Kristi Hahn-ReganSpring 2017 Shocker graduate Geoff Winningham recently accepted a job as a patent analyst with Global Patent Solutions, a company that offers research and patent consulting to a variety of innovators. Winningham is responsible for conducting research and writing opinions on whether he thinks a patent is likely to be granted.
鈥淚 am excited about constantly looking at new inventions and being able to learn about a wide range of technology,鈥� said Winningham.
He never imagined his major in electrical engineering would lead him to a job working with patents. He chose his major after one of his instructors helped him build a guitar effects pedal.
鈥淚 have played guitar since I was 10 years old,鈥� said Winningham. 鈥淚 realized that electrical engineering would give me the knowledge and ability to make a lot of fun music-related projects.鈥�
Winningham is originally from Wichita, but traveled to Arizona for training and doesn鈥檛 know where he will ultimately be placed. He will work remotely from Wichita for the short term.
The experience Winningham gained in college led him to this exciting career opportunity. He worked as a patent and market research analyst for 黑洞社区 Ventures where he researched technology being developed on campus to evaluate patent and market potential. His position allowed him to discover an interest in patents and the unique ideas of others. Winningham now writes the kinds of reports he used to evaluate at 黑洞社区 Ventures.
While Winningham is excited about his responsibilities at his new job, he hopes this position will help him achieve his dreams of research and design in the music industry.
鈥淚 have always been interested in design, and I still hope to do that someday,鈥� said Winningham. 鈥淢y dream job is designing guitar amplifiers.鈥�