INVO Practicum: Innovation and New Ventures

INVO Practicum

Questions?

Please contact Sarah Kamper for more information.

From Previous Interns

"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." -Patent Agent, AM top 100 law firm

"INVO's Practicum allowed me to explore technology areas outside my expertise, and provided the opportunity to work and interact with people in law, business, and academic research. The Practicum is a great opportunity if you are exploring careers in intellectual property law, business development, technology transfer, technology investment, and beyond. I would recommend this opportunity and anyone and everyone who wants experience beyond the lab bench." -Hilary, Business Analyst, Allied Inventors

"The internship gave me a perspective on what factors companies use to decide if they should pursue a patent on an invention. It also helped me to learn about new career possibilities spanning a broad spectrum of positions in entrepreneurship, technology transfer, and IP law. In the process, I met a lot of great, supportive people that helped to crystallize my career goals." -Christine, PhD Graduate Student, Northwestern

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.

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

Session Dates

The tentative first day of the next cohort is October 3, 2024.

Apply for INVO Practicum

Applications for the INVO Practicum are open through September 1, 2024. 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 & understanding of the time commitment (a minimum of 8-10 hours per week over 8 months).

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Kamper (sarah.kamper@northwestern.edu).

WHERE OUR INTERNS ARE NOW

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