The posting
The mission of the legal office of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is to further the Laboratory’s strategic goals by protecting and preserving the Laboratory’s legal, ethical, and financial integrity and reputation.
The objective is to provide world-class legal services to support the world-class science being performed at BNL. This is accomplished by providing strategic legal advice and counsel and seeking to ensure that all members of the Laboratory staff conduct their activities in accordance with applicable law and standards consistent with the goals, vision, and values of the Laboratory.
Brookhaven National Laboratory’s (BNL’s) Intellectual Property Legal Group within the Office of General Counsel, is seeking a Patent Agent for a full-time, permanent position. The position of Patent Agent will be responsible for managing an active patent docket for BNL inventions related to diverse scientific disciplines, including for example, nanomaterials, microelectronics, bioengineering, high energy physics, and electrocatalysts.
Position Description:
The Patent Agent will be registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO.) They will be capable of handling patent matters, including for example, determining patentability of reported inventions and coordinating the patent preparation and prosecution of patent applications filed with the USPTO to obtain the broadest possible patent protection for the technology transfer of inventions arising out of research conducted at BNL.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Processing incoming records of inventions and other disclosure forms (“disclosures”) of inventions or other intellectual property.
- Developing and overseeing the implementation of intellectual property protection processes.
- Preparing, filing, prosecuting patent applications, maintaining patents, as well as handling supporting documents and forms in coordination with outside counsel.as needed before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and in support of foreign counterparts.
- Collaborating with others, applying sound judgment, taking initiative, and possessing a willingness to work with a team environment, to learn systems and processes.
- Operating within legal, regulatory and contractual frameworks and ensuring compliance with DOE prime contract, regulations, orders or instructions for protecting laboratory inventions.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technical or scientific discipline (or equivalent foreign degree).
- Current registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Patent Agent.
- Minimum 6 years of experience in patent drafting and prosecution.
- Experience managing multiple matters in a collaborative, research-driven environment.
- Strong knowledge of patent laws, USPTO procedures, and technology transfer processes.
- Ability to obtain and maintain federal security clearance.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with patent laws and regulations necessary for patent preparation, prosecution and maintenance before the USPTO.
- Solid Communication skills both written and verbal with legal, scientific and technical professionals, especially regarding complex patent concepts, so that invention disclosure, patent application preparation and filing, and patent application prosecution processes can be understood by those involved.
- Ability to apply independent judgement to develop tailored patent protection for diverse technologies.
- Familiarity with tracking, recording and docketing USPTO and other due dates in Sophia (Evolve) or other IP management/technology transfer system (e.g., Inteum.) Ability to manage competing priorities and statutory deadline.
- High degree of attention to details and organizational skills to follow up on information and inputs needed to receive complete invention records, maintain accurate docketing, and conduct patent application preparation, filing and prosecution.
- Ability to inspire teamwork, take initiative and learn new systems and processes.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive or privileged information appropriately.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Familiarity with Department of Energy rules, regulations and policies for management and operating (M&O) contractor prime contract terms, including for example, patent rights, data rights and technology transfer mission clauses.
- Experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications involving software/computer science, or degree in computer science, software engineering or electrical engineering.
- Technical degree or background involving algorithms, data structures, AI/ML/LLMs.
- Ability to identify innovative ways to improve work processes and efficiency and electronic patent portfolio management and implement emerging AI IP tools.
Other Information:
- This position is eligible for consideration of a flexible work arrangement (4 days onsite/1 day remote).
- This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
- This position may involve access to sensitive information, US Government facilities and/or US Government information systems restricted to individuals with US citizenship. Candidate should be able to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.
- This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. The full salary range for this position is $140000 - $170000 / year. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate’s qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.
Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program
Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory – view more information at www.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federal REAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.
As a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory requires employees to obtain and maintain a DOE Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) credential in accordance with Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) requirements. The credentialing process is completed as part of onboarding and enables access to DOE facilities and information systems. As a condition of employment, the selected candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a UPIV credential. These requirements are established under DOE Order 206.2 Chg. 2, Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM- Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)), and DOE Order 473.1A- Physical Protection Program- Physical Protection Program.
About Us
Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation’s future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. *VEVRAA Federal Contractor
BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at: https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file
