Payt
on Fowler
Student Intellectual Property and Disclosures Assistant
“I came across this internship at the beginning of summer in 2019 on the UNM website for student jobs. I thought that it sounded interesting, submitted my application, and the rest is history!”
Payton Fowler joined UNM Rainforest Innovations in June 2019 as a Student Intellectual Property and Disclosures Assistant. She has a variety of duties including communicating with UNM inventors and providing status updates on their patent applications, assisting with disclosure and patent assignment jobs, scheduling calls, finding references for patent attorneys and updating records.
UNM Rainforest Innovations has trained over a hundred UNM students over the years on university technology transfer and commercialization through its student internship program. Students develop excellent professional skills and a better understanding of the intersection of business, science, and law. These students add immense value to UNM Rainforest Innovations, and their unique backgrounds and interests diversifies our innovation ecosystem.
“While I have learned many valuable things while being a student intern at UNMRI,” commented Payton, “I would say that the most valuable skill I have obtained would be communication. While working at UNMRI, I have grown as a communicator in my personal, professional, and educational aspects of my life.”
Payton grew up in the small town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, before moving to Albuquerque. “I am currently in my third year of my undergraduate career. I am double majoring in Economics and Psychology with a minor in Population Health.” She plans to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2022 and wants to attend law school afterwards so that she can work in the legal field. When she’s not busy at work or school, she also enjoys finding new places to eat in Albuquerque and has rediscovered her passion for running during the COVID pandemic.
“The thing I enjoy the most about my job is the community at UNM Rainforest Innovations. Everyone is so kind and passionate about their work, it makes going to work something to look forward to.”