Deadline: 31-Oct-2025
The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time Fellowship Program for early-career science journalists.
Applicants should demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing science journalism as their primary professional path, with the goal of doing journalism rather than other forms of science communication. They should have some training or experience in writing about science for the general public, even if it is not extensive. An understanding of the science journalism profession, the challenges it entails, and a sense of how they wish to grow in this field is essential. Familiarity with The Open Notebook and the kinds of stories it publishes, along with the ability to generate strong, relevant story ideas, is also important.
Candidates must show dedication to producing their best work, meeting deadlines reliably, and displaying strong writing skills. While English proficiency does not need to be flawless for non-native speakers, applicants must have a fairly high level of proficiency to succeed in the fellowship.
During the fellowship, each participant works closely with a mentor to pitch, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook. Fellows produce a mix of “story behind the story” interviews and reported features, gaining valuable insights into the craft of science writing. Mentors provide ongoing feedback, career advice, and editorial guidance, ensuring that fellows develop their reporting and writing skills while building confidence as professional journalists.
The program also fosters a collaborative environment through weekly mentor meetings and a dedicated Slack community of fellows, mentors, and editors. This online space allows participants to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and support one another throughout the fellowship. Engagement with this community continues even after the program ends, strengthening professional networks and long-term connections.
This fellowship requires a time commitment of about 5–7 hours per week, though actual workloads may vary depending on the stage of reporting and editing. Fellows are expected to manage interviews, revisions, fact-checking, and editorial discussions with diligence. The editorial process is rigorous, and meeting deadlines is a core expectation of the program. Funding for the fellowship includes a stipend of $6,600 for the 12-month program, which begins on February 23, 2026.
Eligibility is open to early-career science journalists worldwide who have fewer than three years of professional science writing experience. Internships and student work do not count toward this requirement, and exceptions may be made for applicants whose experience is primarily in languages other than English. Applicants must demonstrate some prior training or experience in writing for the general public and submit all application materials in English.
To apply, candidates must complete the application form, which includes responses about interest in the fellowship, relevant experience, and future goals. Applicants should also provide two short proposals for features suitable for The Open Notebook, a resume or CV, one letter of reference, and up to two writing or multimedia samples. Optional information regarding underrepresented backgrounds in U.S. journalism may also be included.
The deadline to submit applications is October 31, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central time, while reference letters are due by November 7, 2025. Interested candidates are encouraged to plan ahead to give letter-writers sufficient time.
For more information, visit The Open Notebook.