Science Writing

Sandlin
Seguin

Seeing Yourself as a Technical Writer

As I mentioned before, my team has been looking to hire a couple technical writers. While the requirements for any specific role may vary, I find that it is a role that scientists can transition into fairly easily, because so much of what we do hinges on our ability to communicate clearly and c...


Charlotte
Mitchell

Should you sign a non-compete?

Absolutely, you can! But make sure you get all the facts so you can decide if it is acceptable to you before you accept an offer! When I accepted a job as a scientific recruiter, I had no idea that I would have to sign a non-compete form. This was not mentioned in any of my interviews or conver...


Fabian
Zanella

On bench work and writing

Let’s face it, it’s hard to do both at the same time, and do them well. I don’t think that scientific writing is my strongest skill, but I understand and respect the importance of it in science.I’m struggling with bench work, although interesting results are coming together. Then here comes ...


Shu Chin
Ma

Becoming a Scientific Writer the Hard Way

Let’s start by clearing something up: I am not a scientific writer in the sense that I get paid per word, finger-pecked on the keyboard. Althought, I do a fair amount of writing in my work, and I thoroughly enjoy it, thus, I may have some tips on getting started on becoming a scientific write...


Amber
O’Connor

Business Planning for a Freelance Career

This month, I thought I’d share with you some of the administrative things I’ve had to learn and complete when it comes to starting my freelance science writing business. Having your own business means that you charge for services to earn income, and that you are responsible for assuring the ...


Kia
Walcott

Teaching: A Resource for Future Science Writers

If you’re having trouble finding a job or just looking to get some more experience, don’t be afraid to take a short-term position. While I was looking for a job in science writing, I also started looking for something temporary that I could do to beef up my resume (and bring in some money)....


Christiana
Davis

What You Can Do Now To Prepare For Medical Writing Career

To become a competent and successful medical writer, there are skills you must acquire. If you are a life scientist, you likely have some of these under your belt. This includes an in-depth knowledge of science and research. This background is vital in industry, where you are expected to combin...


Sandlin
Seguin

Tips For Giving Criticism

“This abstract is awful. Just start over.”“You give bad lectures. You didn’t make sense.”“This manuscript is a mess. It needs organization.”Taking criticism is hard. Giving criticism is hard. Giving criticism in ways that can be taken by the listener, is an art form. I don’t claim to...


Kia
Walcott

Presentation is Important

I recently completed my mid-year review at work. I wanted to share one of the comments that I received because when I heard it, it struck me as a bit odd. I was told that I always look very “put together.” This was definitely a complement, and I interpreted it as such, but up until that poi...


Charlotte
Mitchell

Transitioning from Academia to Industry

When I worked as a recruiter, I noticed something quite interesting. I had a lot of candidates who were in academia trying to break into industry and, as many of you may know, making that transition can be very difficult. The interesting part was that I had a handful of candidates that were differen...