Essential Training and Career Development
Strengthen your scientific writing, communication, and visual storytelling with guidance from experienced journal editors and scientific illustrators. We offer two pathways: open-enrollment virtual courses for individuals exploring careers beyond bench research, and workshops for teams, focused on manuscripts, grants, figures, and scientific communication. Sessions are interactive, practical, and grounded in real examples, with time for Q&A and, when appropriate, direct feedback on participant work. Contact Stephen Matheson for a current menu, and he’ll help you choose and schedule the right program.
I found the workshop incredibly helpful, and am now more confident in navigating the publication and peer review process.
Formats
Virtual Courses (Open Enrollment)
Course-style workshops for individuals who sign up online, especially scientists considering careers outside research (e.g., journal editing, professional editing, science communications). Build your editorial instincts, understand how publishing works behind the scenes, and learn how to position yourself competitively. Common topics: journal editor application process, manuscript evaluation, developmental editing, peer review and editorial decisions.
I was originally struggling with figuring out where to start. But now, I have a well-planned structure and flow to help me speed up the writing process.
Workshops for Teams (By Request)
Interactive sessions delivered online for a specific group (e.g., a lab, department, or institute). These workshops focus on strengthening scientific writing and communication for manuscripts, grant proposals, and related materials, with time for Q&A and (when helpful) feedback on real examples.
Long-Form Workshops
Interactive training for a specific group (lab/department/institute) focused on writing and communication for manuscripts, grants, and related materials. Programs can be modular (often 1–2 days) and are typically limited to ~20 participants for a highly interactive experience.
Mini-Workshops
These 1-3 hour sessions accommodate unlimited participants and are ideal for departments and programs. Topics are tailored and often include: advanced manuscript writing, insider’s guide to publishing, writing abstracts, handling rejection, general grant writing, and NIH Specific Aims. We also offer career talks led by journal editors and scientific illustrators.
Flagship Workshop: Master the Art of Scientific Writing
Our Writing Workshops cover everything you need to write clear, compelling, and well-structured scientific papers and grant proposals. We start with the foundations (shaping your story, choosing an effective structure, and identifying your target audience) then move into practical techniques for writing with clarity, momentum, and confidence. We also share best practices (and common pitfalls to avoid), walk through the editorial and peer-review process, and help you navigate revisions strategically. You’ll learn how to craft strong cover letters and communicate effectively with editors. Whenever possible, we include personalized, constructive feedback on your own writing so you can apply the concepts immediately.
Select a Host for More Details:
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Michele Marass
Michele Marass
Michele teaches in-depth, participatory workshops based on his experience as a Nature Masterclass host that usually comprise two 5-hour days. Participants learn important writing tips from a scientific editor, with a focus on the most crucial parts of a manuscript and how to build a convincing narrative. Michele provides an overview of the publication landscape, the peer review process, and the reasoning behind editorial decisions. He includes interactive activities such as “Choose the best title” and “In the Editor’s mind,” and has added material on AI (pitfalls and possibilities).
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Stephen Matheson
Stephen Matheson
Stephen teaches participatory writing workshops based on ten years of leadership in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Scientific Writing Retreat, in one- and two-day formats. The overall theme: good scientific writing is just good writing. Typically, participants bring something they are currently writing, which they revise and resubmit based on instruction and feedback. Stephen’s instructional topics include: 1) numerous writing tips from the CSHL retreat, based partly on the ancient wisdom of “know thyself”; 2) elements of a good abstract with real-time critique and revision; 3) practicing audience-centered writing and thought; 4) exploring AI tools (promises and pitfalls); and 5) creating some drama while providing guideposts. The one-day workshop involves two 3-hour sessions; in the two-day format, each day involves five hours in class. Both formats include written feedback from Stephen, after the workshop has ended, on participants’ work.
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Brandi Mattson
Brandi Mattson
Brandi offers in-depth, participatory workshops and talks tailored to the needs of scientists across career stages, from senior graduate students to senior faculty. Sessions are interactive and impactful, focusing on real-world skills and strategies to advance participants’ careers and research programs. Formats can range from single-day workshops to multi-day events. Sessions include guided exercises, peer feedback, and optional personalized coaching. Learn tips on scientific manuscript writing and publishing, grant writing from insights working at journals, philanthropies, and academic medical centers – from a life from the bench to science strategy delivered at leading global institutes, societies, and conferences.
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Carol Featherstone
Carol Featherstone
Carol teaches participatory writing workshops aimed at early career researchers who are just starting to write their own papers. The workshops use a mix of approaches including analysis and discussion of papers nominated by the participants, as well as exercises, writing practice, and individual feedback on participant’s written work. They aim to guide the participants in how to approach writing a paper, to create a compelling narrative, to identify good practice and common mistakes, and to write English in a clear and concise style. The format is flexible ranging from 1 day (6 hours) to 3 days, which may include an editor’s-eye view of the publication process and peer review.
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Jenna Sternberg
Jenna Sternberg
Jenna teaches shorter participatory workshops of 1.5-3 hours that focus on writing as a tool to reach a desired audience, whether that be editors, reviewers, other scientists, or funders. Workshop topics can include (1) building a narrative, (2) writing a convincing abstract, (3) deep dives into each section of a paper, (4) the editorial process, (5) general writing strategies, and (6) how to get started (often the hardest part!).
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Sonhita Chakraborty
Sonhita Chakraborty
Sonhita teaches a 2-3 hour workshop on scientific illustrations & graphical abstracts targeted to senior graduate students up to junior faculty.Clear visualization is essential for the effective communication of scientific discoveries. This interactive workshop explores the principles of scientific illustration and graphical abstract creation. Participants will learn about composition, colour, softwares and more and put what they learn into practice in real time by engaging in hands-on exercises. The goal of the workshop is to refine researchers’ abilities to translate complex scientific concepts and their research into clear, compelling visuals. Real-time polls and guided demonstrations will make the workshop dynamic and participatory and empower researchers with practical skills to create engaging and informative graphics. For the longer sessions, participates can engage in a more in-depth discussion on careers in scientific illustration and the future of science visuals in the time of AI.Full session: 2-3 hours, depending on number of participants.Abbreviated session: 1 hour.