Scientific Writing Workshops
Expert-led training to help PhD students, postdocs, and early-career faculty write clearer, stronger, publishable science.
Writing well is one of the most powerful skills a scientist can develop and one of the least formally taught. At Life Science Editors, our scientific writing workshops bring decades of editorial expertise directly to researchers, helping them understand not just what to write, but how editors and peer reviewers actually read and evaluate scientific manuscripts.
Our workshops are led by experienced scientific editors and communications specialists, drawing on real-world knowledge of what makes a manuscript succeed or fail at top journals. Whether you are preparing your first paper, refining your grant writing, or trying to communicate your research more effectively, our training offers practical, immediately applicable guidance.
I found the workshop incredibly helpful, and am now more confident in navigating the publication and peer review process.
What We Offer
Virtual Workshops Interactive, instructor-led sessions delivered virtually, designed for individual researchers and small groups. Participants can ask questions, work through real examples, and receive direct feedback in a supportive environment.
In-Person Workshops On-site training delivered at your institution, department, or research group. Ideal for teams who want a shared experience and the opportunity to work through discipline-specific challenges together.
Institutional and Group Training Tailored programmes for universities, research institutes, and graduate schools. We work with department heads, graduate programme coordinators, and training leads to design content that fits your researchers’ specific needs and career stages.
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.
Who Our Workshops Are For
Our workshops are designed specifically for life science researchers, including:
- PhD students preparing their first manuscripts or thesis chapters
- Postdocs developing independent writing skills and building publication records
- Early-career faculty refining how they communicate research and structure grant applications
- Research groups and departments looking to raise the overall quality of their scientific writing
What You Learn
Our workshops cover the core skills that determine whether a manuscript succeeds:
- How to structure a scientific paper for maximum clarity and impact
- What journal editors and peer reviewers look for and what makes them reject a paper
- How to write a compelling Introduction, Results, and Discussion section
- Common mistakes in scientific English and how to avoid them
- How to present data and figures effectively
- Strategies for responding to peer review
Why Life Science Editors
Life Science Editors was founded by former journal editors from leading life science publications. That editorial background is at the heart of everything we do, including our workshops. Our trainers do not just teach writing theory; they share the perspective of people who have made thousands of editorial decisions about what makes a manuscript publishable.
We are a specialist service, not a generalist writing company. Everything we do is focused on life science research communication.
Inquire About a Workshop
We welcome enquiries from individual researchers, research groups, departments, and institutions. Please get in touch to discuss your needs, and we will be happy to recommend the most appropriate format and content for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who leads the Life Science Editors writing workshops? A: Our workshops are led by experienced scientific editors and communications specialists, many of whom have backgrounds as journal editors at leading life science publications. They bring direct editorial expertise to every session. See below for some of our trainers.
Q: Are the workshops suitable for non-native English speakers? A: Yes. Our workshops are designed to be accessible and supportive for researchers at all levels of English proficiency. We address common challenges faced by non-native English speakers in scientific writing, including sentence structure, precision of language, and clarity of expression.
Q: Can you deliver a workshop for our whole department or graduate programme? A: Absolutely. We regularly work with universities, research institutes, and graduate schools to deliver tailored institutional training. Please contact us to discuss your group’s needs and we can design a programme to fit.
Q: What is the difference between a writing workshop and manuscript editing? A: Our editing services improve a specific manuscript you have already written. Our workshops teach the skills that make your future writing stronger. They are complementary services. Many scientists use both.
Q: Do you offer workshops on grant writing as well as manuscript writing? A: Yes. We can cover grant writing strategies in our training, including how to structure specific aims, write compelling significance sections, and communicate the impact of your research to funders.
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.