Patent examiner qualifications

In addition to being a graduate or an experienced professional, there are specific personal qualities and industry technologies we look for when recruiting patent examiners.

Successful applicants demonstrate the following qualities and skills:

Qualities

• Openness to learning in a group setting.
• Receptive to constructive feedback and have the ability to apply this in the performance of duties, both when in training and on the job.
• Able to work collaboratively and cooperatively, and thrive in a diverse work group.
• Able to work independently.
  
• Recognise and respect the work preferences and different views of others.

Skills

• Apply technical knowledge to new and challenging ideas.
• Meet deadlines and adapt to a changing environment.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound research, analytical, comprehension and decision-making skills.
• Make well-supported decisions.
• Uphold the Australian Public Service and IP Australia Code of Conduct, and values, in carrying out day-to-day responsibilities.

Technologies

We are particularly interested in people with qualifications and experience in:

• mechanical engineering
• medical devices
• pure or applied chemistry, industrial chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, pharmaceuticals and biochemistry
• physics
• chemical engineering
• electronics, telecommunications, computer engineering, computer science and electrical engineering.

Mechanical engineering
We seek engineers in a variety of disciplines including:

• mechanical
• transport, including automotive and marine
• agricultural
• civil
• manufacturing
• munitions
• mining or petroleum engineering.

Medical devices
We seek engineers or scientists with a background or an interest in medical devices, such as:

• heart valves
• blood pumps
• stents
• prostheses
• breathing-assistance devices
• catheters
• syringes.

Pure or applied chemistry, industrial chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacology, pharmaceuticals and biochemistry
We seek scientists with a strong background in at least one of the following:

• biochemistry and synthetic organic chemistry
• molecular biology, immunology and cell biology. In particular, we seek those with backgrounds in genome, developmental and stem-cell biology
• biochemical, chemical, nucleic acid, peptide and immunological analysis and assays, particularly including:

         1. instrumental analysis

         2. use of array techniques in analysis

         3. protein/molecular screening

         4. protein/molecular diagnostics

         5. cell assay techniques.

Physics
We seek physicists with a strong background in at least one of the following:

• semiconductor devices and processing
• optical devices and systems
• micro/nano technology
• measurement and sensing.

Chemical engineering
We seek engineers with a strong background in at least one of the following:

• hydrocarbons, fuels and lubricants
• ventilation, refrigeration, heating/cooling, air conditioning and heat exchange
• plastics moulding
• layered products/laminates
• vacuum cleaners and domestic cleaning
• filters and separation.

Additional expertise in the following areas is also useful:

• batteries and fuel cells
• pollution control, treatment and sequestration
• solar panels and solar cells.

Electronics, telecommunications, computer engineering, computer science and electrical engineering

We seek engineers or scientists with a strong background in at least one of the following:

• telecommunications, internet protocols, wireless networks, wireless protocols or electronic control systems
• data processing, computer software, e-commerce or speech recognition
• information storage and retrieval technologies, and computer networks
• power engineering and/or electrical components, such as switches and connectors.

Last Updated: 27/10/2011