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(Message started by: DEBO on Aug 30^th, 2006, 3:41pm)

Title: Phd. in Biotechnology
Post by DEBO on Aug 30^th, 2006, 3:41pm

I am a recent law school grad currently completing a post-grad internship in the NASA office of chief counsel. In regards to a career in Patent Law, would I be better served by obtaining an LLM in IP law (I have already taken 80% of the courses offered in most programs) or to take an opportunity to get a Phd. in Biotechnology. The Phd. program offered a 40K stipend for 3 yrs and full tuition and housing costs (on campus of course). I would appreciate any insight that anyone could provide.

Title: Re: Phd. in Biotechnology
Post by tohoku on Sep 3^rd, 2006, 11:56pm

Too many PhDs, but too few true scientists ::) ::) ::)

Title: Re: Phd. in Biotechnology
Post by IPRecruit on Sep 14^th, 2006, 2:36pm

Agreed. I recruit for the industry and the biggest knock-out factor is no (direct scientific) experience.

Further, between biologics and small molecule, there are far more PhD's with biologics (industry) experience than small molecule.

The most marketable person for me (today) would be a PhD with small molecules experience, who went into industry after he/she graduated; spent 5 years doing good scientific work; and then moved into the IP group at a pharmaceutical company and during the course of this progression, attained either Patent Agent or JD.

This profile is in demand for both the firms as well as industry.

Title: Re: Phd. in Biotechnology
Post by fly2thesun on Sep 14^th, 2006, 6:52pm

Dear IPRecruit,

thank you for the informative reply. It's interesting to me to read, even though I'm not a bio major. Couple of things that I'd like to ask, if you don't mind,
first, you seem to imply that industry experience is considered more valuable than academia (as a postdoc) experience.. Is it correct or am I misreading?

and if you recruit for other technical areas too, would you look for similar profiles (that is, PhD+industry) from EE majors , or is it significantly different for EE?

thank you

Title: Re: Phd. in Biotechnology
Post by biopico on Sep 16^th, 2006, 8:05pm

I guess IPRecruit is working at industry. Thus industry would be more interested in people laterally moving from industry to industry rather than from academia to industry. It would really depend upon case by case.