As a Patent Agent, Melissa brings her technical expertise in both chemistry and cell biology to BF&F’s clients. During her graduate research in Dr. Bianxiao Cui’s lab at Stanford University, she studied the interface between cells and nanotextured materials, such as nanofabricated structures, medical implants, and extracellular matrix fibers. Melissa was awarded a National Institute of Health (NIH) biotechnology training grant fellowship in support of this work. Through this fellowship, she interacted with many inventors of emerging technologies at both start-ups and large companies, which led to her interest in the powerful and transformative nature of patent law.

“It’s exciting to contribute to the strategies for turning cutting edge ideas into commercial realities.”

Melissa also gained exposure to the in-house world through an internship at Amgen during graduate school. During the internship, she designed workflows for super resolution imaging and deep-learning based high-content image analysis to study drug-binding in cancer cell co-cultures.

Melissa also has hands-on experience at the bench with chemical synthesis and screening methods. During her undergraduate studies, she synthesized and characterized libraries of biologically-compatible inorganic nanoparticles for improved MRI contrast agents. She was awarded an Undergraduate Research & Teaching Award, as well as the American Chemical Society Inorganic Award, in support of her work.

Her personal experience with her own business has given her a unique perspective in client service, as well as the challenges clients can face.

“Running my own jewelry business gave me a chance to learn a completely different set of skills. I learned how to balance the many different aspects such as collaborating with customers to design custom pieces, honing my own skills to create new designs, staying on top of the finances, and selling the pieces. Success required actively listening to customers, setting their expectations about costs, and delivering the piece within the time frame required. Every single aspect has a parallel to serving clients in patent law.”

Melissa shares her love of science and research through her volunteer experience with Future Advancers of Science and Technology (FAST), a nonprofit organization that supports historically disenfranchised or under-resourced high school students as they pursue open questions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields through projects that the students and mentors independently develop. In addition to serving as a mentor with FAST, Melissa has served as the Director of Communications for the organization.