Ted Diogenous

Biotechnology Specialist

“Always stay positive throughout your adjustment to your new work and cultural environment. Do your best to move through difficult situations with composure. Plant flowers and you'll get flowers; plant weeds and you'll get weeds!”

 

Why did you choose patenting/IP as a career?

I always wanted a profession that would allow me to do more writing, while at the same time allowing me to stay in touch with real science.

What was the most difficult aspect of adjusting to work and life in Japan initially?

Initially it was leaving my car behind. However, the adjustment period was a short one. The public transit infrastructure in Japan is phenomenal.

How was Japan in reality to what you had imagined before you arrived?

Not speaking a word of Japanese, I think I imagined that Japan would be a more difficult place to live in than it actually was. But I quickly became very comfortable living in Japan despite the language barrier. Also, before living in Japan, thoughts of Japan invoked images of massive cityscapes. The reality is that Japan is also a very beautiful island bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

What were your fondest leisure experiences while you were working in Japan?

Visiting Hokkaido on an SY company trip. Attending Japanese cultural festivals. General exploration of Osaka and Japan.

What were your co-workers like?

They helped me a lot. Both at work and in adjusting to my move to Japan. Today I'm happy to count many of my former co-workers among my closest friends.

What sort of work did you get and was it challenging?

Primarily work related to getting patent applications into condition for allowance by the patent office. Yes, it was challenging, but also interesting and varied. It often required a balancing act between altering a patent application to satisfy the patent office that the requirement for allowance have been met, and the need maintain the patent right in a form most desired by the client. The work requires a clear and concise communications style.

Can you describe a successful work assignment that was your proudest professional moment during your time at SY?

Completing a special project related to patent infringement litigation. The project could not have been completed without good time management skills.

What is the most important thing that working at SY has taught you about yourself?

Before I joined SY I had a tendency to gravitate away from difficult situations. But I've learned that if I want to achieve positive changes in my life, it is only possible by moving towards and through challenges.

What advice would you give to entry level recruits?

Explore as much of your new environment as possible. Always stay positive throughout your adjustment to your new work and cultural environment. Do your best to move through difficult situations with composure. Plant flowers and you'll get flowers; plant weeds and you'll get weeds!