Patent Agent or Junior/Patent Associate (Biology)

Scismic; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A Boston-based law firm is seeking an experienced patent agent and associates with strong biological sciences backgrounds. Responsibilities include drafting and prosecuting patent applications, conducting analyses, and providing strategic counseling to clients. Only candidates legally authorized to work in the US without sponsorship will be considered.

Qualifications

• 3-6 years of experience as a patent agent or patent associate.
• Prior firm experience and registration with the USPTO.
• Excellent academic record.

Responsibilities

• Drafting patent applications.
• Prosecuting patent applications in the US and worldwide.
• Conducting freedom-to-operate and IP landscape analyses.

Skills

Technical background in biological sciences

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Client service commitment

Education

Ph.D. or Master's degree

Job description

Scismic is supporting the growth of a Boston-based law firm. Their clients extend across the US and many foreign countries and include Fortune 500 companies, public and private companies, PE/VC firms, financial institutions and wealthy individuals.

We are seeking the following:

• Experienced patent agent (level I and level II) with a strong technical background in biological sciences
• 1st to 4th-year associate with a strong technical background in biological sciences

Job Functions / Responsibilities

• Drafting patent applications.
• Prosecuting patent applications in the US (including replies to Office actions, examiner interviews, and appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board) and directing prosecution worldwide.
• Conducting freedom-to-operate searches and analyses.
• Conducting IP landscape analyses.
• Conducting IP due diligence in the context of an asset purchase or securities offering.
• Conducting invalidity and non-infringement analyses.
• Counseling clients on prosecution strategy.
• Surveilling competitor patent applications and filing observations at the US Patent Office.
• Assisting with contested cases at the US Patent Office (e.g., inter partes review, post-grant review) or in US district court.
• Assisting with agreements (e.g., for licenses, research collaborations, research services).

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred; will consider a master’s degree with substantial industry experience); strong technical background in biological sciences.
• 3-6 years of experience as a patent agent or patent associate.
• Prior firm experience and registration with the USPTO.
• An excellent academic record and superior organizational and communication skills (written and oral).
• A demonstrated commitment to providing exceptional client service and a creative and entrepreneurial perspective on IP.
• Experience in litigation and/or post-grant proceedings is a plus.

Schedule

The Firm is currently operating in a hybrid model, with the requirement that everyone should be in the office at least four days per week. This schedule is subject to change dependent on Firm, department, and client needs, and will be routinely evaluated.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship by the Firm (either now or in the future).