Externship resources and information

Image of U. Mass student, Tobiah, and a quote describing his experience as an USPTO Summer 2020 extern

You've just received your offer letter. Now what?

This page is filled with links to documents, trainings, and other information that you may find useful throughout your externship experience. Come back as often as you need to...and make it a 'favorite' destination from your preferred web browser.

If you have any questions please contact us at externs@uspto.gov.

Resources and information

Proof of enrollment and transcripts

Electronic transcripts are the preferred method for receiving official transcript(s). Please email official transcript(s) to: externs@uspto.gov

Please mail hardcopy official transcripts to:

United States Patent and Trademark Office
Office of Human Resources
Attention: Externship Program Manager
550 Elizabeth Lane, ETH 3rd Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314

Submitted transcripts must confirm good academic standing, as well as current and continued enrollment. You may provide letters of verification to provide proof of current enrollment if your school is unable to provide a current transcript.

If you have had a name change since the receipt of your transcripts, please notify the Office of Human Resources at 571-272-9757 or externs@uspto.gov.

Team portal and assignments

Throughout your virtual experience, you will access and complete assignments through TeamPortal. TeamPortal lets you access a virtual desktop that provides a secure connection to the USPTO servers and cloud storage. The virtual desktop will be accessible through your personal device using a USPTO issued RSA FOB, username, and password. Your username and temporary password will be provided to you by your supervisor. TeamPortal will allow you to access Windows applications, Webmail, and more. Please refer to the TeamPortal VPN user guide for operating instruction and troubleshooting guidance.

How to connect to your virtual machine

The instructions in the TeamPortal VPN user guide will assist you in connecting your Windows or Mac personal computer to your assigned Virtual workstation.

You will need the machine name of your assigned virtual workstation to complete the connection. This will be provided to you.

Technical assistance

OCIO Help Desk: 571-272-9000

FOBs: 571-272-9000

TeamPortal: Summer_Extern_IT_Support@uspto.gov

Learning Center

Training modules will be accessible throughout your externship through the Learning Center. The Learning Center is a fully integrated training and development system that features online training. The system allows users to monitor their training, register for and take online courses, and print their training transcripts.

Reasonable accommodations

The USPTO will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with special needs. Decisions on reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Inside USPTO headquarters and regional offices

The USPTO operates a headquarters and Eastern Regional Outreach Office in Alexandria, Virginia, and four additional regional offices across the nation. Combined, these provide inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses a USPTO presence in every U.S. time zone. Click the links below to learn about each of our five locations:

Alexandria, VA (USPTO headquarters, including East Coast outreach office)

Dallas (Texas Regional Office)

Texas Regional Office (TXRO)

Denver (Rocky Mountain Regional Office)

Rocky Mountain Regional Office (RMRO)

Detroit (Elijah McCoy Midwest Regional Office)

Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office (MWRO)

San Jose (Silicon Valley Regional Office)

Silicon Valley USPTO (West Coast regional office)

Building access (regional offices)

Dallas

For your first day at the Dallas office, you will need to show a government-issued picture ID to through visitor security screening including walking through a magnetometer. Upon admittance, you’ll proceed to the 1st floor conference room.

Denver

On your first day of work, report to the 1st floor desk upon entry; your name will be on a building access list. You will receive a temporary visitor's pass for the day and go to the 14th floor conference room for orientation.

Detroit

From the garage, proceed between the buildings to 300 River Place, continue to the right of the clock tower and walk up two sets of steps to the court entrance doors. To get to the Security Desk, which is in the central part of the building near the suite elevators, follow the hallway from the court entry doors, past the Snake Bites Café and the Golden Razor Barber Shop; turn right at the next break in the hallway (across from the ATM machine) where you will sign in with your name and the suite number (2900). The guard will direct you to the elevators. Our suite is immediately adjacent to the elevator lobby on the 2nd floor. The doors to the suite will be locked, so please knock or ring the doorbell for admittance.

San Jose

On your first day of work, report to the 1st floor reception desk upon entry; your name will be on a building access list. You will receive a temporary visitor’s pass for the day and be directed to a designated conference room for orientation.

Badging

Alexandria

You will be issued a plain USPTO badge on your first day of work which will give you access to USPTO’s suite entrances. Later that day, you will have your picture taken and another badge will be presented to you later in the first week.

Dallas

The first day, a temporary badge will be issued so you can get into the USPTO space. A permanent badge will be issued within the first two weeks. You will also be provided with information on how to obtain a building badge allowing access to the building perimeter and elevators outside of security operating hours.

Denver

For your first few days at the Denver office, you will need to government-issued ID to the building guards for admittance. You’ll then proceed to the receptionist on the 14th floor.

On your second day of work, you will be issued a USPTO ID badge which will give you access to USPTO space on the 14th and 15th floors. You will also be provided with information on how to obtain a building keycard to allow you to access the building perimeter outside of security operating hours. Ultimately, you will receive a badge that will allow you access to both the building and to the USPTO space.

Detroit

San Jose

Within your first week of work, you will be issued a USPTO ID badge which will give you access to most USPTO-secured space within the building. Certain areas (e.g., MDF room) will require additional authorization to access. Also note:

1. Until you are issued your permanent USPTO ID badge, you will be issued a USPTO temporary badge to allow entry to USPTO spaces on floors 1, 2, and 3.

2. Employees without a USPTO temporary or permanent badge will not be able to access USPTO secured space outside of USPTO protective security officer hours.

3. Employees who lose their USPTO badge must immediately inform the Regional Manager and the USPTO Office of Security. The Regional Manager or Protective Security Officer will provide a temporary USPTO badge to access the USPTO space.

Parking

Alexandria

Parking is available in the East and West garages on a daily basis. To park in the East Garage, enter at 551 John Carlyle Street. For the West Garage, enter at 550 Elizabeth Lane. The cost of parking for the entire day is $10. You may validate your parking ticket with the security personnel for a discounted rate.

Dallas

The parking garages listed below are located near the Terminal Annex and provide both monthly parking and daily parking. Also visit www.dallas.bestparking.com for the latest garage location listings, parking availability, and rates.

• Ace Parking – H Lot; 525 S. Houston Street; 214-748-5535; $55 per month

• Ace Parking – Union Station; 300 Reunion Boulevard; 214-761-6400; $65 per month

• Star Parking; 501 N. Houston Street; 214-871-2283; $60 per month

• LAZ Parking; 1015 Elm Street; 214-747-7675; $85 per month

Denver

While parking is not available in the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building for USPTO employees or visitors, there are a number of parking garages located within a few blocks of the building which are listed below. Employees are responsible for obtaining parking as needed. Metered parking is also available on the side of the building for $1 per hour with a 2-hour maximum.

Nearby Daily and Monthly Parking:
Ambassador Parking Management offers surface parking at the corner of 20th Street and Champa Street; $8 per day, $120 per month; telephone: 303-972-4510.

Century Link Building at 1890 Stout Street offers garage parking at $14 per day (early bird rate is $8 per day - in by 9 a.m., out by 7 p.m., first-come, first-served); $180 per month with one-time $25 activation fee; telephone: 303-292-6126.

24-Hour Public Parking offers surface parking at the corner of 20th Street and Stout Street directly across from the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building; $8 per day, no monthly parking.

Detroit

Parking is free for all USPTO employees and contractors. Until the building has issued you a badge and decal, please give the guard your name and you will be admitted for free parking.

San Jose

There are a number of parking garages located within a few blocks of San Jose City Hall that USPTO employees, contractors, and visitors can use.
Note: street parking on all sides of San Jose City Hall is prohibited.

• Fourth Street Garage; 44 S. Fourth Street; 408-279-8782;
Monthly: $100 (non-resident); Daily max: $20

• Second & San Carlos Street Garage; 280 S. Second St.;
408-298-8852; Monthly: $100 (non-resident); Daily max: $20

• Third Street Garage; 95 N. Third Street; 408-794-1090;
Monthly: $100 (non-resident); Daily max: $20

• Third & Santa Clara Street Garage; 25 S. Third Street;
408-314-8249; Monthly: $110 (non-resident); Daily max: $20.

Public transportation

Alexandria

The Metro is accessible. The King Street or Eisenhower Avenue stations are the two stations within walking distance to the complex. However, the King Street station is the closest to the Madison Building.

If traveling by the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), you will get off at the Alexandria station.

Towing is enforced in designated areas. If you have any questions, please call 571-272-4109.

Denver

Go where you want to go in Denver and the surrounding area with Regional Transport District (RTD), the area’s mass transit system featuring more than 140 local, express, and regional bus routes servicing over 10,000 bus stops; six light rail systems with 35 miles of light rail service, and more than 70 park-and-ride areas. Visit RTD at www.rtd-denver.com or call 303-299-6000.

Detroit

Detroit Public Transportation

Dallas

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light Rail and Bus Station are located across the street from the Terminal Annex Federal Building. DART provides public transit services to Dallas and 12 surrounding cities. Fort Worth Trinity Railway Express (TRE) Station is also across from the Terminal Annex. TRE links downtown Fort Worth, downtown Dallas and DFW Airport.

San Jose

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) buses and light rail make traveling in San Jose and surrounding cities easy. A VTA station is located just two blocks west of City Hall (Santa Clara Station) and there is a public bus stop at City Hall Plaza. A VTA Light Rail map is included in your Welcome Kit, or you can go to www.vta.org for complete routes, schedules, and fares.

Direct access is available from San Francisco via CalTrain. From San Francisco, take the CalTrain headed south to San Jose Diridon Station. Take the free DASH shuttle bus line number 201 to the S. 4th Street and San Fernando Street stop. The San Jose office is one block away at the corner of Santa Clara Street and S. 4th Street.

Transit subsidy

Key Requirements to apply for Transit Subsidy Benefits:

Use your federal email address to create a User Account and register.
Complete the Transit Benefit Program Application.
- Complete the Transit Benefit Program Expense Worksheet.

For information regarding transit subsidy benefits at USPTO, email the transitsubsidycoordinator@uspto.gov or call 571-270-5578. You can also refer to the handouts provided during your orientation day.

Additional Information can be found at:

Operating status

In the event of severe weather or an emergency, contact your supervisor to learn the operating status.

Social events and activities

Networking events

Externs can participate in a variety of networking events hosted by the various Technology Centers (TCs) and Business Units throughout their externship.

Additional information may be accessed through the Extern SharePoint site.

Extern engagement activities

An assortment of engagement opportunities will be available over the course of your externship.

Engagement opportunities are designed to allow externs to get to know USPTO employees and connect with other externs within your cohort. These opportunities may be hosted by your Technology Center, Business Unit, or the Office of Human Resources.

Additional information may be accessed through the Extern SharePoint site.

Trainings and workshops

Executive Speaker Series

The Executive Speaker Series provides an opportunity for externs to hear from and interact with a number of USPTO department executives. This unique experiences provides a chance for externs to hear about the various departments within the agency. Past executive speakers have included:

Commissioner for Trademarks
Commissioner for Patents
Chief Administrative Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Chief Policy Officer and Director of International Affairs

Enterprise Training Division

The Enterprise Training Division (ETD) is a part of the Office of Human Resources (OHR). The ETDs mission is to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness by developing and delivering innovative and diverse training solutions as part of the USPTO's commitment to career enrichment and leadership development.

USPTO externs may have the opportunity to participate in trainings such as:

Emotional intelligence
Conflict management
Customer service
"Dominance, influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness" (DiSC) personal assessments
Program management

Brown-bags

A variety of brown-bag sessions will be available throughout your extern experience. These informational sessions include topics related to Patents organization.

Topics, dates, and additional information may be found on the USPTO Extern SharePoint site.

PTAB and TTAB public oral hearings

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is created by statute, and includes statutory members and Administrative Patent Judges. The PTAB is charged with rendering decisions on: appeals from adverse examiner decisions, post-issuance challenges to patents, and interferences.

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative board that hears and decides adversary proceedings between two parties, namely, oppositions (party opposes a mark after publication in the Official Gazette) and cancellations (party seeks to cancel an existing registration). The TTAB also handles interference and concurrent use proceedings, as well as appeals of final refusals issued by USPTO trademark examining attorneys within the course of the prosecution of trademark applications.

Over the course of your extern experience you may have the opportunity to observe oral hearings. Past oral hearings have consisted of large companies such as Apple Inc., BMW of North America LLC., Facebook Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. LTD, and a host of other businesses.

For questions about PTAB hearings you may contact PTABHearnings@uspto.gov.

For questions about TTAB hearings you may contact TTABHearnings@uspto.gov or 571-272-8500.

Externship exit process

1) One-week prior to last day

Via email, remind your direct supervisor and cc: Nneka Ukpabi and Tymisha Robinson of your last day.

Contact your supervisor if you need to provide a backup/print of files/workflow. They can be provided at any time prior to the last day.

2) Take exit survey. For any issues accessing or taking the survey, please contact externs@uspto.gov or 571-272-9757.

3) Last day

Email ServiceDesk 9000 and SecurityServicesCenter@uspto.gov that this is your last day.
Email notification to de-provision the virtual machines to Summer_Extern_IT_Support@uspto.gov.
Return RSA SecureID (FOB) to the USPTO using the return envelope.
If required, submit back up or print of files or workflow to supervisor.