The fellowship is a 12-month, part-time and fully remote program. Selected fellows will work with experienced science journalists and The Open Notebook editorial team while developing and publishing science journalism stories.

The 2027 fellowship provides a $6,600 stipend and is open to applicants living outside the United States. The application deadline is October 31, 2026.

The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship 2027

The Open Notebook is offering its Early-Career Fellowship to writers who want to develop their careers primarily as professional science journalists.

During the fellowship, participants will work with an experienced mentor to develop story ideas, conduct reporting, write articles and go through the editorial process. Fellows also become part of The Open Notebook editorial community.

The program is supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, which has supported the fellowship since 2013.

Fellowship Overview

The official fellowship page confirms that applications for the 2027 fellowship period are currently open.

What Is the Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship?

The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship is a paid professional development opportunity for early-career science journalists.

The fellowship is designed to help participants improve their reporting and writing skills while working directly with experienced journalists and editors.

Fellows will develop stories for publication at The Open Notebook. The work includes reported features and interviews focused on the craft of science journalism.

Participants will also meet regularly with their mentors for guidance on story development, reporting, writing and editing.

Benefits of the Fellowship

Successful applicants will receive several professional development opportunities.

$6,600 Stipend

The 2027 fellowship provides a $6,600 stipend.

This makes the program a paid fellowship rather than an unpaid training opportunity.

Remote Fellowship

The fellowship is conducted remotely, meaning applicants do not need to relocate to the United States to participate.

The Open Notebook specifically states that applicants living outside the U.S. are welcome to apply.

Professional Mentorship

Each fellow works with an experienced science journalist who provides guidance throughout the fellowship.

Mentors help fellows:

• Develop story ideas
• Plan reporting
• Conduct interviews
• Improve writing
• Edit article drafts
• Develop journalism skills
• Navigate career development

Publication Experience

Fellows will pitch, report and write articles for publication at The Open Notebook.

This gives participants practical experience working through a professional editorial process rather than simply completing classroom assignments.

Editorial Community

Fellows and mentors participate in a Slack community with current and former fellows and The Open Notebook editors.

The fellowship community also continues after the fellowship ends.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is designed for early-career science journalists and aspiring science journalists.

Applicants must have some training and/or experience writing about science for a general audience.

Extensive experience is not required, but applicants need to demonstrate some relevant training or experience.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the fellowship, applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Be an early-career science journalist or aspiring science journalist.
• Have some training or experience writing for the general public.
• Have fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience.
• Internships and student work do not count toward the three-year professional experience limit.
• Applicants outside the United States are welcome to apply.
• Application materials must be submitted in English.
• Writing samples must be in English, although translated materials are accepted.

The Open Notebook also notes that exceptions to the three-year requirement may be considered when some or all of an applicant’s professional science writing experience was not in English.

Do You Need to Live in the United States?

No. International applicants are welcome to apply for the Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship.

Because the fellowship is remote, applicants do not need to relocate to the United States to participate.

What Will Fellows Do?

The fellowship involves practical science journalism work.

Each fellow will pitch, report and write articles for The Open Notebook.

The stories can include:

• Story-behind-the-story interviews
• Reported features
• Articles about the craft of science writing
• Roundtable discussions
• Other feature-length projects related to science journalism

Fellows also work with their mentors through regular meetings and participate in editorial discussions.

Time Commitment

Although the fellowship is part-time, applicants should be prepared to make a serious commitment.

Fellows are expected to write four articles of approximately 1,500–2,000 words during the fellowship.

The Open Notebook estimates that the fellowship requires approximately 5–7 hours per week on average, although the workload can vary depending on the stage of reporting, writing and editing.

Some weeks may require more time because fellows may need to:

• Interview sources
• Attend mentor meetings
• Revise articles
• Complete fact-checking
• Participate in Slack discussions
• Meet article deadlines

Applicants should therefore make sure they have enough time to complete the fellowship alongside their other commitments.

Selection Criteria

The Open Notebook says priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate several qualities.

These include:

Commitment to Science Journalism

Applicants should demonstrate a strong intention to work primarily as professional science journalists.

The fellowship is specifically intended for people whose main career goal is journalism rather than other forms of science communication.

Science Writing Experience

Applicants should have some training or experience writing about science for a general audience.

This experience does not need to be extensive.

Understanding of Science Journalism

Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of the science journalism profession, including challenges journalists face and areas where they want to grow.

Familiarity With The Open Notebook

Applicants should become familiar with The Open Notebook and the types of stories it publishes.

Story Ideas

Applicants should be able to generate strong story ideas that could be suitable for publication by The Open Notebook.

Writing Ability

Strong writing ability is important.

The Open Notebook states that applicants whose first language is not English are not expected to have flawless writing. However, applicants should have a fairly high level of English proficiency to have a successful fellowship experience.

Application Requirements

Applicants will need to provide several materials as part of the application.

1. Fellowship Questions

Applicants must respond to questions about:

• Why they are interested in the fellowship
• What they hope to learn
• Previous training or experience writing science stories for the general public
• Skills, interests or perspectives they would bring
• Their plans during the fellowship period

2. Two Story Proposals

Applicants must submit short proposals for two stories they believe would be suitable for publication at The Open Notebook.

Each proposal should be approximately 100 words.

The proposals can focus on areas such as science writing, reporting, interviews, journalism practices or other creative feature-length projects related to the craft of science writing.

3. Resume or CV

A current resume or CV is required.

It should clearly show relevant education, writing experience, journalism experience and other qualifications.

4. One Reference Letter

Applicants need one letter of reference.

The reference can come from someone who knows the applicant’s relevant skills and qualities, such as:

• Professor
• Editor
• Mentor
• Supervisor
• Professional colleague

5. Writing or Multimedia Samples

Applicants can submit up to two writing or multimedia samples aimed at a general audience.

Scientific or academic writing samples are not the intended type of samples.

Writing samples must be in English, although translated materials are accepted.

For audio or multimedia work, applicants can provide the relevant URLs in a PDF for upload.

6. Optional Additional Information

Applicants may optionally provide information about their background.

The Open Notebook says it encourages writers from different backgrounds to apply and allows applicants to voluntarily identify membership in groups or communities that have historically been marginalized or underrepresented in U.S. journalism.

This information is optional.

Application Deadline

The deadline for the Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship 2027 is: October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central Time. There is a separate deadline for reference letters.

Reference letters are due by: November 7, 2026.

Applicants should contact their referees early enough to give them time to prepare and submit the letter.

When Does the Fellowship Start?

The 2027 fellowship is scheduled to begin on: February 9, 2027. The fellowship lasts for 12 months and is part-time and remote.

How to Apply for the Open Notebook Fellowship 2027

Applicants should first review the fellowship requirements and become familiar with the type of science journalism published by The Open Notebook.

Prepare the required materials, including your:

1. Application responses
2. Two short story proposals
3. Resume or CV
4. Reference letter
5. Up to two writing or multimedia samples

Make sure all required application materials are prepared in English.

Submit the application before 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central Time on October 31, 2026.

Official application: The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship application page

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Before applying, spend time researching The Open Notebook.

Read some of its published stories and understand the types of science journalism it produces.

Your application should clearly demonstrate:

• Your interest in science journalism
• Your previous writing experience
• Your understanding of the profession
• The skills you want to develop
• Your ability to identify interesting story ideas
• Your ability to write for a general audience

For the two story proposals, choose ideas that fit the type of journalism The Open Notebook publishes rather than submitting generic academic research topics.

Is the Open Notebook Fellowship Fully Funded?

The fellowship is a paid program with a $6,600 stipend.

It is also remote and part-time. The official fellowship information does not describe it as a traditional university scholarship or a fully funded degree program.

Is the Open Notebook Fellowship Open to International Applicants?

Yes. Applicants who live outside the United States are explicitly welcome to apply.

The remote format means eligible international applicants can participate without relocating to the U.S.

Is Previous Science Journalism Experience Required?

Some relevant training or experience is required. However, applicants do not need extensive professional experience.

The fellowship is intended for early-career science journalists, and applicants must generally have fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience. Internships and student work do not count toward this limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship?

It is a paid, part-time, remote fellowship for early-career science journalists. Fellows receive mentorship and work on science journalism stories for publication at The Open Notebook.

How much is the Open Notebook fellowship stipend?

The 2027 fellowship provides a $6,600 stipend.

What is the deadline for the Open Notebook Fellowship 2027?

The application deadline is October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Central Time. Reference letters are due by November 7, 2026.

Can international applicants apply?

Yes. The Open Notebook states that people living outside the United States are welcome to apply.

How long is the fellowship?

The fellowship lasts 12 months and is part-time. The 2027 program starts on February 9, 2027.

How many writing samples are required?

Applicants can submit up to two writing or multimedia samples aimed at a general audience.

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