Essential Training and Career Development
Our unique experience as former journal editors, grant specialists and academic directors gives you unfiltered, behind-the-scenes knowledge packaged into training programs covering topics such as writing a scientific article and success in grant writing. Some examples are listed below.
Please contact us at editors@lifescienceeditors.com for more details.

Workshop 1: Writing a Scientific Article
Aimed at PhD students and postdocs – ideally those who are about to write a paper. This series aims to guide you in how to approach writing a paper; to analyze good practice and discuss common mistakes; to help you write clear, concise and precise English; to give you practice writing the various components of a manuscript and personal feedback on your written work, and to facilitate constructive interactions with journal editors. This workshop is for up to 15 participants.
Content can include:
- Getting started, message and story
- Choice of journal, audience and some principles of good style
- Figures, legends and Results section
- Discussion and Introduction
- Abstract, Title and ‘other’ sections
- The publishing process, cover letters, appeals and responses to reviewers
Workshop 2: Success in Grant Writing for Early Investigators
This workshop provides orientation, guidance, and tips on successful grant writing for early investigators for up to 15 participants. It can be focused on awards from different agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health or European Research Council, and can include the following points:
- Getting started: story and audience
- Writing style
- The review process
- Grant mechanisms at the NIH, specifically R01s
- Focus on individual sections: Specific Aims – rationale and hypotheses
- Significance and Innovation
- Approach: outcomes and pitfalls
- Gantt Charts
- ERCs
- Focus on individual sections: B1 and B2
- Presenting a high-risk, high-gain proposal
- Approach: rigor and risk management
Workshop 3: How to Get Your Paper Published
Aimed at senior Post-docs and PIs. Getting papers published is a fundamental part of being a successful scientist. But, it has become harder to stand out from the crowd, and even some of the best scientists find it difficult to get published, particularly in the top journals. It helps to understand what journal editors are looking and what happens to your manuscript after you click “Submit”? Our editor Angela prepared this 10 minute talk when she was a Technical Writer at OMRF with Dr. Judith James in the Arthritis & Clinical Immunology Research Program. We offer a more elaborate 1.5 hour webinar (including 30 minutes of Q&A) on The Editorial Process for your lab or institute for up to 15 people.
Content includes:
- How to maximize scientific impact
- Insider insights into the editorial process
- How to appeal a decision

Cartoon by Nick Kim (lab-initio.com); used by permission.
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Workshop 4: Career Planning: Professional Editor
Over half of all doctorates leave academia. Identifying the right career can be tough, so it helps to do some forward planning and get expert advice. Many scientists are interested in science editing and communication. Our Editors successfully transitioned from Post-doc to Editor at a top science journal. We would be happy to present a career talk followed by a group discussion for PhD students and Post-docs. We will tell you about life as a Scientific Editor and what it takes to become one. This webinar is 1.5 hour (including 30 minutes of Q&A) for up to 15 people.
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