Biologist | Writer | Coach | Advocate

About Me

I am a biologist and leader with deep interest in big scientific pursuits, passionate about advancing the scientific enterprise while prioritizing equity and justice, with vast energy to devote to these efforts. I know publishing and peer review, I know scientific writing and I teach it, I know the lab, I know the symposium lecture hall, and I know how to lead and inspire. I am an energetic champion of creative open science.

Scientific communication in all its forms and at all levels has been my job for the past thirteen years and a theme of my entire career. I spent ten of those years at Cell Press working at Cell Reports, where I was Editor-in-Chief for four years. It was the best job I ever had, with the best people I had ever worked with. (Those honors now go to Life Science Editors.)

I read and edit topics across the life sciences—there are no subjects I don’t like and none I can’t understand. But my strongest expertise is in neuroscience, cell/developmental biology, genetics/genomics, cancer biology, and evolution. I read the literature for fun, and I’m writing a book about evolution. My nerd cred is unsurpassed. My Linktree will take you to more info about me and my doings.

What I Do

As an editor at Cell Reports, I regularly visited institutions to meet scientists and to give talks and workshops about writing and publishing. I still do that, but with all my loyalty to you and none to the publishers. Since June 2025, I am Director of Client Relations and Educational Programs here at Life Science Editors, with responsibility for developing and delivering programs (on writing and/or publishing, live or remote, always with jokes and stories) to help you and your colleagues and trainees.

I can do almost anything to help you with planning, writing, polishing, and revising your manuscript, your grant, or whatever you are working on. I regularly read and edit papers and grant proposals, providing specific and in-depth advice along the way. I also act as project manager for larger endeavors, such as the full process of writing and revising and submitting a manuscript to a journal.

Every year (for ten years), I co-led the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Scientific Writing Retreat, which I co-founded with Dr. Charla Lambert in 2015. It’s a great, successful program and I’m keen to replicate it elsewhere.

My Services

• Consulting, editing, and writing science
• Snippets
• Workshops and seminars and even retreats on scientific writing, publishing, peer review, and writing project management
• Office hours
• Editor in residence (ask me about this)
• Advocacy: I serve on the board of the Life Science Editors Foundation

Let’s Connect

I’m passionate about science, mentoring, creation, peer review, and open access. (Also biking 🚲 and Shakespeare 🎭, for what it’s worth.) I’d love to talk about how I can support you and your team.

Email: stephen.matheson@lifescienceeditors.com