Remy Yucel has been with United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1996 and was named Group Director in April 2008. Before becoming director of the Central Reexamination Unit, she was a Group Director in Technology Center 1600 whose subject matter area comprises biotechnology, biochemistry, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical patent applications. Ms. Yucel is the recipient of several Department of Commerce Awards including the Bronze Medal and the Performance Excellence Award. Prior to becoming a Director, Ms. Yucel was an examiner, primary examiner and supervisory patent examiner in the biotechnological arts; with particular emphasis on gene regulation, gene therapy and transgenic organisms.
Ms. Yucel holds a B.S degree in biology and a B.A. in French Literature from Duke University, a Master's degree in Plant Science from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. degree in molecular genetics/plant pathology from the University of California. In May 2006, Ms. Yucel graduated from The Catholic University's Columbus School of Law.
During the 110th Congress, Ms. Yucel served as intellectual property counsel to Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah. She provided both scientific and technical advice on various legislative initiatives involving intellectual property. Much of her time was spent on the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (S. 1145) of which Senator Hatch was lead Republican sponsor. Ms. Yucel also contributed to the Senate's version of follow-on biologics legislation co-sponsored by Senators Hatch, Kennedy, Clinton and Enzi as well as to the Orphan Works bill passed by the Senate.