“As a busy college student, I have been able to take advantage of the flexible work schedule to fulfill my commitments while also making sure I take full advantage of my college experience.”
Meet intern Max B.
As a mechanical engineering student at Clemson University with a minor in political and legal theory, Max has been curious about the intersection of technology and law. His internship at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is giving him a firsthand look at the impact of innovation.
“I love how much I am learning about patents, the USPTO, and innovation as a whole,” Max shares. “Being able to work with patent professionals has been a very rewarding and educational experience.”
In addition to his intern role, Max enjoys being active on Clemson’s campus, participating in various clubs that offer a chance to connect with others, and even pick up a new hobby.
Exploring innovation at the USPTO
Before joining the USPTO, Max gained valuable skills through an internship at a chemical company. There, he collaborated with mechanical designers, fabricators, and machine operators. This experience proved to be helpful in preparing him for his current role. “In that internship, I learned how to apply the subjects I learned in class to a work environment,” Max recalls.
At the USPTO, Max continues to broaden his skills through a unique rotation structure, which offers exposure across different business units. For Max, this means the chance to work on a variety of projects that offer a well-rounded view of the agency.
“It has been very interesting to be able to work on different types of assignments while rotating with different business units,” he explains.
Max’s day-to-day work involves completing projects assigned during each of his rotations and meeting weekly with other interns. These projects, ranging from patent searches to application writing, and claim drafting will cumulate into a capstone project.
Max believes the rotation-based structure of his USPTO internship calls for interns with versatility and a range of experiences. “Because of the rotation-based internship, I have had the opportunity to work in multiple different areas with co-workers who have different backgrounds and skills,” says Max. He adds that interested internship candidates should be hard-working and have diverse experiences.
Max also credits the supportive culture for making his USPTO experience a great one. “The USPTO has been a great place to work! My co-workers and rotation supervisors have been very welcoming, engaging, and eager to teach and share their knowledge,” Max explains.
Another perk Max says makes the experience worthwhile is the work-life balance. “As a busy college student, I have been able to take advantage of the flex work schedule to fill my commitments while also making sure I take full advantage of my college experience,” Max mentions.
Future sights in patent law
Max has his sights set on a career in patent law and his time at USPTO is giving him a look at what lies ahead. “The field of intellectual property is the intersection of an engineering and a legal career, my two personal interests,” Max says.
For Max, innovation is about “the process of creating something new or improving on an existing idea that has some function or utility to society” – a definition that resonates with his experience at USPTO.