Scientific Writing Resources
Scripps Research’s CPDO has compiled the following scientific writing resources for postdocs, graduate students, faculty, and staff. For additional fellowship and grant writing resources, see Funding Your Research .
Books from the Kresge Library
Scripps Research’s Kresge Library curates a variety of scientific writing books that are available to graduate students and postdocs for checkout.
Training programs – internal
- Scripps Research’s Dr. Ian Wilson, Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and Chair of Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, presents a “ Manuscript Writing, Submission and Publication: An Editor’s Perspective” workshop for graduate students and postdocs. Workshop details are announced internally via the CPDO’s weekly email newsletter and social media feeds.
- The Kresge Library and CPDO arrange periodic “ Writer’s Retreats” in the Kresge Library, typically with peer consultant editors available for on-the-spot coaching. Workshop details are announced internally via the CPDO’s weekly email newsletter and social media feeds.
- Other on-campus trainings include graduate program offerings (“The Science of Writing Science” course and “Developing a Fellowship Proposal” bootcamp), grantsmanship events arranged in collaboration with other local institutes, and seminars with editors and publishers arranged through the Kresge Library.
Training programs – external
- Stanford University via Coursera offers a free “ Writing in the Sciences ” e-course. An option to receive a completion certificate is available for a small fee.
- BioScience Writers offers an online e-course called “ Fundamentals of High-Impact Scientific Writing. ” The $350 course fees are eligible for reimbursement through SOF’s Course Reimbursement Program.
Editing services – external
In consultation with their PIs, researchers can seek external editing services for assistance editing and proofreading written documents. PNAS has compiled a list of various editing services . Prices vary but are generally at least $100/hour. Examples include SpringerNature Author Services , Editage , Life Science Editors , and BioScience Writers .
Other resources
George Gopen and Judith Swan’s American Scientist article, “ The Science of Scientific Writing ,” covers tips for improving writing quality and clarity by writing with the reader in mind.
