Skip to Main Content
Overview

Carolyn provides the scientific research and analysis necessary for patent matters involving drugs and other pharmaceutical products.

Working closely with attorneys, Carolyn assists with patent prosecution, including for companies filing Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDA), and supports litigation over pharmaceutical intellectual property. Much of this work centers on the Hatch-Waxman Act, as well as on evaluating whether patents meet the standards for patentability. Carolyn also supports cases involving psychedelic drugs and therapies, drawing on her own research experience in psychoactive natural products and drug addiction. She regularly assists pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and drug developers of all sizes.

Driven by a lifelong love of scientific research and learning and a passion for both medicinal drugs and drug addiction treatment, Carolyn earned a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry. She has held research roles in industrial, academic, and federal government laboratories, including time at the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse, and she has also provided consulting work to psychedelic treatment nonprofits. Her broad perspective gives her a practical understanding of the challenges faced by a range of clients in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Carolyn has also published extensively as a researcher and co-created artwork for several American Chemical Society journal issues—experience that taught her how to make complex scientific concepts clear and accessible.

Carolyn’s interest in patent law began as a coinventor on a patent during graduate school, sparking curiosity about the legal side of innovation. Her lab roles always included opportunities to present complex science to different audiences, a skill she now uses to clarify technical details for attorneys, clients, and patent examiners. Carolyn loves helping protect scientific advances and supporting clients by making the science behind their innovations clear and accessible.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • Outstanding Poster Award (Top 16 out of 63), NIDA Fellows Symposium, 2024
  • Oral Presentation Award (1st out of 13), MIKIW Medicinal Chemistry Conference, 2024
  • Best Poster Award (Top 5 out of 68), MIKIW Medicinal Chemistry Conference, 2023                 
  • Roosevelt University Young Professional Achievement Award (one alumnus/year), 2022
  • Best Poster Award (2nd out of 61), MIKIW Medicinal Chemistry Conference, 2021

Education

  • Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Medicinal Chemistry
  • B.A., Roosevelt University
    • Chemistry

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Chemical Society, Divisions of Organic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry
Outside the Office

Carolyn is an avid gamer who especially enjoys games that she and her fiancé can play together. They’re both big fans of the video game Stardew Valley, as well as the Total War and Civilization franchises. Carolyn also enjoys playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons and Wingspan with friends and family.

Carolyn is also a proud pet parent to two rabbits who do tricks and freely roam throughout the apartment. From time to time, she enjoys abandoning city life for the mountains, with Rocky Mountain State Park and Estes Park being two of her favorite vacation spots.

Community Leadership

Carolyn volunteers extensively in the addiction recovery space, serving as a scientific consultant for various nonprofits. She primarily works with SMART Recovery, where she serves as a facilitator who teaches evidence-based tools to individuals struggling with addiction. She also actively moderates SMART Recovery’s subreddit.