Patent Examiner (Chemistry) Direct-Hire Authority (DHA)

Patent and Trademark Office • Alexandria, VA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The USPTO drives U.S innovation for the benefit of all Americans and providing intellectual property protection for innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide. We are looking for talented individuals to examine ideas that benefit society and bring innovation to market. You'll shape the future of patent examination, advance key processes, and support innovation in cutting-edge ways. The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria , Virginia . Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required as this role includes onsite functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per leave year. Be part of history in the making - and help shape what's next. Learn how to become a patent examiner, explore the patent examiner disciplines crosswalk to find the areas that align best with your expertise, meet the people leading the way, and discover how you can use cutting-edge tools to protect breakthrough ideas. As a patent examiner, you will: Examine patent applications and help protect groundbreaking ideas. You will assess patent applications for new inventions, ensuring they meet our standards and determining if they are eligible for a patent. Early in your career, you will work closely with supervisors and senior examiners and receive extensive guidance and feedback as you develop your skills and evaluate your findings. You will explore Innovation in your review of patent applications. You will use specialized and cutting-edge technology to search prior art - information known publicly before the filing of a U.S. patent application - to determine whether inventions meet patentability standards and are eligible for a patent. Prepare clear and thoughtful office actions. You will draft written communications to applicant to convey your findings in detailed explanations of your examination decisions. You will discuss them with supervisors or senior examiners and refine your work based on feedback before issuing official communications. Please review the relevant conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct that may affect you as a patent examiner. Carefully review the conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct, if you have an interest in any company that manufactures devices or markets processes covered by your technology area, you will be subject to a disqualification regarding all patent applications in the technology area unless the value is below $15,000 for any one company and less than $25,000 for all companies. If you are an attorney applicant, you must also be able to comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible professional responsibility conflicts in connection with your application. Further, as an employee of the USPTO you are restricted as to your interest in patents consistent with 35 U.S.C. 4. The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email ( [email protected] ) or phone [phone]).

Requirements

• Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals.
• If this is your first federal appointment, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period.
• Current federal service employees may be given a new appointment, and a new probationary period may be required.
• You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
• You are required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
• You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
• This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.
• This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate."
• You will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report, i.e., the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, within 30 days of assuming the position and annually thereafter.
• You will be required to complete ethics orientation within 3 months of beginning of your position.
• At least a bachelor's degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by coursework in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics.
• OR Have a combination of education and experience--course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
• For GS-7: At least one year of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related field of study.
• For GS-7: Superior Academic Achievement (Class standing--Upper third of the graduating class, GPA of 3.0 or higher out of 4.0, or 3.5 or higher in major courses, or election to a national scholastic honor society).
• For GS-7: One year of specialized experience applying basic biological science, physics, or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; assisting in the collection of and recognizing discrepancies in data.
• For GS-7: A combination of graduate level education that is less than 1 year and less than 1 year of specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
• For GS-9: At least two years of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related field of study.
• For GS-9: One year of specialized experience, interpreting and applying intermediate biological science, physics, or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; participating in planning and conducting research; applying appropriate references to the claimed invention.
• For GS-9: A combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience.
• For GS-9: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above.
• For GS-11: At least three years of progressively higher-level graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related field of study.
• For GS-11: At least one year of specialized experience: interpreting and applying advanced biological science, physics, and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; or planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions.
• For GS-11: A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study, and professional experience, as described above.

Nice To Haves

• If you are a student nearing graduation, within 9 months from the date of your applications, you can still apply! Just submit your application now, and we will verify your degree before your start date.
• Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Responsibilities

• Examine patent applications and help protect groundbreaking ideas.
• Assess patent applications for new inventions, ensuring they meet our standards and determining if they are eligible for a patent.
• Work closely with supervisors and senior examiners and receive extensive guidance and feedback as you develop your skills and evaluate your findings.
• Explore Innovation in your review of patent applications.
• Use specialized and cutting-edge technology to search prior art - information known publicly before the filing of a U.S. patent application - to determine whether inventions meet patentability standards and are eligible for a patent.
• Draft written communications to applicant to convey your findings in detailed explanations of your examination decisions.
• Discuss examination decisions with supervisors or senior examiners and refine your work based on feedback before issuing official communications.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level