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Graduate Profiles

Dr Phillip Burns BTech (Opto) Hons, 1998 PhD, 2003

Why did you choose your degree at Macquarie University?

"Macquarie was the only university at the time that was offering a dedicated photonics program."

Employment (July 2007): Patent Attorney

"As a patent attorney, I handle all aspects of my client's patent applications from drafting the initial patent application, through to it being granted by patent offices worldwide. A typical day varies depending on particular deadlines that are upcoming for different clients and different inventions, but will generally involve dealing with certain formalities for various patent applications and/or drafting arguments and claim amendments to overcome an Examiner's objections to a particular application.

The most challenging and therefore enjoyable aspects of being a patent attorney, is the range of different inventions spread across many varied fields which I work on daily on more than 200 separate case files. These encompass a broad range of physical and optical systems ranging through solar cell processing, quantum optics, laser systems, computerized methods and algorithms, opthamology, nuclear physics and engineering, mechanical engineering, nanophotonics and nanoparticles, microscope systems, statistical methods in biotechnology, hydraulic systems, business methods and many more.

Also, particularly being a patent attorney in Australia, not only is intimate knowledge of the Australian patent system is required, but also a good working knowledge of the major patent systems worldwide (typically the US, Canada, Japan, China and New Zealand) is a must to be able to (a) prepare patent applications for Australian clients which are applicable to each country, and (b) advise clients adequately on the differences between the systems and how to handle each stage of the life of the patent application in those countries. Since the patent systems in each of the main countries worldwide are significantly different from each other, being able to manage a client's applications in those countries effectively can be quite rewarding."

How has your degree from Macquarie University helped you progress your career?

"My degree in optoelectronics is vital to the success of working with patent applications for a number of reasons. Firstly, the background in general physics and mathematics, and particularly the broad field of optics/optoelectronics provided in the degree are invaluable to understanding client inventions, and transforming the client's knowledge into legal documents suitable for the protection of their ideas. The challenge in being at the forefront of research and development in the broad range of areas requires constant learning and updating of my knowledge base which would not be possible without the solid background which my degree provided.

More particularly, the optoelectronics degree and my PhD research were vital in my starting out as a patent attorney as my first position was to be seconded to a cutting-edge start-up optical device technology firm to write the majority of their patent applications, which were essential to support their merger with a US multinational corporation a couple of years later. More recently, my optics background ensures that I am the most qualified practitioner in that field in my current firm, which results on that expertise being called upon on a regular basis for opinions on optics related inventions. The most important skills for being a patent attorney are primarily writing and analytical skills to be able to (a) break a particular invention into its essential parts and prepare concise technical documents for legal purposes, and (b) to analyse legal documents and legislation and translate that into plain English for clients benefit. Also very important are organizations skills to be able to manage workflows around hard deadlines."

Reflections and advice

"The most important aspect of any endeavour, particularly tertiary study, is to do something that you enjoy - then it becomes more like fun rather than work! There will always be stressful times in any degree program - and they will continue throughout your working life - but nothing worthwhile is easy, at least not all the time."