Call for Applications: PCT Fellowship Program for Graduate Students

January 10, 2017

WIPO’s PCT Translation Division organizes a Fellowship Program for assistant terminologists, translators, and technical specialists, with the aim of providing on-the-job experience at an international organization. WIPO is now accepting applications for the 2017 edition of the Program.

There are three types of Fellowship position:

Terminology fellows create terminology entries in the PCT Termbase for subsequent publication in WIPO Pearl after being validated.
Translation fellows are trained in the translation of patent abstracts and patent examination documents.
Technical specialist fellows have prior experience in industry or as a researcher in a specific technical discipline and share their knowledge with PCT translators.

Staff of the PCT Translation Division at WIPO provide training and guidance to participants throughout the period of their fellowship. Fellowships may vary in length but usually are not shorter than three months. Fellows are paid 4,000 Swiss francs per month and are provided with medical cover. Additionally WIPO may consider paying some travel costs in certain circumstances.

pct_fellows_2017_845 — PCT Translation and Terminology Fellows in January 2017 (photo: WIPO).

Requirements

For the Terminology Fellowship

Candidates should be currently pursuing or be a recent graduate of an advanced degree program (Master’s, Doctorate or an equivalent level degree) in terminology, translation, a related linguistic discipline or in a technical field with a strong linguistic ability. Prior experience in applied terminology would be considered an advantage but is not a requirement, and applicants are expected to work in their native language.

In 2017, applications are invited from native speakers of Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, who also have excellent knowledge of English.

For the Translation Fellowship

Candidates should be currently pursuing or be a recent graduate of an advanced degree program (Master’s, Doctorate or an equivalent level degree) in translation, terminology, a related linguistic discipline or in a technical field with a strong linguistic ability. Prior experience in technical translation would be considered an advantage but is not a requirement, and applicants are expected to translate into their native language.

In 2017, applications are requested from candidates working in the following language combinations only:

Chinese to English
German to English
Japanese to English
Korean to English

For the Technical Specialist Fellowship

Candidates should have at least a first degree (Bachelor’s level) in a technical or scientific field and have demonstrated experience in industry or as a researcher, as well as a high level of linguistic ability in English and a second language.

In 2017, applications are requested from native speakers of Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

How to apply

Persons interested in applying for one of these Fellowship positions should send to pct.fellowship@wipo.int the following:

their CV or resume in English, ensuring that their name is included in all file names
a letter of motivation in English indicating periods of availability, and
should mention in the Subject field in English:
- “Fellowship application”
- preference either for “Terminology”, “Translation”, or “Technical Specialist”, and
- language or language combination

For example: “Fellowship application, Terminology, Japanese”; “Fellowship application, Translation, Chinese-English”.

Following initial screening, candidates will be requested to take a terminology test, a translation test, and/or an aptitude test.

Although applications may be submitted at any time during 2017, candidates for a fellowship in 2017 should preferably ensure that their complete applications are sent to the e-mail address indicated above by February 19, 2017.