Overview
Zee is a USPTO-registered Patent Agent at Caldwell with a Ph.D. in Chemistry and an MBA, known for solving intricate problems proactively through a blend of technical expertise, legal acumen, and business insight. She focuses on preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications across a range of sectors, including chemistry, life sciences, semiconductors, software, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Highlights of her role include:
- Preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent applications.
- Freedom-to-operate, invalidity, prior art analyses, patentability assessments, and white space analysis to support innovation and portfolio development.
- Assisting in proceedings before the PTAB, including appeals, post-grant reviews, inter partes reviews, and ex parte reviews.
- Supporting startup and growth-stage clients in building and strengthening their patent portfolios.
Experience
Zee received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Boston College and her MBA with high honors from Boston University. Prior to her doctoral training, she worked at the National Polymer Innovation Center as a scientific researcher, where she explored the industrial roll-to-roll processing of organic solar cells. During her Ph.D., she continued her passion for addressing the energy crisis by investigating critical catalytic reactions in the hydrogen economy toward achieving a zero-carbon footprint.
Beyond research and patent work, Zee brings a rich entrepreneurial perspective to her practice. She served as a partnership advisor at one of the leading startup incubators on the East Coast, where she helped incubate AI-enabled healthcare startups and facilitated partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. She also ventured in the EV and AI technology space, giving her a grounded appreciation for how IP assets function within broader commercial and transactional contexts. With a global perspective and a genuine passion for science and innovation, Zee is committed to helping inventors and organizations protect what they build and turn their ideas into lasting assets.
Outside of work, Zee channels her creativity and discipline into music, dance, and fitness as a DJ, salsa and bachata dancer, and training as a pole artist. She is currently preparing for her first pole sport competition (PSO).