Great company to get started in IP and data aggregation
Pros
GPA has excellent work-life balance, a world-class team, and its main office is in the heart of Boston. It offers a competitive salary for the type of work and decent benefits. Working as an Analyst in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals group, the projects offered a real time view of technology trends in the industry. It was interesting to work on a technology and then see its consequences ripple through the news or top tier technical journals weeks to months afterward. You can take your searching skills to the next level by developing sophisticated search strategies for patent and non-patent literature. There is extensive use of professional databases and coming up with comprehensive sets of search terms and advanced Boolean search strings. Knowledge of patent anatomy and the types of data that can be derived from patents is developed extensively. Analysis of patents is performed in the context of IP landscapes, freedom-to-operate analysis, validity, and prior art determinations. Data from these searches is often used to develop exhibits for client presentations or for articles in peer-reviewed and trade publications.
Cons
GPA is a small, niche company so there is limited room for advancement. That said, the skill set you will develop is highly valued.
