Learn More About Kyle‘s Story

This photo was taken October 11, 2019. That was the day Leo and I went to Chicago’s courthouse for our marriage ceremony. We were more concerned with navigating the immigration process started than planning an actual ceremony, so we just invited my parents and Leo’s “American” parents, Mari and Charlie. They and Leo first met in 2008 when he came from China. They graciously opened their home to about 15 international students and have all stayed very close. We planned to have a bigger ceremony the following summer in 2020; however, COVID put a stop to that, as it did in 2021. Hoping that COVID would finally subside, my mom picked a date at the end of July in 2022 for a family reunion in lieu of a ceremony since much of my family still had not met Leo.

This photo was taken while celebrating when I passed the patent bar exam, which is required to practice before the United State Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After I finished my PhD, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I knew I loved science but I was also interested in the economics behind getting science out of the lab and helping people. While at Northwestern, I began to take business school classes. Here, I learned how important business contracts and IP are to a successful business, which is what started my interest in law. After that, I became interested in patent law because it could allow me to help bring economic viability to great science. Moreover, law, like science, is very technical and difficult to understand. By understanding both science and law, I can help startups navigate these complex worlds by distilling down the jargon to intelligible ideas.