The Open Notebook Early-Career Science Journalism Fellowship 2027

The Open Notebook runs a paid, part-time fellowship for early-career science journalists, and applications for the 2027 period close on 31 October 2026.

The fellowship is fully remote and runs for 12 months, starting 9 February 2027. Fellows receive a stipend of USD 6,600. Over the year each fellow pitches, reports and writes four articles for The Open Notebook, a mix of behind-the-story interviews and reported features on the craft of science writing.

Every fellow is paired with an experienced science journalist as a mentor, with weekly phone or video meetings to shape story ideas, guide reporting and edit drafts. Fellows also join a Slack community of current and former fellows, mentors and editors, and keep that access after the fellowship ends.

Who can apply. The fellowship is open to early-career science journalists, and applicants living abroad are explicitly welcome. Candidates need some training or experience writing about science for a general audience, though it need not be extensive, and must have fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience. Internships and student work do not count toward that limit. Applications, writing samples and letters of recommendation must be in English, and translated material is accepted.

Expect a real time commitment. The programme is estimated at five to seven hours a week on average, with heavier weeks around reporting and revision, and source interviews usually scheduled during the publication's working day.

Because it is remote, paid and open to applicants of any nationality, this is one of the more accessible routes into international science journalism for writers based on the continent, and one of very few that does not require a visa or relocation.