Job Details

Patent Agent, Life Sciences

Position Number: 9948005
Location: Albany, United States
Position Type: Legal Affairs

Patent Agent, Life Sciences

Category: Administrative and Professional
Department: Innovations & Partnerships
Locations: Albany, NY
Type: Exempt
Position ID: 206448

Location: Albany, NY Category: Administrative and Professional Job Type: Exempt Posted On: Thu Nov 5 2026 Job Description:

Why should you want to work with us? You could work anywhere, but you choose to work with us because you want to make a difference in the world by challenging yourself creatively, being part of a close-knit team that works hard and always has each other's backs. You seek an opportunity to make life-changing impacts that touch people across the world and want to pursue your dream job that applies your unique skills to defining the future of technology development in New York and beyond.

We offer a collaborative and intellectually engaging environment where technical expertise and professional development are highly valued. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with a diverse group of inventors and support cutting-edge technologies across multiple disciplines.

Function & Scope:

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York (SUNY RF) is seeking an experienced Patent Agent to join our intellectual property practice group. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in chemistry or biology and 3-5 years of experience preparing, filing, and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with attorneys, inventors, and technology transfer professionals across SUNY campuses around a broad range of innovative technologies while developing strategic patent portfolios.

Responsibilities:

Prepare, draft, and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications.
Conduct inventor interviews and analyze complex scientific and technical disclosures.
Develop patent prosecution strategies in collaboration with attorneys and technology transfer professionals, inventors, and campus stakeholders.
Respond to Office Actions before the USPTO and coordinate foreign prosecution with international counsel.
Perform patentability, freedom-to-operate, and landscape analyses, as needed.
Assist clients in developing and managing domestic and international patent portfolios.
Stay current on developments in patent law and emerging technologies relevant to the SUNY research portfolio.
Collaborate effectively with attorneys, technical specialists, licensing professionals, and support staff to deliver high-quality service to inventors and campus stakeholders.

Job Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

Candidates must be registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and be in good standing.
Bachelor's degree, master's degree, or Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific discipline (advanced degree preferred).
3-5 years of experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, preferably within a law firm or corporate intellectual property department.
Experience drafting and prosecuting patents related to one or more of the following technologies:
- DNA/RNA constructs and gene-editing tools
- Diagnostic biomarker panels and assays
- Antibodies and biologics
- Small-molecule drug compounds
- Cell and gene therapy vectors and delivery systems
- Protein engineering or enzyme modifications
- Drug formulations and delivery technologies
- Polymer technologies
Excellent scientific writing, analytical, and communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines independently.
Ability to communicate complex technical concepts effectively to clients and legal professionals.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in drafting and prosecuting patents in one or more of the following technology areas is preferred, but not required:
- Medical devices
- Computer-implemented inventions and computer program products
- Mechanical technologies
Experience coordinating international patent prosecution.
Familiarity with patent searching, due diligence, and intellectual property portfolio management.

Compensation: $101,930 - 125,382

Additional Information:

As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The Research Foundation for the State University of New York is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation for the State University of New York are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. The Research Foundation for the State University of New York operates under a contract with The State University of New York and receives no directly appropriated state funding.

To apply, visit http://rfsuny.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=206448