It’s an opportunity for CCMPS’ graduate students to help the college tell its research story. You will gain invaluable paid experience to translate research projects into engaging content for our website and social platforms. You will learn how to interview, communicate and produce communication pieces that promote the research excellence of our faculty and students. This initiative is similar to CBS’s SCRIBE program for graduate students and the University’s SPARK program for undergraduate students. Annually, Science Communicators aims to publish 36 research highlights. These research highlights are 500-word pieces that summarize and translate research publications coming out of the College. These highlights are written in plain and accessible language for broad audiences and are amplified by the College through various communication platforms, including the College website and social media (Twitter and Instagram). The CCMPS Research Manager (CRM) may approve Q&A’s with researchers or select human interest pieces on a case by case basis. The CRM serves as program coordinator and, in collaboration with College Graduate Studies Manager (CGSM) and College Marketing and Communications Manager (CMCM) edits and provides feedback to writers.
How does Science Communicators work?
As a Science Communicator, you will:
build your CV through publications and outreach
gain valuable writing experience and training
develop your research translation and mobilization skills
And make a significant contribution to the communication and outreach goals of the College.
The following is a step-by-step process to get involved and participate in Science Communicators.
Student writers are apply by the set deadlines each semester. Typically, the program aims to have a maximum of 3-4 active writers per semester. Preference is given to students who have been in their program for at minimum one semester and will be in their program for at least one additional year. At the time of application, students must provide their CV and a general writing sample that is used to ensure that selected writers meet a minimum standard in terms of general writing ability (e.g., grammar, spelling and sentence structure). This writing sample should be modeled after published CCMPS research highlights. Only selected students are invited to participate in the program.
Application deadlines for 2026: November 24th, 2026
Orientation Session (Tentative Date): Wednesday, November 25th 2-3 pm (Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
Selected students will engage in a one-hour training workshop with the College Research Manager. The goals of the training session are to: review the Science Communicators initiative, receive instruction and tips and tricks for writing as a CCMPS communicator, review conducting an interview with a researcher and provide time to ask questions.
Once students have completed their training, it is time to select and sign up to write a research highlight. CCMPS encourages student writers to select recently published, no older than 3 months, journal articles or conference publications written by CCMPS faculty and/or students to focus their research highlight on. These articles should be in high impact journals or conferences. The CRM will approve all stories. The CRM may approve Q&A’s with researchers or select human interest pieces on a case by case basis. CCMPS publishes research highlights from each of our departments and schools equally, so students are encouraged to select pieces that ensure an equitable distribution of coverage. If students need ideas the CRM maintains a list of publications and can assist with selection.
Once a student has signed up for an article, they then will have approximately 2 weeks to interview their key story subjects (typically a CCMPS faculty member, write their piece and submit a draft to the CRM. The CRM will review and edit the article as necessary to ensure quality and a reasonable level of consistency and provide the student writer with feedback. Once a final draft has been approved by the CRM, the student is responsible for sending the draft to the publishing researcher for review and final approval. The student will also be responsible for developing the story title and summary, selecting a lead story image, obtaining CCMPS faculty and student headshots, sourcing any additional images that provide a snapshot into the research, and including all pertinent links and drafting social media posts.
When a story is approved it will be posted on the CCMPS website and shared via social media. Selected stories may also be featured in the CCMPS Annual Report and/or College newsletters.
Students will be paid once a semester for all stories that they have written, submitted and published during that period. Students receive $75 per article. The CRM tracks the number of articles published per student and liaises with the CCMPS Associate Director, Finance & Operations to arrange these payments.
Interested or have questions? Stay tuned for our next application call.
About
The College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences is one of eight faculties at the University of Guelph. Our award-winning teaching, collaborative culture and innovative research aim to inspire excellence and Improve Life.
