> I’ve never filed a patent, written a publication, nor given a talk.

When written in a single sentence, it implies that you have never written a publication, post- or pre- or during- a PhD.

I will rephrase my question: have you, or have you not, written a publication?

Not the slightest clue about the commenter, but coincidentally their username led me to learn about this fictitious student https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P._Burdell

The whole sentence is:

> My work is trade secret so I’ve never filed a patent, written a publication, nor given a talk.

"My work is a trade secret so..." is an important part of the sentence, which I read as a qualifier/context to the "never".

It could be interpreted either way.