$6,600 Early-Career Science Journalism Fellowship

The Open Notebook, a nonprofit site about the craft of science journalism, runs a paid, part-time, remote fellowship for early-career science journalists anywhere in the world. Over 12 months, each fellow works one to one with an experienced science journalist as mentor to pitch, report and write articles published at The Open Notebook, and joins its editorial team. The programme has been funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund since 2013, and the 2027 cohort starts on February 9, 2027.

What you get:

• A stipend of $6,600
• Weekly phone or video meetings with a mentor who is an experienced science journalist, covering story ideas, reporting and writing guidance, editing and career advice
• Four published articles at The Open Notebook, taken through a rigorous edit and fact-check
• Lifelong membership of the fellowship Slack community of current and former fellows, mentors and TON editors

What you'll do:

• Report and write four articles of 1,500 to 2,000 words, a mix of story-behind-the-story interviews and reported features on the craft of science writing
• Meet your mentor weekly and work through several rounds of editing and revision on each story
• Interview sources by phone, usually during U.S. daytime hours, and annotate stories for fact-checking
• Take part in editorial discussions and cohort activities on Slack, about 5 to 7 hours a week in total

Key dates:

• Applications close October 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central time
• Reference letters due November 7, 2026
• Fellowship begins February 9, 2027 and runs for 12 months, part time

More information:

• Application materials: short written answers, two 100-word story proposals for The Open Notebook, a resume or CV, one reference letter, and up to two English-language writing or multimedia samples
• Questions go to editors@theopennotebook.com after reading the programme page

• Open to early-career science journalists living anywhere in the world
• Fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience; internships and student work do not count
• Applicants with more than three years of professional experience may be considered if some or all of it was not in English
• Some training or experience writing for the general public is required, though it need not be extensive
• Applications, writing samples and reference letters must be in English; translated materials are accepted
• A fairly high level of English proficiency is needed, though flawless writing is not expected from non-native speakers
• Priority goes to applicants whose main goal is journalism rather than other forms of science communication
• No age limit is stated