STAR Flashcards
Tell me about a time when you had to overcome a challenge
S - Grant deadline coming up, needed data from a large experiment
T - First run, didn’t work, and since I was in charge of the data collection I needed to figure out what went wrong
*A - So I set out to identify the problem: I went over everyone else’s lab records, I did a titration of all the antibodies we used, found that to be fine. After eliminating other options I spoke with an immunologist and found out it was actually a problem with the design of the experiment itself. We did not have the right timing to get the results that we wanted. So I told my supervisor, explained what I thought the problem was, and he trusted me to run the experiment again with the corrections
R - And when we did we got great results, most importantly that were on time. I still remember it today because it was challenging but I am very glad that everything worked out in the end.
Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult supervisor
S - When I started at my position at NYU a lot of my initial work revolved around processing clinical samples that we received from procedures, in order to store them for further experiments
T - I had a conversation with one of my supervisors, where he gave me instructions that conflicted with what I had been told previously. I knew that if I did not process the sample appropriately, then this would jeapordize future experiments, and could result in losing a very valuable patient sample. Although, I voiced by concerns to him, and he assured me that his way was the correct way.
*A - So, I spoke with my head supervisor, who validated my concerns. I then consulted our standard operating protocols just to double check, and I had a follow up conversation with him, where I mentioned the feedback from my head supervisor, and I showed him the protocol that I got my info from, he understood what the source of the misunderstanding was
R - So I was able to avoid any problems with the patient sample, and made sure that everyone on the same page, my experience taught me that communication really is key and not to be afraid to speak up when I need to
Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure
S - In my previous position at NYU we had a period where we saw a large influx of patient samples due to the high number of COVID patients at the hospital.
T - We had to process these samples, while simultaneously carrying out the planned experiments that we had in order to maintain a steady stream of grant funding. And we also had COVID restrictions, limiting the number of people who could be in one room, so we could only have 2 people working on any given day.
*A - So I realized that we had to quickly come up with a solution, I worked with a member of a different lab who would process samples for us in a different space, and helped create a new steamlined protocol that allowed us to process samples more quickly, and also helped create a new database that would facilitate entering patient
R - I think the changes were very helpful in handling that additional workload, thankfully since then, the COVID restrictions have changed and we have more people in the space, and hopefully less COVID patients, I believe that updated protocol is still being used and allows the work to be much more efficient.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake
S - In my previous position before law school at NYU, I was part of a very large experiment
T - My supervisor asked me to be the carry out the bulk of the experiment, which required technical skills that only I had. Unfortuntately, the experiment as it was planned was it bit more than I could handle, it took about 16 hours to complete, and by the time I collected the results around 3am I knew that it wasn’t accurate and I had made a mathematical mistake along the way.
*A - I knew that fatigue was going to be an issue in getting the best results, so I identified a way to safely suspend the cells that I was working with so I could split it up into two days, and
R - I was able to repeat the experiment successfully by getting accurate results that I was confident about.
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now
Hopefully a mid-level associate here. But beyond that, I want to be someone that knows what I’m doing and someone that people can go to for answers, more than anything.
Tell me about a time you had to take initiative/show leadership?
S- My supervisor was going on an extended vacation for about a month, and I was chosen to be in charge, it was about after two years after I had started
T- I had to ensure that things ran smoothly, and oversee two other doctors who were in the lab with me, but had just arrived in the past couple months and were fairly inexperienced.
A- I made sure that I had a complete understanding of all my responsibilities from my supervisor, any upcoming deadlines,. And I created a list of all outstanding tasks, a schedule for the next month . I also worked with my coworkers to make sure that they were on board too.
R- And the month went well, everything went according to plan, no issues, and I was able to provide adequate supervision while staying on top of everything that needed to get done. That was the only time I was in that position, but it made me realize that I was experienced enough that it was something I was able to do
What would your coworkers say about you?
1) Calm under Pressure
- No matter what the situation, I always appeared calm, and talked through whatever it was we had to do
- although I didn’t always feel that way on the inside, I’m glad I tend not to let it show, and I feel like my coworkers noticed that too
2) Self-starter/Driven
- A lot of the work in my previous job my supervisor didn’t have expertise in, so I had to be responsible for my own learning
- I reached out to potential mentors in the NYU system, to get advice and protocols from them, and through a bit of trial and error, I was able to learn the skills I needed to have to carry out my responsibilities successfully
3) Detail-oriented
- very meticulous
- I am the detail person, whenever someone had a question, a number that they forgot, I was someone that was often contacted for that, and if I didn’t remember, I had it written down
4) Collaborative
- -always gotten along well with all my coworkers, still in touch with them
- I would attribute that to me enjoying being part of a team working towards a larger goal, rather than just working by myself
- I would always be happy to help my coworkers out on a project that they are working on or answer any questions that they had,and I knew that they would do the same for me
Tell me about a time you had to work on a team?
S - I worked on a large project that was not only my group but also other lab groups from different institutions.
T - We had to coordinate each of our schedules to meet multiple deadlines within the project we were working on.
A - I learned that I had to be proactive with communication, have frequent check ins and make sure that we were all on the same page, to be flexible with my schedule if anything came up, and quickly identify and potential issues
R - After several months, we were able to successfully coordinate the experiment and get results that benefited both of our groups
What’s your biggest accomplishment?
Besides law school, I tend to think that my biggest accomplishment is attending the American Thoracic Society Conference in 2019, where I submitted an abstract for them to consider, thinking maybe I would be able to present a poster.
To my surprise, I was chosen to give an oral presentation. I was able to get up on a stage, and speak at this conference to an audience of scientists from around the world. I was the only non MD or PHD who was presenting, and it was all a bit surreal. I even won an award for my abstract towards the end of conference, it was a great experience, and happy that I was able to be a representative of the lab I worked in, and to showcase the work of our team.
Why Haug Partners?
I was looking at firms:
- specialized in intellectual property
- attorneys that maybe had a similar background to my own
Haug Partners stood out to me because of the reputation of its intellectual property practice but also its core practice area being life sciences
I also was searching for firms that had a smaller summer associate program that emphasized individual mentorship
Would be an incredible opportunity to join the team
Why IP/patent litigation?
Liberal arts reading and writing
Broad exposure to topics, not just one
Exposure to patent disputes through my research
*Microbiome disputes: therapeutic products need to have utility, be novel and non-obvious, and be sufficiently described
For microbiome therapeutics, this raises the question of whether they would fall under natural phenomena, which would make them ineligible for patent protection.
QUESTIONS
What made you choose IP work at Haug Partners?
What kinds of assignments do summer associates working with you get to handle?
What are some qualities or traits that make an ideal summer associate/junior associate.
L CHUBB: Massachusetts Institute of Technology et al v. Shire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 1:13cv10020 (D.Mass. ) Dermagraft scaffold for artificial organ growth, what was the associate involvement like in that case
R KURZ: SHIRE LLC LLC v. AMNEAL PHARMACEUTICALS LLC LLC, patent infringement case related to amphetamine modifications, what was the associate involvement like in that case
