Sarah Pollock graduated with a PhD in Microbiology from University of Virginia’s Biomedical Sciences program (BIMS) within the School of Medicine in May 2019. Sarah’s dissertation research focused on understanding the mechanisms that enable cells to maintain a healthy population of mitochondria, which generate energy that is required to power cellular functions. Specifically, she investigated the role of a small GTPase protein, RalA, in response to mitochondrial damage. Sarah participated in the PhD Plus Entrepreneurship and Commercialization skills series.
Sarah is a Patent Agent at Ice Miller LLP in Philadelphia, PA.
Q. What future career did you envision when you began graduate school at UVA?
A. When I began graduate school, I pictured myself obtaining a career in industry. I wasn't aware of careers in Intellectual Property (IP) Law until I attended a career talk through my BIMS PhD program that featured a patent attorney.
Q. How did you explore your interest in the career path you transitioned into?
A. I did an internship at the UVA Licensing & Ventures group. This experience exposed me to both technology transfer and basic principles that comprise patent law. To learn more about careers in IP, I spoke to people working in the field who were at various stages in their careers (e.g., recently became a Patent Agent to experienced patent attorney).
Q. What are some valuable transferable skills and experiences for PhDs to transition into this career?
A. Critical thinking and writing are extremely important skills for a patent practitioner. PhDs develop and apply these skills in their research, which is helpful for the transition to patent law. Additionally, being organized will enable successful management of multiple projects. It's standard in patent law to work on multiple projects with various deadlines at once.
Q. What are some opportunities that enable developing these skills?
A. I would recommend graduate students take advantage of opportunities to practice their writing by preparing grants, writing review articles, and of course, publishing their research in a journal. I would also recommend finding opportunities to practice sharing their research to a broad audience (outside of their field). Patent practitioners need to effectively describe an invention in laymen terms. When I was at UVA, I participated in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition and the American Society of Cell Biology's (ASCB) Elevator Speech Contest. If you're applying to positions in Intellectual Property, definitely make sure you have polished your elevator pitch about your research for a general audience! I was frequently asked this question during my interviews.
Q. Based on your job search, application and interview experience, what would you advise PhD students?
A. I specifically searched for Technical Advisor or Technology Specialist positions at law firms. This is an entry level position for transitioning into IP law where the firm helps prepare you to take the Patent Bar and become a Patent Agent. Some firms will also support you going to law school part-time if you desire to become a Patent Attorney. I asked alumni from both my college and UVA for help in identifying which firms offer these positions and understanding differences in working at a large versus small firms. I was fortunate that my contacts not only helped guide me through the interview process, but in some cases also shared my resume with their colleagues. I ultimately obtained a position at a law firm working as a Technical Advisor. I took the Patent Bar this past fall and am now working as a Patent Agent.
Q. What advice would you give PhD students and postdocs interested in pursuing a career in Intellectual Property and more broadly, technology transfer careers?
A. Start talking to people who are currently working in IP to determine if it is a career path that may be right for you. The earlier you conduct informational interviews, the better. Be curious and ask lots of questions! The only way to gain actual experience in patent law is by practicing the law itself, which of course is something you can only do once you work in the field. Therefore, it is critical that you educate yourself as much as possible about what careers in IP entail to make an informed choice.