Science Communication & Publishing
Communicate science effectively and succinctly to specific audiences
Example job titles
Communications manager for education/outreach* | Communications/press officer | Copy editor | Documentary filmmaker | Editor | Education/outreach specialist/coordinator/director* | Grant writer/editor* | Medical science liaison* | Journalist | Journal editor | Manager/director of scientific communications*| Media producer | Media/public relations officer/director | Public information officer* | Publisher | Science animator | Science broadcaster | Science/medical/technical writer* | Science translator | Scientific/medical illustrator*
*These job titles appear in other career pathways
Additional keywords to find more information or job postings
Science communication/broadcasting/writing/editing | Clinical/regulatory/technical/medical writing | STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) | SEAD (Science Engineering Art Design)
Get up-to-speed & stay current
- Access resources in the "Read About Careers" section of myIDP, including currated articles, lists of professional societies, etc.
Look for the corresponding myIDP categories: Science writing | Science education for non-scientists
- Check out resources and attend events from professional societies for science, medical, and technical writers
- Learn about careers in medical writing, how to develop necessary skills, and build your network with the American Medical Writers Association New Medical Writer Toolkit
- Read the Center for the Advancement of Science Writing's (CASW) Guide to Careers in Science Writing
- Get additional advice on how you can prepare for this career from scientists who have recently transitioned into a role in this field, as well as from those who have made hiring decisions.
Build your network
- Find out whether your department has a writing specialist who assists faculty in the development of grants and manuscripts and contact them for an informational interview.
- Create a LinkedIn profile and use it strategically to expand your network.
- Use these tips to create an effective profile that will attract desired attention.
- Join the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences LinkedIn group and search for alumni connections by job titles, locations, and other keywords.
- Once you've built your primary connections, search secondary connections for interesting new contacts.
- Attend a Gordon Research Conference related to science visualization and communication
Get training & experience
- Attend a communication or media training workshop on campus
- Develop or contribute to a blog, podcast, or online magazine (e.g., Chronicle Vitae)
- Contribute or edit content on Wikipedia
- Groups like WikiProjectMed and other science-related WikiProjects coordinate and prioritize content editing/contribution
- Professional societies and other groups - like the Association for Women in Science and Students 4 Best Evidence - organize Wiki edit-a-thon events or you can organize your own!
- Share your scientific expertise with the public at a science café
- Write (and be sure to get feedback)! Build a portfolio of your writing samples, such as:
- Scientific publications, technical writing, and protocols
- Review articles or commentaries for a scientific journal written with your faculty research advisor
- Non-technical articles for scientific society newsletters
- Mock press releases
- Blog/podcast entries
- To write well, read voraciously in areas of interest to you.
Deeper training opportunities & experiences
- Attend ComSciCon to receive training and network with science communication professionals and other early career scientists who share your interests.
- Participate in science writing and communication training programs offered by research institutes and professional societies, such as the American Society for Microbiology Scientific Writing and Publishing Institute Online.
- Apply for the AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship.
- Organize an event for the public at the Cambridge Science Festival or New Hampshire TechFest.
Gearing up for a career transition?
- All transitions (even those that are positive, desired, and successful) involve some amount of stress. This article on "Understanding the Impact of Change" from the NIH OITE blog offers a practical approach for considering an upcoming transition and doing a brief self-assessment to navigate change effectively.
Have a suggestion? Know of a great local opportunity? Let us know.