The INVO Practicum is an unpaid eight-month internship program (October through May) open to all Northwestern graduate students and postdocs who are interested in learning about the university technology transfer process. The interns are exposed to vast areas of innovation and gain hands-on experience in evaluating technologies for patentability, marketability and commercialization readiness. They are expected to manage the analysis of multiple technologies that fall in and outside of their area of study and to communicate their findings with INVO staff and faculty inventors.
Since 2015, the Practicum has trained and mentored over 70 graduate students, postdocs and research professors from McCormick School of Engineering, Feinberg School of Medicine, Weinberg School of Arts and Sciences and Pritzker School of Law. They bring a sophisticated level and breadth of scientific knowledge ranging from basic and synthetic biology, bioengineering, medicinal chemistry to computational chemistry, mechanical and materials science engineering. Subsequent to their internships, they have been placed in university technology transfer offices, IP law firms, consulting firms and industry across the country.
Session Dates
The tentative first day of the next cohort is October 2, 2025.
Program Requirements
Attendance at training sessions
Commitment of 8-10 hours per week over an eight-month period (~ 1 day/week, likely Thursdays)
Written permission from PI to participate in the program
This program requires in-person attendance at training sessions and a commitment of 8-10 hours per week at INVO over an eight-month period. The interns will gain hands-on experience in evaluating technologies for patentability and marketability as well as be expected to effectively communicate their findings with INVO staff.
Desired Qualifications
Deep technical knowledge in scientific field
Interest in intellectual property and commercialization
Willingness and ability to research & analyze a variety of technological fields
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Apply for INVO Practicum
Applications for the INVO Practicum are open through August 15, 2025.
Please submit the following:
The Practicum Application — you will need to sign in with your Northwestern email address.
You will be prompted to submit:
a personal statement,
CV and letter from your PI (or Academic Advisor, if you have no PI) stating support and understanding of the time commitment (a minimum of 8-10 hours per week over 8 months).
The INVO internship is the single best preparation for a career in patent law or technology transfer that graduate students or postdocs can get at NU. The resulting hands-on-experience in the fields of patent prosecution and technology licensing is valued significantly by future employers, much more than "that last" scientific paper everyone is usually so busy trying to publish. I highly recommend working with the principal investigator to find a schedule that works for both the adviser as well as for the intern, it is absolutely worth it.”