Innovation Policy Research Fellow

University of Washington
Published
March 3, 2017
Location
Seattle, WA
Category
Job Type

Description

The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

CASRIP at the University of Washington School of Law is seeking to hire an Innovation Policy Research Fellow. CASRIP is the focal point for our intellectual property research and teaching activities at UW Law, with a broader mission of generating excellent scholarship and education in service of advancing innovation policy. CASRIP houses a top-notch IP LLM program, a Tech Policy Clinic, an Entrepreneurial Law Clinic which is a member of the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program in Patents and Trademarks. In 2017 CASRIP is launching a USPTO Patent Pro Bono Network program that will pair students with volunteer patent counsel in the community to serve under-resourced inventors seeking patents. That program will be run in conjunction with a Patent Practicum class through which students will gain deeper knowledge of patent law and practice. In addition to CASRIP, the Tech Policy Lab at UW Law is an interdisciplinary center located in the law school that generates scholarship and policy work on cutting edge issues pertaining to technology, law, psychology and information studies. Between CASRIP and the Tech Policy Lab, we offer courses and programming in IP, technology policy, entertainment law, biotech, cybersecurity, surveillance, and the law and business of entrepreneurship.

The Shidler Innovation Policy Research Fellow will serve as a member of CASRIP (The Center for Advanced Study and Research in Innovation Policy) at the University of Washington School of Law. The Shidler Innovation Policy Research Fellow divides time between helping to run the USPTO Pro Bono Patent Network, planning innovation policy events including the Shidler Lecture Series, facilitating other CASRIP programming and teamwork, and undertaking research on innovation policy issues.

This position works under the direction of CASRIP’s Lead Faculty Director and it requires the ability to coordinate with the entire CASRIP team and its constituencies, potentially including other UW faculty and staff, UW students, the local bar, policymakers, members of the judiciary, and domestic and foreign partners. This position requires legal experience and specialized knowledge of at least one area of intellectual property or innovation policy law, plus excellent organizational skills.

CASRIP is a complex enterprise that hosts at least two high-profile conferences per year; houses an outstanding IP LLM program; offers multiple legal clinics pertaining to innovation policy; and partners with the independent, multidisciplinary Tech Policy Lab. CASRIP draws a diverse group of students and scholars from around the globe. CASRIP is a center for scholarly excellence and its events and faculty publications impact the Law School’s reputation within the Washington legal community and the national legal and scholarly communities.

The Shidler Innovation Policy Research Fellow will work with CASRIP faculty and staff to undertake directed and independent research on innovation policy issues, to plan workshops, conferences, and other events on intellectual property law and innovation policy, and to contribute generally to the development of the innovation policy programming of CASRIP. The Shidler Fellow will be expected to utilize specialized knowledge of intellectual property or innovation policy law to establish policies and programming for CASRIP and the UPSTO Pro Bono Patent Network.

For more information on CASRIP, please see: https://www.law.washington.edu/casrip/

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Shidler Fellow’s primary responsibilities include:

-- Planning and executing the Shidler Lectures as well as visits with other scholars/speakers;

-- Assisting in the administration of the USPTO year-round patent pro bono network and the accompanying practicum and working closely with the USPTO Team and UW Faculty to ensure that the new program conforms with UW Law and University policies.

-- Researching and writing articles and papers on innovation policy and law issues;

-- Working with CASRIP faculty and staff to organize workshops, conferences, talks, and other events on innovation policy issues; 

-- Expanding relationships with CASRIP’s global community of sponsoring law firms, corporations, non-profit organizations and academics;

-- Participating in and assisting with planning the Asia Pacific IP Forum;

-- Coordinating faculty and student participation in and helps plan Global Innovation Seminar, a weeklong innovation policy problem-solving exercise in Asia each Fall;

-- Coordinating CASRIP and Tech Policy Lab calendars, keeping groups coordinated and informed; and

-- Assisting with marketing CASRIP’s team’s efforts and successes.

Additional Responsibilities:

-- Assisting in curriculum planning and student advising;

-- Coordinating visits with international guests who wish to speak with our faculty and visit our classes (at least a dozen, and often more, annually);

-- Assisting with new diversity initiatives: planning panel on diversity in tech, helping administer mentoring program, helping host continued discussion among faculty and committee about steps to take; and

-- Coordinating student volunteers for conferences.

REQUIREMENTS:

-- Professional Degree – JD and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state (WA Bar not required)

-- Two to three years’ law practice experience in IP or innovation-related field of law in a law office or other similar professional setting including government

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

-- Substantive knowledge and work experience whether in the public or private sector;

-- Administrative and management experience;

-- Cultural competence and demonstrated capacity, enthusiasm, and success in working with diverse communities and stakeholders;

-- Ability to work independently and under pressure of frequent deadlines in a fast-paced and changing environment. 

-- Demonstrated experience in event planning and program management is helpful

DESIRED:

-- At least two years’ experience as a lawyer, with preference given to candidates with more than that;

-- Deep knowledge of at least one of the key areas of intellectual property law or innovation-policy and a related legal area, and familiarity with the key debates in innovation policy;

-- Excellent research, analytic and writing skills; ability to work as part of a team and with diverse cultures;

-- Proven track record of professionalism and organization;

-- A passion for exploring the issues at the intersection of law, technology, business, and the arts.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

Start Date: Anticipated March 20-27, 2017

This is a 100% time, 9-month contract position, with the possibility of renewals up to twenty-four months total.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Work Authorization, Criminal Conviction History, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

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