The Open NotebookFellowship

$6,600 Early-Career Science Journalism Fellowship

Oct 31, 2026 23:59:00 CT

Opportunity type

Fellowship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Oct 31, 2026 23:59:00 CT

About this opportunity

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

Who can apply

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

AI Verification

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Good to know

+$6,600 for a part-time, fully remote year of mentored science journalism
+Weekly one to one meetings with an experienced science journalist, and four published, fact-checked articles
+Open worldwide, and non-native English speakers are welcome: experience in other languages is not held against you
+Funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund since 2013, with a decade of alumni
+No application fee

Worth checking yourself

!About 5 to 7 hours a week for 12 months, with some weeks heavier
!Interviews usually happen in US daytime hours, which is hard from Asia or Oceania
!You need fewer than three years of professional science writing, and some experience writing for the public
!Closes Saturday 31 October at 11:59pm US Central time, and your reference letter must arrive by 7 November; late ones are not accepted
!The page does not name the currency, but The Open Notebook is US based, so expect US dollars

Sources checked

THtheopennotebook.comApplyTHtheopennotebook.comApplyAIairtable.comOfficialTHtheopennotebook.comApply

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.