspect of my work keeps me touch with the trending science.

Tell us about the patent department at Regeneron.
When I joined the patent team there were 8 members, in the last year we’ve expanded to more than 20. Almost all the agents at Regeneron have a PhD and post-doctoral experience.

What is it about the patenting field that excites you?
During my PhD, I realized I didn’t enjoy bench work; however I loved reading articles, identifying problems and designing solutions. As a patent agent I am able to transfer those skillsets and interests to my cases. I’m an introvert, I love reading, and I can sit for hours in front of the computer. But at the same time, to break my routine, I get to conduct interviews and communicate my findings to my team. As a patent agent at Regeneron, I have front row seats to see some cutting edge science and technology.

What is your next big move?
Recently, I passed the patent bar exam but I couldn’t stop there, so I’ve enrolled to law school (Seton Hall University of Law, NJ) to get my law degree. While you don’t necessarily need a law degree to get into patenting, in the future I’d like to become a patent attorney. So, I’m back juggling between work, law school and of course the long commute….

What is your advice for our readers who want to pursue patenting?
-Enroll in courses related to patenting (courses-NYU SCPS, WIPO, certificate programs)
-Search for internships at technology transfer offices (talk to someone at your University technology transfer office)
-Network
- Set up informational interviews with those in patent roles
-Register for relevant events/conferences

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From Geneva to New York City…. career path of an international scientist!

12/7/2015

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Conversation with Chrystelle Montagne, PhD
By Gayathri Raghupathy (Edited by Chrystelle Montagne and Tessa Barrett)

On a crisp and sunny day this summer, Chrystelle Montagne and I sat down in a coffee shop to discuss science and careers, while I should have been running a gel or doing a PCR (shhh…!!). Chrystelle’s energy was quite contagious, which kept the discussion about her arduous 10 month search for a career opportunity interesting. Chrys gained her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Geneva; where she developed a novel live imaging technique to study intestinal stem cell divisions in the Drosophila midgut. Chrys was clearly passionate about science and excited about the work that she did during her PhD, however she has made the move to leave benchwork for good. I found this interesting as for some time now I have wondered what makes someone with all the essential credentials for ‘scientific glory’ drift away from bench science and move into a new field? Chrys answered my questions by walking me through her thought process of transition from bench scientist to her current role as a Senior Project Manager at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Columbia University.

What was your career plan following your PhD?
I studied biology to have an impact on the wellbeing of patients. I love science and bench work but I was not able to clearly see the application of my findings to public health research. Since I love team spirit, I was feeling too isolated working alone on my research project. At the end of my PhD, I decided to move on from bench work and look for positions that would allow teamwork, management and direct impact on patient lives.

What got you interested in exploring non-academic career fields?
During my PhD I had the opportunity to work with some exceptional people to organize a scientific event in Geneva to promote collaboration between 30 laboratories at the University of Geneva, and a local biopharmaceutical company. The conference gave me first-hand experience in fundraising, logistics and price negotiations, and made me realize that I loved managing and interacting with people more than bench work/science research. So I focused on finding a non-bench work career that would excite me.

How did you specifically decide to look for a project manager position?
It took me almost 2 years to identify all the different positions present outside of academia and match that to my skillset and interests. Once I embarked on the journey of exploring what I wanted to do after my PhD, I became very active outside the lab; I attended career assessment workshops and talks about opportunities in various fields outside of academia. Connecting with terrific people at ‘Uni-emploi’ in Geneva helped me assess my skills and figure out that what I love: Project Management. Thanks to some fantastic people who helped me shape my career path amidst their busy schedule. I highly recommend informational interviews and creating a strong professional network.

What motivated your move to NYC?
I presented my research work at an international conference in Athens. After my talk, a Professor from Columbia University who shared a similar line of research to me was quite interested in my results. He offered me post-doctoral research position in NYC, and although at that time I had not decided to move to NYC, at a later point, personal reasons made me move to Manhattan and take up that job offer. This was a great experience for me to close my academic research chapter by sharing my expertise and knowledge on the live imaging assay that I developed.

How did you pursue looking for project manager positions during your post-doc at Columbia?
I conveyed my future career plans and interests in precision medicine to my PI so that helped me to freely attend talks and networking events. I identified weak points of my CV and worked on strengthening them according to my career plan. For example, I didn’t have experience interacting with patients, so I volunteered in hospitals to demonstrate my interest in clinical studies. I sent out emails and LinkedIn invitations to develop connections and learn more about project management. My mentor Peter W. Park, PhD (Medical Affairs, Pfizer Inc) guided me through the job search process, put me in contact with interesting people and beyond that encouraged me through difficult moments. I am deeply grateful to him.

Tell us about how you landed your current position?
‘I was lucky’ (-says Chrys, modestly). I applied for a Clinical Research Coordinator position at the Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at Columbia University that I was very interested in. I directly sent out an email to the IGM director. While waiting for a reply, I attended a seminar where the IGM director was giving a talk. Right after his speech I literally ran to him to introduce myself and explain my interest in working for IGM. He said that the position was already filled up, but was interested in my profile and would like to discuss with me. I met him a month later and what was intended to be a casual networking meeting turned into an ‘interview’ followed by a job offer! I was thrilled to work for this incredible institute that is doing so much for patients and thus I accepted the Senior Project Manager position at IGM …this is a dream come true!

What is your role as a Senior Project Manager at IGM?
I am handling three major precision medicine initiatives; Epilepsy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and the Maternal and Fetal Medicine initiative. I am also in charge of all the collaborations that the institute has with the industry. I love the diversity that this position offers; I am involved in the writing of clinical proposals, recruitment of post-docs, organization of events, budgeting. But most of all, I am interacting with a lot of people from various fields (clinicians, genetic counselors, scientists, project managers, bioinformaticians…) which is really rewarding and a tremendous experience.

Any tips for job search?
· Work on your ‘elevator speech’: How to present yourself in less than 2 minutes
· Identify your strength and your weakness: Develop new skills to match the job that you are targeting
· Build your network and keep it growing
· Have a mentor who can guide you through the job search process

At this point, Chrys had to run to another meeting and I had to run those gels …

Chatting with Chrys about her career search journey helped me understand some simple things that we often miss out when we dive into the large pool of career options: sit down and think about what you love to do, what are you good at and find a career to match. It is crucial to network aggressively but always politely. Overall, set a goal, be persistent, and just make it happen!

(Acknowledgment: I would like to thank Chrystelle Montagne for this interview. Chrys would like to immensely thank the people who have helped her through this journey and specifically thank Peter W. Park for his support and mentorship

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From String to Strand

9/9/2015

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By Jordana Lovett (edited by Tessa Barrett and Gayathri Raghupathy)

Ask a molecular biologist what image DNA conjures up in the mind. A convoluted ladder of nitrogenous bases, twisting and coiling dynamically. Pose the very same question to a theoretical physicist, chances are that DNA takes on a completely different meaning. As it turns out, DNA is in the eye of the beholder. Science is about perspective. Moreover, it relies on the convergence of distinct, yet interrelated angles to tackle scientific questions wholly.

When I met Dr. Vijay Kumar at a Cancer Immunotherapy meeting, I was immediately intrigued by his unique background and path to biology. Vijay largely credits his family for strongly instilling in him core values of education and assiduousness. He was raised to strive for the best, and was driven to satisfy the goals of his parents, who encouraged him to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. While slightly resentful at the time, he now realizes that this broad degree would afford him multiple career options as well as the opportunity to branch into other fields of physics in the future.

As early as his teenage years, Vijay had already begun thinking about the interesting unknowns of the natural universe. With his blinders on, he sought to explore them using physics and math, both theoretically and practically. As he advanced to university in pursuance of a degree in electrical engineering, he strategized and planned what would be his future transition into theoretical physics. He dabbled in various summer research projects and sought mentorship to help guide his career. Vijay ultimately applied and was accepted to a PhD program at MIT, where he studied string theory in a 6-dimensional model universe. He describes string theory as a broad framework rather than a theory that can be related to the world through ‘thought experiments’ and mathematical consistency. Vijay continued his work in string theory during a post-doc in Santa Barbara, California, where he found himself surrounded by a more diverse group of physicists. Theoretical physicists, astrophysicists, and biophysicists were able to intermingle and share their science.

This diversity spurred new perspectives and reconsideration of what he had originally thought would be a clear road to professorship and a career in academia. As one would imagine, the broader impacts of string theory are limited; the ideas are part of a specialized pool of knowledge available to an elite handful. Even among the few competition was fierce, at the time there were only two available openings for professors in string theory in the United States. Additionally, seeing the need and presence of ‘quantitative people’ in other fields, such as biology made him increasingly curious about alternatives to the automated choices he had been making until this point. With the support of his (now) wife, and inspiration from his brother (who had just completed a degree in statistics/informatics and started a PhD in biology), he networked with other post-docs and set up meetings with principle investigators (PI’s) to discuss how he, as a theoretical physicist, could play a role in a biological setting. He spent time during his post-doc in Santa Barbara, and throughout his second post-doc at Stony Brook reflecting, taking courses and shifting into a different mindset. Vijay interviewed and gave talks at a number of institutions, and eventually landed in lab at Cold Spring Harbor, where he now is involved in addressing some of the shortcomings in DNA sequencing technology.

Starting in a different lab within the confines of a field means readjusting to brand new settings, acquainting with new lab mates and shifting from one narrowly focused project to another. Launching not only into a new lab, but into a foreign field adds an extra unsettling and daunting layer to the scenario. Vijay, however, viewed this as yet another opportunity to uncover mysteries in nature - through a new perspective. He recognized an interplay between string theory, wherein the vibration of strings allows you to make predictions about the universe, and biology, where the raw sequence of DNA can inform the makeup of an organism, and its interactions with the world. It is with this viewpoint that Vijay understands DNA. He sees it as an abstraction, as a sequence of letters that allows you to draw inferences and predict biological outcomes. A change or deletion in just one letter can have enormous, tangible effects. It is this tangibility that speaks to Vijay. He is drawn to the application and broader consequences of the work he is doing, and excited that he can use his expertise to contribute to this knowledge.

While approaching a radically different field can impose obstacles, Vijay sees common challenges in both physics and biology and simply avoids getting lost in scientific translation. Just as theory has a language, so too biology has its own jargon. Once past this barrier, addressing gaps in knowledge becomes part of the common scientific core. Biology enables a question to be answered through various assays and allows observable results to guide future experiments- expertise in various subjects is therefore not only encouraged, but necessary. Collaborations between different labs across various disciplines enable painting a complete picture. “I’m a small piece of a larger puzzle, and that’s ok”, says Vijay. His insight into how scientists ought to work is admirable. Sharing and communicating data in a way that is comprehendible across the scientific playing field will more quickly and efficiently allow for scientific progress.

If I’ve learned one thing from Vijay’s story, it is to understand that science has room for multiple perspectives. In fact, it demands questions to be addressed in an interdisciplinary fashion. You might question yourself along the way. You might shift gears, change directions. But these unique paths mold the mind to perceive, ask, challenge, and contribute in a manner that no one else can.

Many thanks to Dr.Vijay Kumar for sharing his experiences with me for this article.

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Career in the Patent Field: Decision Pending?

From Geneva to New York City…. career path of an international scientist!

From String to Strand

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