Applications are now open for The Open Notebook (TON) Early-Career Fellowship Program 2027 for early-career science journalists, with a closing deadline of October 31, 2026. The paid, part-time fellowship comes with a $6,000 stipend and gives emerging writers the chance to work with an experienced mentor while publishing articles at The Open Notebook.
About The Open Notebook Fellowship 2027
The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. During the course of the fellowship, fellows work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for publication at The Open Notebook and become part of the TON editorial team.
This one year program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interests and passions and to sharpen their skills as part of a talented, supportive, and diverse community of past and present fellows and mentors.
Fellowship Details
This is a remote, part-time fellowship. Each fellow will pitch, report, and write articles for publication at The Open Notebook, which will be a mix of story behind the story interviews and reported features.
Fellows will have weekly phone or video meetings with a mentor who is an experienced science journalist. The mentor will help them shape story ideas, provide reporting and writing guidance, edit article drafts, and offer general craft and career development advice.
Fellows and mentors also take part in a Slack discussion group made up of other current and former fellowship participants and TON editors. During the fellowship, fellows will participate in cohort based activities in the fellowship Slack community, and membership in this community will continue after the fellowship ends.
Time Commitment
The fellowship involves reporting and writing four articles of 1,500 to 2,000 words for The Open Notebook, as well as meeting regularly with an assigned mentor and taking part in editorial discussions and cohort based activities on Slack.
Eligibility Requirements
The fellowship is open to early-career science journalists, and applicants from outside the United States are welcome to apply. Key requirements include:
Applicants must have some training and/or experience in writing for the general public. Extensive experience is not required, but some is necessary.
Science journalists and aspiring science journalists must have fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience. Internships and student work do not count toward this requirement. Exceptions may be made for applicants with more than three years of professional science writing experience where some or all of that experience was not in English.
All applications, including writing samples and letters of recommendation, must be in English. Materials translated into English from another language are acceptable.
Selection Criteria
Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a strong intention to work primarily as a professional science journalist. This fellowship is intended for people whose main goal is journalism, as opposed to other forms of science communication.
Applicants should also show some training and/or experience writing about science for the general public, an understanding of the science journalism profession and its common challenges, familiarity with The Open Notebook and the topics it covers, and an ability to generate good story ideas suitable for the publication.
The selection committee also values a commitment to delivering your best work and meeting deadlines, along with strong writing ability. If English is not your first language, the committee takes this into consideration and does not expect flawless writing, though a fairly high level of English proficiency is required for a successful fellowship experience.
Application Requirements
The application form includes responses to questions about why you are interested in this fellowship and what you hope to learn, your prior training and experience in writing about science for the general public, any particular skills, interests, or perspectives you would bring, and your overall plans during the fellowship period, such as finishing a dissertation, freelancing, or seeking full time employment.
Applicants must also submit short proposals of about 100 words each for two TON features or multimedia stories suitable for publication at The Open Notebook. These can take the form of behind the story writer interviews, reported features on the craft of science writing, roundtable discussions, or other creative feature length projects centered on the craft of science writing.
Additional required materials include a resume or CV, one letter of reference from a professor, editor, mentor, supervisor, or colleague, and up to two writing or multimedia samples of work aimed at the general public. Samples must be in English, and translated materials are acceptable. Audio or multimedia clips can be shared as URLs within a PDF.
Applicants may optionally share additional information about themselves. The Open Notebook strongly encourages writers from all backgrounds to apply, and writers from groups historically marginalized or underrepresented in United States journalism are invited to disclose this. The information is entirely optional and will be kept confidential.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship Program 2027 is October 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship?
It is a paid, part-time, one year fellowship for early-career science journalists. Fellows work with a mentor to pitch, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and join a supportive community of past and present fellows and editors.
How much is the stipend?
The fellowship comes with a $6,000 stipend.
What is the application deadline?
October 31, 2026.
Who can apply?
Early-career science journalists with fewer than three years of regular professional science writing experience. Internships and student work do not count toward this limit, and applicants from outside the United States are welcome.
Do I need extensive writing experience?
No. You need some training and/or experience writing for the general public, but it does not have to be extensive. Strong writing ability and a fairly high level of English proficiency are required.
Is the fellowship full time?
No. It is a part-time, remote fellowship involving four articles of 1,500 to 2,000 words, regular mentor meetings, and participation in Slack discussions and cohort activities.
What do I need to submit?
You need to complete the application form with short essay responses, submit two brief 100 word story proposals, a resume or CV, one letter of reference, and up to two writing or multimedia samples in English aimed at the general public.
The deadline to apply is October 31, 2026. Visit the official webpage of The Open Notebook Early-Career Fellowship Program and submit your application today.