[taylodl]

Separate your concerns. Don't throw away your PhD for a patent you may not end up getting anyway. That would be a tragic situation.

WRT to the patent, consult an IP attorney. IANAL, but I suspect their advice is going to be get your PhD, separate from the university, start a company, apply for the patent as part of that company. The university may, or may not, sue you for royalties. Ask your IP attorney now what that means - because obviously there are expenses to running a company and you shouldn't have to give up 60% of your income and pay your expenses from what's remaining.

Don't ask randos on the internet for legal advice. Take everything I've said with a grain of salt - you really need to see an IP attorney.

[brudgers]

I agree, if it matters get an attorney. (If it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter).

[thrownaway98723]

Thank you. I've consulted a few IP lawyers and I'll reach out to more. Its a dicey and expensive work to delve into, but I'll give it another shot.

Personally, I think it is ok to ask randos on the internet for legal advise. It's just another data point along the path of trying to figure this thing out. Thanks again.

[creer]

Regarding "IP lawyers", patent filing and univerity IP licensing are rather different domains of activity. Find relevant laywers.