A post from our student blogger Catie Stevens

Hello, my name is Catie Stevens, and I am a student in the Patent Law Master’s program at the University of Notre Dame for the 2014-2015 school year. I am a native of Indianapolis, IN and a recent graduate of Ball State University in Muncie, IN where I earned my Bachelors of Science in Biology with a concentration in Genetics. Patent Law stood out as a viable option for me because it is a specialized career path that suits my interests. In the field of Biology, it can be difficult to find a job after college without having experience or a higher degree. In my undergraduate career, it was nearly impossible to even find an internship, because most companies do not want you there unless you already have a degree. Notre Dame’s program prepares its students to be Patent Law Agents in one year. Patent Law piques my interests because I enjoy writing and I love biology, so I can use both of my passions in this career to help others understand science while helping scientists receive patents for their ideas.

I have also chosen to pursue a Master’s in Patent Law in hopes of connecting to the field of genetics in a unique way. In addition to my biology coursework, I also took psychology courses and volunteered at a local domestic violence shelter and crisis center. Therefore, I have more of an orientation for working with people and conveying ideas to them as opposed to performing laboratory work. I would like to work as a Patent Law agent mainly to work alongside of other geneticists and lab researchers in the genetics field who are making strides in the detection and prevention of genetically inherited diseases and in cancer genetics. I also hope to pursue a Master’s in genetic counseling after receiving my degree in Patent Law. As a Patent Law Agent, I would have the option to work independently or with a law firm. I liked that I would have the flexibility of working independently as a Patent Law Agent while also working a very different job. Overall, I am incredibly excited to be part of the Patent Law program and I hope that it leads me to play a vital role in making positive changes in medicine!