Visiting Research Fellows Program: Our Next Initiative

Because IP law and policy are continually and rapidly evolving, scholars and practitioners must be trained in how to negotiate such changes on a domestic and international level. The Institute addresses this need with regard to the IP community at large. However, intensive one-on-one training is not available in New York City. Such training is necessary, however, to create a group of superb scholars capable of advancing the discipline and participating in discussions that will affect policy worldwide. Such scholars would be expected to move in the highest circles of government and corporate management. The Institute will train such highly-motivated and talented individuals.   

Under our plan, the Institute will invite 1 to 2 outstanding junior academics and lawyers to remain in residence at Fordham for 5 to 10 months as IP Research Fellows. These Fellows (who will begin their tenure in academic year 2009-2010) will take part in the intellectual life of the Law School, sitting in on courses, teaching or co-teaching, and assisting in the organization of the Annual Conference. Each Fellow will have an IP research project approved by the Director of the Institute that will be presented at the Conference and lead to a publication. He or she will also be mentored by a member of Fordham’s IP faculty, and will be invited to consult with members of Fordham’s distinguished adjunct faculty who have extensive commercial IP experience. By immersing themselves in Conference activities, lectures, seminars, lunches, teaching, research, and writing, Fellows will be exposed to all sides of the IP conversation, as well as to the vitality of discussion carried on at Fordham. They will emerge with the understanding, and we hope with the capability to engage in that discussion nationally and internationally with the objective of making substantial contributions to its most pressing issues. We intend to choose Fellows based on a demonstrated capacity to appreciate the relationship between complex technology and IP law and policy, and to thrive in an arena where that relationship is constantly up for negotiation. In making our selections, we will examine the quality of law school and professional accomplishment, recommendations, and the project that prospective Fellows seek to pursue.

The population served by the Research Fellows Program encompasses recent law school graduates, both domestic and foreign. The larger IP community will ultimately be served, however, in that Fellows will acquire training to make exceptional contributions to IP law and policy in years to come. In our experience, post-graduate Fellows at various law school institutes tend to gravitate towards academic positions following their tenure, and we will provide assistance in helping them secure such employment.

We are currently seeking long-term funding for this Program, and will welcome our first Fellow in Fall, 2009. Potential underwriters should contact Sandra Sherman at ssherman@law.fordham.edu or (212) 636 – 7177.