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Science writer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Thomas Reynolds,
Dr. Christina Fisanick
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical science writer skills. We ranked the top skills for science writers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.1% of science writer resumes contained biomedical as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a science writer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 science writer skills for your resume and career

1. Biomedical

Biomedical combines the fields of biology and medicine to focus on animal and human health. It is a highly diverse discipline that offers students the opportunity to explore biological sciences and pursue careers to develop knowledge, interventions, or technologies that are useful in healthcare or public health.

Here's how science writers use biomedical:
  • Write articles for patients on progress in biomedical and clinicalresearch on human diseases and their treatment.

2. NIH

NIH stands for the National Institutes of Health. This organization oversees a series of research institutions, each focused on a different area of study involving anatomical systems or diseases. As the organization is affiliated with the government, a great deal of the funding institutions receive come from Congress.

Here's how science writers use nih:
  • Highlighted research achievements in reports to Congress and responded to Congressional inquiries on NIH policy and research.
  • Revised and drafted technical scientific documents for EPA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

3. Scientific Content

Here's how science writers use scientific content:
  • Research and develop medical/scientific content documents (i.e.
  • Interpret scientific content and appropriately translate the same for the target audienbce.

4. Press Releases

Here's how science writers use press releases:
  • Report, write, and edit news highlights and press releases for both the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation.
  • Created newsletter and blog content, produced a monthly column for The Royal Gazette newspaper, and wrote press releases.

5. Proofreading

Here's how science writers use proofreading:
  • Provided editorial and proofreading assistance with presentation and marketing materials, speeches and content development.
  • Provided editing and proofreading expertise on numerous life insurance and retirement-related brochures and emails.

6. Scientific Research

Here's how science writers use scientific research:
  • Write articles on current scientific research in a style accessible for the lay reader
  • Generated stories about university personnel's scientific research and achievements.

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7. Chemistry

Chemistry is the branch of science that tells us about the composition, properties, and structure of elements and compounds. The processes these elements undergo and how they undergo change all come under the branch of chemistry.

Here's how science writers use chemistry:
  • Collaborate with participants doing Chemistry lab research Write articles on participants in the research program Tutor participants in Technical Writing
  • Managed revision and publication of flagship textbook titles in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

8. Web Content

Here's how science writers use web content:
  • Created web content and comprehensive communications plans that integrated military health care benefit plans and TRICARE program information.
  • Edit and write corporate communications, marketing materials and Web content for concert promotions/band management company.

9. Science Topics

Here's how science writers use science topics:
  • Researched and wrote scripts on Earth Science topics for NASA ScienceCast video podcasts.

10. Subject Matter Experts

Here's how science writers use subject matter experts:
  • Draft, write and edit manuscript for peer-reviewed journals, based on subject matter experts' recommendations and reports.
  • Conduct and attend meetings with subject matter experts.

11. Scientific Concepts

Here's how science writers use scientific concepts:
  • Write commissioned twice-weekly articles & editorials decoding abstruse scientific concepts to interest & excite public audiences

12. Journal Articles

Here's how science writers use journal articles:
  • Read academic journal articles and wrote print and blog articles for engineering periodicals * Interviewed journal primary authors for periodicals
  • Connected participants with FHS discoveries by summarizing journal articles (http://bit.ly/1qxqR6n).

13. Training Materials

Here's how science writers use training materials:
  • Develop and maintain a wiki of announcements and training materials.
  • Developed scientific training materials in neurobiology, endocrinology, medical imaging, genetics and cell biology.

14. Fact Sheets

A fact sheet is a short, typed or handwritten one-page document that contains the most important information about a specific topic, product, substance, or service in the least amount of space. The aim is to convey key facts and points on a topic in a clear, concise, and easily understandable way and to communicate the most relevant information effectively.

Here's how science writers use fact sheets:
  • Develop fact sheets and prepare original articles, or professional subject matter for the health field.
  • Develop fact sheets, brochures, posters, and other materials as needed.

15. Feature Stories

Here's how science writers use feature stories:
  • Planned content, wrote feature stories, performed layout and photography and developed graphics Engaged public in complex scientific topics.
  • Compose engaging and informative magazine-style feature stories related to automotive topics in order to increase traffic.
top-skills

What skills help Science Writers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What science writer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Thomas ReynoldsThomas Reynolds LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Minnesota

Technical writing and communication can span many fields. However, there are specific fields that are especially open to technical communication, such as information technology and computer software (technical documentation, for example), as well as medical and health fields. Many of our graduates work for companies that involve computer technology, such as software companies and content management for web consulting firms. In addition, many of our graduates work in biomedical companies that require technical and global documentation of medical devices.

I can't say that I know of a sure bet, but places that deal with medical technology, healthcare, and related fields are probably going to need people well-trained to communicate specialized knowledge to a variety of audiences and in a variety of ways. Telemedicine seems to have gained a more permanent stronghold in the healthcare system, and I imagine that the various communication channels involved in this new way of practicing medicine will open opportunities for well-trained graduates, such as ours who are willing to be pioneers in this area.

What type of skills will young science writers need?

Dr. Christina FisanickDr. Christina Fisanick LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of English, California University of Pennsylvania

College graduates in 2021 and beyond, need all of the skills that English programs have to offer: critical thinking, effective communication, creativity, and flexibility. New hires need to be able to adapt to workplace changes quickly and with aplomb, which requires critical thinking and problem solving and the ability to communicate those solutions to a diverse audience clearly and effectively. Those skills are refined and practiced regularly in English programs.

List of science writer skills to add to your resume

Science writer skills

The most important skills for a science writer resume and required skills for a science writer to have include:

  • Biomedical
  • NIH
  • Scientific Content
  • Press Releases
  • Proofreading
  • Scientific Research
  • Chemistry
  • Web Content
  • Science Topics
  • Subject Matter Experts
  • Scientific Concepts
  • Journal Articles
  • Training Materials
  • Fact Sheets
  • Feature Stories
  • Medical Writing
  • Book Chapters
  • Scientific Community
  • Scientific Journals
  • Scientific Papers
  • Educational Materials
  • FDA
  • News Articles
  • Scientific Literature
  • Clinical Trials
  • Fiction
  • Medical Research
  • Scientific Data
  • Non-Fiction
  • NOAA
  • NASA
  • Science Education
  • Materials Science
  • Scientific Topics
  • Web Pages
  • APA
  • Generation Science
  • Scientific Articles
  • News Releases
  • Mathematics
  • Science Articles
  • NCI
  • Blog Articles
  • Technical Reports
  • Literature Reviews

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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