Redefining Success: Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage in Tech Transfer
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: Noon – 1 p.m. ET
Cost: $0 – AUTM Members / $225 – Non-Members
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Join renowned neurodivergent professionals Haley Moss, Ed Ergenzinger and Lisa Mueller for an insightful webinar on fostering neurodiversity in technology transfer offices. This session will explore practical strategies for creating inclusive work environments, from innovative hiring practices to effective management techniques. Drawing from their personal experiences and professional expertise, our speakers will provide valuable suggestions on how to tap into the unique strengths of neurodiverse individuals, ultimately enhancing innovation and productivity in tech transfer.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and implement inclusive hiring practices that attract and fairly evaluate neurodivergent candidates
- Develop strategies for creating a supportive work environment that accommodates various neurodivergent needs
- Learn effective communication techniques tailored for neurodivergent employees
- Learn how to foster a culture of acceptance and appreciation for neurodiversity within tech transfer offices
Instructors
Instructor Bios
Ed Ergenzinger, JD, PhD, is a patent attorney, neuroscientist, freelance writer and mental health advocate who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has worked in Biglaw, medium and small firms and in-house, including as Director of IP & Legal Affairs at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute. Ed's clients have included Wyeth (now Pfizer), Syngenta, Johns Hopkins, Emory and every Atlantic Coast Conference school in North Carolina. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest Law, UNC Law and Campbell Law. Ed is a recovered alcoholic with bipolar I disorder, an anxiety disorder, and complex PTSD. A severe cycle of mania and depression left him unemployed, uninsured, filing for bankruptcy and collecting Social Security Disability. With medicine and therapy, he has been able to practice law again and serves as Chair of the Mental Health Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association's IP Section. Ed has also become a contributor and blogger on topics relating to bipolar disorder, mental health and neuroscience for Psychology Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, The Good Men Project and the North Carolina Bar Association. As a neuroscientist, his doctoral research was focused on neural plasticity in the adult brain. He is lead author or a co-author on more than 100 scientific and legal publications, including articles that have appeared in Nature Neuroscience, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, The Scientist, Business Insider, Legal Times and Stanford Technology Law Review. Ed has also been an invited speaker for programs sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Health Law Association, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, Southeast BIO, Duke Law, Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest Law, University of California at San Francisco, Yale University and Stanford University.
Haley Moss, Esq. is a lawyer, neurodiversity expert and the author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. She is a consultant to top corporations and nonprofits that seek her guidance in creating a diverse workplace, and a sought-after commentator on disability rights issues. The first openly autistic lawyer in Florida, Haley’s books include “Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals'' (ABA Book Publishing; June 2021) and “The Young Autistic Adult’s Independence Handbook” (Jessica Kingsley Publishers; November 2021). Her articles have appeared in outlets including the Washington Post, Teen Vogue and Fast Company.
Lisa L. Mueller, JD, BS, For more than twenty-five years, has provided strategic counsel on complex patent issues to clients in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemistry sectors. She brings an in-depth knowledge and extensive experience to her work advising clients on the global patent protection, freedom to operate and validity of blockbuster drugs they aim to produce and distribute. With a background in chemistry and biology, Lisa provides advice on the full spectrum of global intellectual property portfolio management including patent prosecution, opposition and other post-grant proceedings. Since 2001, Lisa has worked closely with in-house legal departments of global pharmaceutical firms regarding their patent development and enforcement strategies. In this partnership, she provides training to new in-house counsel and meets with scientists and other business development to anticipate and resolve a wide array of problems including navigation of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. A thought leader on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical patent law, Lisa speaks frequently to legal and industry groups, and publishes widely. She was the author of an award-winning blog, BRIC Wall, which provides unique insights on patent law developments in the life sciences industry in Brazil, Russia, India and China. Lisa is currently the author of the blog, BRICS & Beyond (https://bricsandbeyond.blog/) which provides unique insights on patent law developments in the life sciences industry not only in Brazil, Russia, India and China but in other countries outside of the United States.