Career Center

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application in a PDF format. Please note that the applicant tracking system does not convert attachments in Word format successfully.

Position Summary

The Intellectual Property Specialist, under the supervision of the Assistant Director of Intellectual Property Management, will serve in the Office of Technology Transfer to manage Rice University's patent portfolio by conducting prior art searches, coordinating patent prosecution strategy with Rice University inventors and outside patent counsel, and filing provisional applications for select university technologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or other Doctoral Degree;
• Licensed as a U.S. Patent Agent or ability to obtain the license within thirty days from the start date;
• 1 year of experience in research, research administration, technology transfer or practicing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;
• Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, negotiating and planning skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, pay attention to detail, meet inflexible deadlines on own initiative;
• Demonstrated ability to deal with difficult situations while maintaining composure;
• Demonstrated ability to remain effective under stress and in prolonged projects and be able to manage and lead many projects at the same time; and
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially the ability to relay highly technical information, explain and teach business and/or legal issues.

Essential Functions

• Conducts prior art searches for disclosed technologies;
• Works with the Assistant Director of Intellectual Property Management to oversee the management of the patent docket and ensures timely responses to all patent related actions;
• Reviews university technologies for marketability and commercial value;
• Prepares, drafts and files provisional patent applications for select university technologies;
• Works with outside patent counsel and inventors to draft, file, and prosecute patent applications with commercially relevant claims;
• Ensures that Rice University's intellectual property portfolio appropriately captures the value and commercialization potential of Rice technology disclosures;
• Prepares information disclosure statements, assignments and declarations and facilitates their execution as well as execution of other patent related materials such as power of attorneys;
• Reviews outside patent counsel invoices for accuracy; and
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Preferences

• Licensed to practice as a patent attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• 3 years of experience with practicing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Advanced knowledge of policies and procedures relating to intellectual property management and of U.S. patent copyright and trademark law and procedures

Workplace Requirements

• Work Schedule: Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm

• Hybrid option available

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here: https://coronavirus.rice.edu/policies