Since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated with technology and how it can interact with the world. I’ve loved learning to use and program computers and other gadgets, but I always wondered how things worked and how to make them better. Though I started my career path in the hard sciences pursuing a doctorate in physical chemistry, I quickly realized that I enjoyed learning about everything. Okay, maybe I couldn’t learn everything, but I could give it a shot! Nominally my degree was focused on chemistry, I also had to become an expert in laser design, optics, computer programming and more.My career has taken a similarly varied approach, working at very small start-ups, as well as large corporations. I have worked as a personal contributor in jobs related to chemistry, optics, MEMS, and software. I’ve learned not to be afraid of working on something I don’t know much about at first, since I know I can grow to excel at it. As part of one job, I became an inventor on a few patents and helped write them. Although I enjoy problem-solving and focusing on particular tasks, I also really like to pull back and look at the big picture. When an opportunity opened up as a technologist working in the patent department of a semiconductor and optics company, I jumped at the chance to expand my horizons and delve into new areas.In that job and my current job, I came to support a large number of technical innovation areas. I am a qualified patent practitioner who can file and prosecute patents, but my focus has been to work directly with inventors to help them expand their ideas. Over the years, I have also become skilled at patent analysis and research, performing due diligence for venture capital investments as well as corporate development teams. I expect my days of learning are not yet done, and I hope my curiosity will lead me to exciting places!