Is it legal to conduct and publish personal research results while working at a company
I still have some ideas for research and publications as follow-ups from my post-doc research years which are unrelated to my current work at my current company. Is it legal for me to work on those personal projects and publishing them using my weekend time only? The offer letter is very vague on that. I could ask my mananger but I do not want him to have the impression that I am doing some side projects. Thanks
Generally, your company automatically owns whatever you publish/patent/research part of usual agreement unless it's of different nature/domain. Also, most of the companies has direct legal/HR contact so you may skip your manager and ask clarification to them directly.
That depends on the state. In California, for example, any patents developed by an employee entirely on their own (on their personal time, using their own research, etc etc) would solely be the employee’s property (not the employer’s).
Okay. If say research is of very much interest and in alignment to the business then how easy/hard to prove that employee didn't use any company resource(s) or time?
Check your employee handbook. It is common to need to at least inform the company.