What is your name?
Patricia de Sá Snow.
Where do you currently live?
Maryland, USA.
Please share a bit of your background:
I attended school in England and in Brazil, obtained English language proficiency certificates from the University of Michigan and University of Cambridge, and taught English as a second language in Brazil. I also studied French and German, and despite my love for languages, when I entered university, I decided to follow a career in science and obtained a BSc in Biological Sciences with graduation project in marine biology. Later, when I moved away from the ocean my career interests moved to dry land and fresh water, and I focused on agricultural plants.
I obtained a PhD in Plant Pathology from the University of Florida and specialized in virology and molecular diagnostics of plant diseases. I worked within regulatory frameworks for plant
health in agriculture and trade in Brazil and in the US, and eventually transitioned to working as a regulatory scientist at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) dealing with organisms
obtained through genetic engineering. Having worked as a scientist in Brazil and in the US, I wrote and published many articles in English and in Portuguese and had opportunities to work as a specialized translator and interpreter. I served as English editor for a scientific journal in Brazil, and ad hoc reviewer for manuscripts submitted for publication in several journals in English and Portuguese.
While working at the University of Kentucky and the USDA, I had extensive leadership and organizational training and opportunities to work in various leadership, representation and
organizational roles. After retiring from the USDA, I decided to change tack and return to port of origin and use my scientific and regulatory experience to offer language services with emphasis on scientific and legal issues.
What are you doing these days professionally?
I am the Principal for Sá Snow Consulting LLC, offering consulting and language services. My major areas of expertise are plant health and plant pathogens in agriculture and international trade, molecular diagnostics and identification of plant disease causing organisms, biotechnology, and environmental issues related to plant health and forestry.
In addition, I work as a Portuguese language court interpreter for the Maryland Judiciary and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
As part of my interest in interpreting and translation, I volunteer as a Stakeholder Assembly member on the Interpreting SAFE-AI Task Force. Consequently, I have been reading extensively about the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and the potential impacts of this technology.
I also enjoy volunteering as a judge for national and international pre-college science fairs to support and encourage young scientists.
What is a current translation or interpreting engagement you are completing (or one you have completed recently)?
My interpreting and translation engagements are mostly court-related, or dealing with agricultural trade and environmental issues associated with plant health and plant products.
What is one of your greatest life accomplishments (whether personal or professional) to date?
Raising a family and completing a PhD, in that order, are what I believe to be my greatest life accomplishments.
What challenge(s) are you facing in your career?
To find ways of growing my network and identify more opportunities to use the scientific knowledge and expertise, together with the language skills, that I acquired over time, to facilitate communication of scientific information between English and Portuguese speakers.
When did you first join ATA?
I joined ATA in 2023 and the PLD in 2024.
How has ATA and/or PLD membership benefited you?
Membership in ATA and in the ATA-Portuguese Language Division (PLD) have given me the opportunity to interact with translators and interpreters who are very knowledgeable and friendly, and to work on interesting ATA division and committee projects. I am a member of the Leadership Council of ATA-PLD and of ATA’s Business Practices Education Committee and have worked on some very interesting projects.
What do you enjoy doing outside of translation and interpreting?
Sailing, gardening, walking, reading the history of plants and farming, and expanding my vocabulary in Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
If you weren’t a translator or interpreter, what would you be and why?
Essentially what I am as a scientist and plant pathologist, but with a greater focus on forest and tree health, and on the importance of forests and green cover in climate modulation and regulation of water cycles.
What is your favorite book of Portuguese-language literature?
There are many great authors in the Portuguese language, I have particularly enjoyed reading the works of Jorge Amado, Paulo Coelho and Fernando Pessoa.
What message would you wish to share with your fellow translators and interpreters?
“Life is a constant journey”, keep doing the work you do, I admire your dedication, ability to use your skills to facilitate communication, adapt to changing language and technology, and to collaborate.
Where is the best place to connect with you?
You can reach out to me via LinkedIn.
Thank you.
We really appreciate the opportunity to learn a little more about you.
Are you a PLD Member? We want to feature you, as our members are our greatest asset! We’ll be happy to receive your submission and give you more visibility as you grow in your career.
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