Maille (“molly”) Lyons is a sailor, scientist, intellectual property (IP) consultant, and author! She is a former USPTO Primary Patent Examiner with a PhD in Oceanography from the University of Connecticut and over a decade of experience examining biotechnology patent applications. Throughout her tenure at the USPTO, she was recognized for excellence, earning an Exceptional Career Achievement Award (2024) and receiving a Bronze Medal for Excellence (2017). She is passionate about science and patent education with the goal of improving communication between scientists, inventors, attorneys, and examiners. Beyond examination, she is a retired oceanographer (i.e. marine aquatic microbial ecologist) and avid sailor cruising the world on a 44-ft catamaran.