Category Archives: Letters from the Director

More Alumni Support for Patent Law!

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The Master of Science in Patent Law continues to get support from successful professionals in the field!

Now on board is Mike Wack, a patent agent at Biomet, a premier medical implant and instrument innovator out of Warsaw, IN. Though Mike started as a product development  engineer with two other Warsaw-based biomedical companies, he has since moved to patent agency and now does portfolio management, patent preparation and prosecution, and manages outside counsel for the company as well.

“Having spent over twenty-one years in product development of medical devices, and now working in the intellectual property field in the same industry, I know how important it is to have well-trained, technical people to assist corporations and law firms in the filing and prosecution of patent applications,” he says.

And regarding our focused curriculum: “It is outstanding and well-suited for the objective. Simply taking a patent bar review course will certainly not give the depth of knowledge or practical experience necessary to prepare you or make you very marketable for employment. The Notre Dame Masters of Science in Patent Law will fulfill that need.”

Mike (center in the photo below) comes from a large Notre Dame family that includes his father, two brothers, son Thomas (Class of 2015; left), and daughter Claire (Class of 2016; right). In fact, we have his son to thank for spreading the word.

“I was really excited to hear about this program,” Mike says, “and I’m looking forward to becoming as involved as possible!”

Not only has Mike agreed to mentor a student through the Capstone Project next year, but along with Tom Mauch—a Notre Dame Law School graduate who also works at Biomet—the two will host the students of the Master of Science in Patent Law for an on-site visit to Biomet corporate headquarters for an in-depth look at the business of innovation and its intellectual protection.

Our great thanks to Mike! Apply now and be part of the action!


GE On Board with Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Patent Law

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It doesn’t get much better than this: GE, the longstanding leader in technological innovation, will be providing key interactions with Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Patent Law (MSPL).

Among the events scheduled for the year are guest lectures from GE patent lawyers and agents. Mike Gnibus (Director of GE’s Global Patent Operation), and Mark Conklin and Jonathan Thomas are all patent lawyers at GE, and each is enthusiastic about teaching a lecture or two in the MSPL. Frank Landgraff, Senior IP Counsel for GE’s Energy Business, is also eager to have members of his IP team engage with the MSPL.

MSPL students will also be traveling to one or more GE sites over the course of the year. While on-site, MSPL students will learn about GE’s patent operations and the importance of patents in GE’s business strategy.

GE has expressed that they are always looking for experienced patent professionals to add to their team. GE’s Shelton, CT, based Global Patent Operation has a rich intern program and, according to Mike Gnibus, “is ready, willing and able to provide the robust internship experience that the program’s participants would be seeking.” The Global Patent Operation has offered to make one internship available to a graduated MSPL student – and provide a great, hands-on experience.

This collaboration is made possible with the support of GE’s Chief IP Counsel, Carl Horton, and Notre Dame alumni Frank Taylor (1970 BA Government, 1974 MA Government/International Studies; VP and Chief Security Officer at GE) and Hank Policinski (BA ’65 and BS ’66 Engineering). Hank has recently retired from a distinguished career in GE’s IP group, and has been a key player in setting up this collaboration.

As GE consistently files over 2,000 patent applications (and around 7,500 globally) every year, we at the Notre Dame Master of Science in Patent Law are thrilled to be in league with a company that is so much at the forefront of invention and innovation. Apply now to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity!

MSPL in Silicon Valley

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I just returned from a great week in Silicon Valley and San Francisco talking to various stakeholders about Notre Dame’s MS in Patent Law! I talked to alumni, friends and other supporters; they work in places as diverse as top-tier Intellectual Property law firms, world-renowned research corporations, venture capital firms, and small internet start-ups.

Everyone was really enthusiastic about this unique program designed to provide presumptive patent agents with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a work environment. The fact that MSPL graduates will have a complete beginner’s toolkit, and will be prepared do real work, is very appealing to potential employers.

It was my first trip to California — ever! I am definitely going to have to get back out there! In the meantime, I’ll just have to enjoy the pictures I took…

Visit us at the NSBE convention in Pittsburgh!

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We’ll be at the National Society of Black Engineers convention in Pittsburgh, PA on March 29 and 30. Look for us at the University of Notre Dame’s Graduate School booth at the Graduate Fair.

Stop by to learn more about Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Patent Law, and to pick up an invitation to the University of Notre Dame reception at the Carlton on Friday night.

Open House at Innovation Park

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Learn more about our curriculum, and find out more about the perks of patent agency and why now is the right time to enter patent law. Join us at Notre Dame’s technology incubator, Innovation Park, on February 24, 2012, for an open house.

Visit our homepage

When: 12:30-8:00 pm

Where: Innovation Park at Notre Dame

1400 Angela Blvd.

Notre Dame, IN 46614

RSVP required. If you would like to attend this event please email Khoa Huynh khuynh@nd.edu or call 574-485-2279

by February 15th.

Tentative Schedule of Events

12:30–2:00 pm: Check-in and Welcome Reception in the 3rd Floor Boardroom

Sandwiches and beverages

Innovation Park tours 1-2 pm

 

2:00-4:00 pm: Info Sessions

ESTEEM and Patent Law One Year Master’s of Science Degree Programs

David Murphy – ESTEEM Program

Karen Deak – Patent Law Program

 

4:00-5:00 pm: Invited Speaker

Joseph Queenan, Innovation Park Early Stage Advisor and Recovering Entrepreneur

 

5:00-6:00 pm: Keynote Address

David Murphy, Associate Dean, Director of ESTEEM

 

6:00 pm-7:30 pm: Dinner Reception

Current ESTEEM students, ESTEEM alumni, ESTEEM faculty & faculty mentors, and Innovation Park Administrators

 

8:35 pm: Hockey Game

Michigan State vs. Notre Dame

RSVP required (Tickets available on a limited basis and are first come, first served; Standing room only since game is SOLD OUT)

Post game networking: Place TBD

Coming in from out of town?

Fairfield Inn and Suites  – King suite rooms (includes breakfast) are reserved under the ESTEEM Program

Ivy Court and Suites  – Double rooms are available at the rate of $89.00/night (includes breakfast) are reserved

under the ESTEEM Program at the adjacent to campus.1220 East Angela Boulevard South Bend, IN 46617 (574) 234-5510

Other suggested hotels within walking distance of Innovation Park:  The Morris Inn at Notre Dame http://morrisinn.nd.edu/

Note:  This event is open to students on campus and off campus interested in the ESTEEM and Patent Law One Year Master’s Degree Programs. The event is also open to faculty at area colleges who may be advising students on post graduate studies.

The ESTEEM program:

The one-year Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master’s Program (ESTEEM) makes your scientific, technical, engineering, or mathematics skills even more marketable by introducing you to entrepreneurship and the commercialization of science and technology. The ESTEEM program prepares you to work as Program and Project Managers, in R&D and Marketing, in Project Design and Implementation, and in a whole host of other occupations at both startup companies and at established businesses large and small, including: Accenture, Google, Qualcomm, Zimmer Corporation, Arteriocyte, and Booz Allen Hamilton. http://esteem.nd.edu/

The Master of Science in Patent Law program:

Notre Dame’s Master of Science in Patent Law is among the first programs of its kind in the country. A one-year, graduate-level program, the Master of Science in Patent Law prepares students with a technical background to pass the USPTO’s Patent Bar and to succeed in daily practice as a patent agent or patent examiner. http://patentlaw.nd.edu

A Letter from the Director

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Dr. Karen Deak, Program Director

Welcome to the Master of Science in Patent Law Program at the University of Notre Dame!

I’m thrilled to be directing this first-of-its-kind program that teaches scientists and engineers the legal and professional skills necessary to succeed in the patent legal workforce. It really is a privilege to help others get started on a career that I consider one of the most stimulating and rewarding endeavors in science or engineering.

I can say from experience that patent agency is a dynamic and lively profession. After earning my Ph.D. in biology, I spent three years working in the intellectual property group of a law firm as a part of their biotechnology patent practice. I worked with all manner of biotech clients, on products as varied as medical devices and diagnostic tests, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, and industrial products. Not only did I get to work with inventors and scientists who are at the forefront of their fields, but I also gained an insider’s perspective on cutting-edge technologies by drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications.

As a student of the Master of Science in Patent Law, you’ll have the opportunity to do just the same. In addition to teaching the skills necessary to pass the bar and continue to successful patent legal practice, our unique one-year program provides hands-on, practical experience in researching and drafting an actual patent application for one of the many technological innovations born here at the University of Notre Dame.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Patent Law curriculum, the many perks of a career as a patent agent, and why now is the perfect time to enter patent law by browsing our patent agent and program FAQ. (High demand and high salary? It’s a no brainer.)

Also be sure to keep up with this blog via RSS for more news on patent agency and our groundbreaking program. Connect with us on Facebook by liking the Master of Science in Patent Law page, and if you have any questions or want more information, you can always contact me directly.

I look forward to hearing from you, and getting you started on your career in patent law!
Dr. Karen Deak

P.S. If you’re in any of these recruiting locations, I’d love to meet in person!

Purdue Career Fair          Feb 1     9am-3pm
ND Winter Career Fair     Feb 1     12-8pm
Society of Women Engineers – Career Fair at National Convention           Feb 18   2-5pm
Open House at Innovation Park (with ESTEEM)                                      Feb 24    12-6pm
Society of Black Engineers – Career Fair at National Convention              March 29-30