Science Communication Internships: A Comprehensive Guide

Science communication internships offer invaluable opportunities for students and early-career professionals to develop essential skills in translating complex scientific concepts into engaging and accessible content for diverse audiences. These internships span various fields, from journalism and media to research institutions and non-profit organizations, providing a wide array of experiences and career pathways.

Types of Science Communication Internships

Science communication internships come in many forms, each offering unique experiences and skill-building opportunities. Here's an overview of some common types:

Journalism and Media Internships: These internships focus on developing journalistic skills in science writing. Interns may work at newspapers, magazines, radio stations, or online news outlets, gaining experience in pitching, reporting, and writing news stories and features.
Research Institution Internships: Research institutions like Brookhaven National Laboratory offer internships where students contribute to projects such as news releases, fact sheets, brochures, video scripts, and government-relations communications related to the Lab’s scientific research.
Non-profit Organization Internships: Non-profit organizations like the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) and the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) offer internships focused on science communication and outreach. Interns may help create content for social media, blogs, and publications, as well as assist with member and public engagement initiatives.
Museum Internships: Museums like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History offer internships focused on developing science communication skills within a museum setting. Interns may write articles about science research.

Benefits of Science Communication Internships

Participating in a science communication internship offers numerous benefits for students and early-career professionals:

Skill Development: Internships provide hands-on experience in various aspects of science communication, including writing, editing, multimedia production, and public engagement.
Networking Opportunities: Interns have the opportunity to connect with professionals in the field, including journalists, editors, researchers, and communication specialists.
Portfolio Building: Internships allow interns to build a portfolio of published work, which is essential for securing future employment in science communication. Internships can be a great way to get clips (published writing), connect with editors, and experience what it’s like to be a science journalist.
Career Exploration: Internships provide valuable insights into different career paths within science communication, helping interns identify their interests and strengths.
Professional Development: Many internships offer professional development opportunities, such as workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs.

Featured Internship Programs

Here are some specific science communication internship programs offering valuable experiences:

Brookhaven National Laboratory Internship

Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Media & Communications Office offers internships for undergraduate and graduate students interested in science writing and communication. Interns will also have the opportunity to contribute to projects such as news releases, fact sheets, brochures, video scripts, and government-relations communications related to the Lab’s scientific research. Brookhaven is a world-leading multipurpose research institution with seven Nobel Prizes to its name, located on a 5,300-acre site on Long Island, NY. Scientists at the Laboratory perform research in physics, chemistry, biology, applied science, and advanced technology. There will be a weekly stipend ($650/wk for undergraduates; $750/wk for graduate students); if part-time, the stipend will be reduced accordingly. Applicants are eligible for up to a year after graduation. A journalism or science degree is preferred, but undergraduates with a strong interest and experience in science communication are also encouraged to apply. They are looking for applicants with well-developed writing skills, an interest in science, and an ability to write in an engaging way about complex topics.

Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) Science Communication Internship

SciComm Interns are integral members of the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) Communication Team. They help SDB fulfill its mission to serve as a global communication hub for all developmental biologists and the public. The SDB Science Communication Internship provides our SDB trainees with professional and practical work experience in science communication. Interns will complete three written projects between September 2025 and May 2026: (1) an SDB member profile, (2) an SDB awardee profile, and (3) a story about a recent developmental biology discovery. In addition to receiving credit for their work through bylines, our interns have the opportunity to broaden their interactions with developmental biologists in the field, foster new relationships with senior SDB SciComm mentors (Cecilia Moens, Ondine Cleaver, Pamela Hines, Jessica Feldman, and Douglas Houston), and collaborate closely with SDB staff. Interns are expected to spend 5 to 10 hours each month on these projects for a total of 9 months. Mentors and interns will meet monthly as a cohort and regularly with their assigned mentor. The ideal applicant will have a strong developmental biology background and an interest in writing about science to a general audience. Applicants must be current trainee members of SDB (graduate students who have joined a lab for their dissertation research or postdoctoral fellows). Please submit a completed (1) application form, (2) cover letter (up to 500 words), (3) C.V. (up to 3 pages), and (4) a letter of recommendation from your advisor (PI). The cover letter should explain why you are interested in the internship and how it will support your future career plans. The recommendation letter should include an acknowledgement of support for their trainee's participation in this internship if they are selected. The deadline for all application materials, including the letter of recommendation, is Friday, August 15, 2025, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Applications are reviewed by a selection panel that includes SDB SciComm mentors Cecilia Moens, Ondine Cleaver, Pamela Hines, Jessica Feldman, and Douglas Houston.

ASLO Science Communication Internship

ASLO is now accepting applications for the 2026 Science Communication Internship. This remote internship will begin early 2026 with a 15-week commitment. The goal of the internship is to provide students and early career professionals exposure to many forms of science communication and various career paths within the sciences. The internship is available to current or recent graduate students (degree awarded within 2 years) in the aquatic sciences. The successful applicant will work closely with ASLO’s Director of Communications and Programs Dr. Brittany Schieler on a wide variety of projects in the areas of member and public engagement, education, publications, conferences, and science policy. The ASLO Science Communication Intern will complete a personal learning plan and have the opportunity to pursue a signature project within their specific area of interest. Interns will also assist with formulation and coordination of new and long-standing programs for ASLO members. Through this experience, the intern will gain valuable insights into the operation of non-profit science associations and how science is communicated to a variety of audiences, as well as gain project management skills. Interns will hone science writing skills by preparing material for ASLO’s social media channels, the ASLO Blogs, and the L&O Bulletin and assist with scientific meetings and policy. The internship is remote will begin early 2026 with a stipend of $750 per week (with an expectation of no more than 30 hours per week). This internship is available to current graduate students or individuals who have received a graduate degree in the aquatic sciences within 2 years of application.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Internship

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History seeks a science writing intern interested in developing science communication skills in an active communications and public affairs office. Writing projects may include short, journalism style articles about interesting or newsworthy ocean science research with a focus on Smithsonian science. Some college schooling. Two writing samples - samples can be either a published blog, short story, news article, or some other narrative style writing. This is not an exhaustive list but aims to help illustrate the type of writing samples that are closely aligned with the goals of this internship. For long pieces, excerpts are encouraged.

Other Internship and Fellowship Opportunities

Here are some additional internships and fellowships:

AAAS Diverse Voices in Science Journalism Internship: A paid, 10-week summer internship at Science magazine for undergraduate students.
Science News Internship: Science News offers three full-time internships per year (spring, summer, and fall). Interns pitch, report, and write news stories and features. All internships last a minimum of three months, and interns are paid $16/hour.
AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowship: This paid ($7,000 + travel), 10-week summer fellowship pairs STEM students and scientists (advanced undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate) with media outlets.
Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship.
The Open Notebook Early-Career Science Journalism Fellowship: This is a part-time, eight-month fellowship for people with less than two years of professional science writing experience. Fellows write six articles for The Open Notebook and work closely with a mentor and participate in a professional discussion group.
Mother Jones Ben Bagdikian Fellowship Program: Mother Jones offers full-time, yearlong Digital Media, Editorial, and Strategic Communications fellowships. Responsibilities vary across offices and roles. Editorial fellows gain experience in investigative journalism and get a behind-the-scenes view of working at a nonprofit news outlet.
University of Toronto, Dalla Lana Fellowship in Global Journalism: If you are an expert in your field and would like to cover it as a journalist, the Dalla Lana Fellowship can help you develop the skills you need to do that.
Google News Initiative Fellowship.
Grist Fellowship: Grist offers paid, six-month fellowships (three spring, three fall) for early-career journalists with interest in covering environmental issues.
High Country News Internships: Each year, High Country News offers six, six-month editorial internships for people interested in covering the American West. Interns develop, report, and write stories and receive a $679.85 bi-weekly stipend. HCN sometimes offers fellowships for early-career journalists as well.
The Economist, Richard Casement internship: The Economist has a three-month summer internship for an aspiring journalist to write about science and technology.
Scripps Howard Foundation Fellowships and Internships.
Marine Biological Laboratory Logan Science Journalism Program: For science journalists with limited experience in the field or lab, this fellowship provides an opportunity to learn what it’s like to conduct research.
AHCJ Reporting Fellowships.
Cissy Patterson Endowment for Science and Environmental Writers.
The Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing.
International Center for Journalism Knight Fellowships: These fellowships fund innovative communicators to introduce new modes of reporting and storytelling to newsrooms around the world.
John S. Knight Fellowship: The JSK fellowship program at Stanford provides a diverse group of journalists with professional and financial support.
Knight Science Journalism.
Knight-Wallace Fellowship: This fellowship, based out of the University of Michigan, provides journalists who have least five years of experience the opportunity to live and take classes at the university.
Nieman Fellowship: The Nieman Foundation awards up to 24 journalists with at least five years of experience the opportunity to spend a year auditing courses at Harvard and developing professional and leadership skills.
The Reuters Institute, Journalist Fellowship: The fellowship brings roughly 30 mid-career journalists from around the world to Oxford University for a funded, several-month program.
University of Colorado Boulder, Scripps Fellowships.

Tips for Finding and Landing a Science Communication Internship

Start Early: Summer positions at newspapers and some radio internships are usually posted in the fall, while internships at magazines, nonprofits, and research institutions typically go up between January and March, though these are rough estimates.
Network: The National Association of Science Writers also hosts an internship fair meet-and-greet at the AAAS conference each February, which is a great way to find internships. We recommend getting in touch early with editors at publications you’re interested in working at.
Tailor Your Application: Customize your cover letter and resume to highlight your skills and experience relevant to the specific internship.
Showcase Your Writing Skills: Provide strong writing samples that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible way.
Highlight Your Passion for Science: Express your enthusiasm for science and your desire to share scientific knowledge with the public.

Example of an Interdisciplinary Internship

This internship provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary graduate students to work with the VI4 Project Manager each semester to learn about and execute creative communication strategies through both traditional and social media platforms. They will learn to craft the perfect caption, write a compelling editorial, and design infographics and animations. In addition, they work together on a group project, ImmuKnow+, which aims to incorporate different elements of science communication. Fall 2025 application will open in May 2025.

Intern Success Stories

Jia Mei grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Colorado College, where she majored in Molecular Biology and minored in Asian Studies. She is currently conducting research in Dr. Eric Cassat’s lab, studying how Staphylococcus aureus survives antibiotic treatment during bone infections. Through this internship, Jia aims to develop skills in video production, graphic design, and science writing to strengthen science communication, build community, and expand outreach efforts.

Cherie Saffold is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology. She conducts her thesis research in Dr. Heather Pua’s lab, where she studies the role of extracellular YRNA in allergic airway inflammation.

Additional Resources

Finding and Landing the Right Internship in Science Writing.
The Intern’s Survival Guide.
Global Investigative Journalism Network, Grants & Fellowships.
The Society of Environmental Journalists, Non-SEJ Environmental Journalism Fellowships and Workshops.

Read also: Choosing a Social Science Major

tags: #science #communication #internship