Ryan O'Connor (703) 463-3070 ryan.oconnor [at] latimerIP.com   Ryan O'Connor is a patent agent associated with Latimer, Mayberry & Matthews Intellectual Property Law, LLP. His practice focuses on preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the chemical, biotechnology, and bioagricultural fields. His scientific background and patent prosecution experience makes him a valuable member of the Latimer, Mayberry & Matthews IP Law team. Experience 2001-2006 NatureWorks LLC (formerly Cargill Dow LLC), Minnetonka, Minnesota Patent Agent and R&D Engineer         Enhanced global intellectual-property strategies, including company-wide            education and consulting on patent engineering and related concepts         Conducted preliminary patent prosecution and prepared patent            applications         Helped create proposal to secure a funding award exceeding $25 million            from the U.S. Department of Energy for integrated biorefining systems         Developed patent-pending technology for biomass conversion into            chemicals and fuels; designed, built, and managed a novel pilot plant            based on this technology         Optimized next-generation lactic acid fermentation process via statistical            design of experiments and economic models, meeting 2005 project goals            5 months early 2002-2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Upper Midwest Section Chairman, 2004-2005         Instituted a restructured budgeting process, starting in 2005         Wrote and won two competitive AIChE grants for special            student initiatives         Organized and led Vision 2010, a strategic-planning retreat to focus our            mission and vision; authored a final report detailing the committee's            recommendations         Served as Cargill Dow Chair in 2002-2003 and Vice Chair in 2003-2004 1997-2001 University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Minneapolis, Minnesota Ph.D. Student and Research Assistant (with Regents Professor Lanny Schmidt)         Conducted experimental research on the conversion of hydrocarbons to            fine chemicals in millisecond catalytic reactors         Computationally simulated reactors through development of ab initio            reaction mechanisms and modeling of fluid dynamics         Optimized the production of hydrogen from liquid fuels in millisecond            reactors         Published nine papers in refereed journals in three years         Mentored younger graduate students in the research group and            the department Admitted         Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Education         Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Chemical Engineering         B.S., University of Notre Dame, Chemical Engineering Selected Publications         Goralski, C., R. P. O'Connor, and L. Schmidt, "Modeling Homogeneous            and Heterogeneous Chemistry in the Production of Syngas from            Methane", Chemical Engineering Science, 55 (2000), 1357-1370.         O'Connor, R. P. and L. D. Schmidt, "Catalytic Partial Oxidation of            Cyclohexane in a Single-Gauze Reactor", Journal of Catalysis, 191, 1            (2000), 245-256.         O'Connor, R. P., E. J. Klein, and L. D. Schmidt, "High Yields of Synthesis            Gas from Millisecond Partial Oxidation of Higher Hydrocarbons",            Catalysis Letters, 70 (2000), 99-107.         O'Connor, R. P., O. Deutschmann, and L. D. Schmidt, "Simulating            Cyclohexane Millisecond Oxidation: Coupled Chemistry and Fluid            Dynamics",AIChE Journal, 48, 6 (2002), 1241-1256.         Vink, E., K. Rabago, R. P. O'Connor, J. Kolstad, and P. Gruber, "The            Sustainability of NatureWorksTM Polylactide Polymers and IngeoTM            PolylactideFibers: an Update of the Future", Macromolecular Biosciences            4 (2004),            551-564. Selected Activities and Honors         Board Director, Minnesota Bio-based Products Advisory Council,            2005-2008         Honorable Mention at 2003 Notre Dame Business-Plan Competition         University of Minnesota Department of Chemical Engineering            and Materials            Science (CEMS) Graduate Fellowship, 1997-2001         Chair of University of Minnesota CEMS Council of Graduate            Students, 2000         Notre Dame College of Engineering Technical Review magazine            Editor-in-Chief, 1996-1997; Associate            Editor, 1995-1996; Departments Editor,1994-1995                Notre Dame Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Research Award, 1997         ARCO (BP) Internship Outstanding Performance Scholarship, 1996         Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, elected 1995; Publicity Chair, 1996
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