Consistent Winners of Merck Patent Fellowship Program Approaching 20 Years: The Pierce Advantage
In 1990 Merck & Co., Inc established this program to identify and encourage talented students with scientific backgrounds at Pierce Law to pursue careers in the field of patent law and the pharmaceutical business. The Program was a collaborative undertaking between Pierce Law Professor Karl Jorda and Merck attorneys Monaco and DiPrima who had worked for Jorda during his tenure as Chief IP Counsel at the giant CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, Ardsley, N.Y., the U.S. subsidiary of CIBA-GEIGY A.G., Basle, Switzerland, which had pharmaceutical, agricultural and other divisions. Later in the '90's both the Swiss and U.S. companies split into Novartis (pharmaceuticals), Syngenta (agriculturals) and other independent companies absorbing the other divisions. The Program includes a financial award and practical training. During the summer after the first year at Pierce Law recipients spend time at Merck & Co. learning and practicing patent law principles and procedures in the Merck Patent Department in Rahway, New Jersey. Many Merck Fellows continue on as legal counsel and experience great success.
A patent executive at Merck acts as a mentor and maintains contact with the student. The mentor is responsible, with input from Pierce Law, for evaluation of the Fellow's potential and suitability for continuation of the grant in the second and third years of law school.
Requirements:
Fellowships are available to students with degrees in areas including:
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
Acceptable GPA
Demonstrated leadership qualities
Interest in pursuing a career in patent law
Ability to participate in a summer internship at Merck
Honor Roll of Merck Patent Fellows
2006
Kimberly A. W. Peaslee, Ph.D.
2004
Uale Taotafa
2002
Matthew Leff
2000
John Lamerdin
1998
Ann A. Nguyen
1996
Jose Antonio Gracia-Rivas
1994
Timothy Tracy
1992
John A. Harre
