Careers in IP Mini-Course

Are you curious about careers in Intellectual Property but unsure where to begin or which role fits you best? This three-part mini-course starts with an overview of IP roles for PhDs and the life cycle of a patent. The second session will dive into application best practices. The course will end with a “Meet the Firms” day where we will be joined by representatives from multiple firms to discuss example patents from their firms and roles for PhDs. Lunch will be provided.

Dates & Location

Dates:
February 18 & 19, 12-1:30 pm
February 20, 9:30 am-1:00 pm

Location: In Person, On Campus- GRAD HQ, 3rd floor of the Bookstore

Instructors

Session 1:
Aaron V Gin, PhD, JD
Partner, McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

Dr. Aaron Gin received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and has extensive expertise in electrical engineering and computer science. He prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent and trademark applications and advises clients on patent validity, infringement, and patentability. His practice focuses on protecting innovative technologies, particularly at the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law.

Dr. Gin is a recognized thought leader in AI and IP, writing and speaking on issues such as AI-as-inventor, emerging AI legislation, and the use of large language models in patent practice. He contributes to the firm’s recurring AI News Roundup for the Snippets blog and has participated in several amicus briefs addressing patent law issues before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. Prior to entering private practice, Dr. Gin was a Senior Member of Technical Staff at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies and Sandia National Laboratories, where he conducted research in material growth, nanoscale fabrication, and optoelectronic device characterization. He is a named inventor on multiple U.S. patents relating to strained layer superlattice infrared sensor technology.

Session 2:
Amy Hark, PhD
Director, STEM Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Development, UChicagoGRAD

Dr. Hark is a dedicated career advisor for STEM PhD students and postdocs, and oversees the myCHOICE program. She received her Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Neuroscience where she studied sex differences in learning and memory. Prior to joining the UChicagoGRAD team, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher investigating decision-making.

Session 3: Firms Represented at Meet the Firms:

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP (MBHB)
Lathrop GPM LLP
Perking Coie
Fish & Richardson