Tracey Stott
What are your main responsibilities or activities in your current position?
I am a patent litigation lawyer, and my practice primarily relates to pharmaceutical patent litigation and regulatory work. I work with innovative pharmaceutical companies to protect their intellectual property. I read patents, and work directly with inventors and leading experts to build a strong case for my clients
How does your current work relate to your graduate degree?
I use my knowledge of chemistry every day in my job. I have to review and understand technical documents. I also need to understand how research works and how a lab is run. I also have to communicate the technical concepts to non-scientists. Writing and speaking in graduate school helped me hone these skills. Additionally, I have to keep track of a large amount of information, which I also learned a lot about in graduate school.
What do you like and what do you find challenging about your current position?
I like that every day I learn something new. Each case is a puzzle that I need to solve. I am also fascinated by the non-scientists' perception of scientific research.
Is your current career path as you originally intended?
Yes - although I thought I would work more on the patent prosecution side initially (that is, obtaining patent rights for inventors). But I loved the litigation work from my first summer student position.
What motivated you to pursue graduate work at UBC?
I wanted to work with my supervisor, Dr. Michael Wolf.
What did you enjoy the most about your time as a graduate student at UBC?
The high-quality research environment, and the Vancouver weather!
What key things did you do, or what attitudes or approaches did you have, that contributed to your success?
Hard work and a positive attitude have served me well so far. You also need to enjoy your work and the people you work with.
What is your best piece of advice for current graduate students preparing for their future careers?
Be open to all possibilities. Don't limit your thinking to traditional career paths, or what people say you "have" to do.
How did you find out about/obtain your current position?
I have a law degree from UBC. I knew I wanted to practice intellectual property law, and I articled at an IP boutique. Two years ago I moved to my current firm.
How are jobs normally posted and filled in your organization or industry?
Law firms hire students directly from law school, but they also post jobs in legal publications and use recruiters.