Patent Counsel as Guardian for Developed Product

Name: Solveig Söding (she/her)

PhD: Molecular Biology, University of Münster, 2005

What is your current job?

I am a Patent Counsel transitioning into a position focused on creating a sustainable and regenerative economy. 

As a patent counsel, you advise and train development teams and business divisions on all aspects of the IP process - from the identification of inventions to patent prosecution and FtO (Freedom to Operate - looking if others hold patents or other IP rights blocking your way). 

In this role, you act as a guardian for the product that is developed, making sure that it is protected by patents and other intellectual property rights (designs, trademarks…), as well as ensuring the product does not infringe the rights of others. In that way, risk analysis is also an important part of the job. 

During a normal week you will be faced with a diverse set of tasks, like meetings with development teams, evaluating invention disclosures, communicating with inventors and patent attorneys during the drafting process, carrying out IP risk evaluations, and communicating risks to business.  

What is your favorite thing about your job?

The versatility! Constantly digging into new technologies, and being in the middle of innovation processes is pure joy! 

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Analytical skills & systems thinking

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role? 

The scientific training as a whole helped a lot, developing that open and ever questioning mindset was key. The fact that you get into contact with a broad range of topics as a biology student is a big advantage. Being used to looking at things from different angles is very helpful, when interacting with inventors, trying to understand both the problems they addressed and the solutions they came up with.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now? 

I found my last position via a job database. 

PhD graduate ➡️ Patent Attorney candidate in a patent law firm

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

If your university offers IP related courses, take the chance to try it out. Additionally, learning platforms like Udemy, Coursera, the European Patent Office (EPO) and  WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) offer a number of courses. 

Contacting the people working at your responsible tech-transfer office is another starting point. Maybe you can get a student job with them, at a patent law firm, or in the patent department of a company. 

I would highly recommend talking to different people. Roles in IP are available at universities, in private practice, and within companies. It is a good idea to have a look at the different options, and find out what might be the best one for you.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia? 

For me, it was an easy decision. My main reason was not to get stuck with a single topic for the rest of my life. As constantly being able to dig into different topics was at the top of my wishlist, IP seemed to be the right path to follow.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Find something you are passionate about. If what you do is important to you, that passion will help get you through your lows. And it will help you in knowing where to draw a line and maybe better part ways. In the end, every job has to be a fit for both sides.

And for those interested, what was your main area of research?

My PhD focused on molecular biology and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in arteriosclerosis. I screened for proteins that influenced apoptosis in this setting, and looked at interactions in this pathway.