Launching a science writing career shouldn’t be rocket science.
I can help.
Maybe you’re a scientist who wants to become a science writer.
Realizing that you want to leave academia can be terrifying — but there is indeed a wonderful world beyond science! I left research to become a science writer in 2022, and you can too. You’ll find that the skills you developed in academia will serve you well in science writing.
I can help you create a new career that works for you, whether that means learning basics like finding and pitching stories, getting your first clips, building a portfolio, or launching a freelance business.
Maybe you’re an early-career science journalist who feels stuck.
Your career shouldn’t just be “making it work,” it should work for you. But as a novice — and especially as a freelancer — it’s easy to get stuck with preconceived ideas about what your career can and can’t look like. A supportive, curious outsider can challenge the false beliefs holding you back.
As your coach, I’ll help you push past the wall: you can raise your rates, land new clients, break into a new niche or publication, set boundaries, win grants, and more. You just need a plan that works for you.
Maybe you’re a writer or journalist who wants to start writing about science.
Science and tech are among the most lucrative niches for writers. But if you don’t have a technical background, writing about STEM can be intimidating. It shouldn’t be. Your lack of science experience can actually be an advantage — and if you have the writing part down, you’ve done the hardest part.
I can help you learn to find science stories, understand scientific papers, navigate academia and the science news cycle, get your first bylines in science magazines, build a science niche, and more.
You don’t need to figure it out alone.
I support aspiring and early-career science writers with personalized coaching focused on making and executing concrete plans.
Coaching Prices
€108
Single Session
One 50-minute video call. After the meeting, I’ll send a follow-up email with a summary of our call and concrete next steps and a transcript of our conversation.
€486
5-Pack
10% Discount vs Single Sessions
Five 50-minute video calls. After each meeting, I’ll send a follow-up email with a summary of our call and concrete next steps and a transcript of our conversation.
€54
Check-In
One 30-minute video call. This option is only for clients who’ve already worked with me and need a quick follow-up call.
€54+
Feedback
Need someone to look over your website or portfolio? Want feedback on a pitch or internship application?
Send me your work and I’ll send you a voice memo and email with feedback. The price covers <2000 words of written content (additional words charged at €0.02/word).
Price includes 20% Austrian Value-Added Tax (VAT)
It starts with a free call.
Interested in coaching? Get started with a 15-minute consultation call for us to get to know each other, talk about your goals, and see if we’re a good fit — it’s free!
The Feedback option doesn’t require a call. Simply fill out this form and I’ll follow up within 2 working days.
Swapping your pipette for a pen?
Been there.
If you’re a scientist leaving academia for science communication, it can feel like nobody understands — but you’re not alone.
So many successful science writers were once exactly where you are now: realizing, maybe with a bit of horror, that this whole academia thing isn’t going to work out and wondering what comes next.
That was me, too — and not decades ago, but in 2022 when I made the hard choice to leave my PhD program at MIT. So trust me when I say: I get it.
If your next step is a career in science communication, I can help you build an academic off-ramp that’s less “leap of faith” and more “planned upgrade.”
Academics often think they have no practical skills. But you’d be surprised how much of what you’ve done in research will serve you well in science writing and/or running a freelance business.
FAQs
I have no writing experience. Can you help me?
Yes! In fact, I specialize in helping aspiring and novice science writers launch their careers. We can take you from zero to a growing portfolio of work you can be proud of.
What will you help with?
Coaching is highly individual, so this depends on you. Topics we might discuss include: getting first clips, finding science stories, pitching, building a niche, applying to fellowships and internships, networking, building a website or portfolio, and setting up a freelance business. My focus is on helping novice and aspiring science writers successfully make their first steps into this new career, and on writers who want to establish a new niche or beat in science.
What happens during a coaching session?
We’ll have a conversation that will help you understand what you want and need at this point in your career, and then make concrete plans for how to get it. After our session, I’ll send you an email follow-up with a summary of our chat and specific next steps for you, as well as a link to a transcript and recording of our conversation (if requested).
Do you use AI in your coaching practice?
No! I do not use AI for any part of my coaching practice, including the follow-up emails I send after our meetings. I believe that the human touch is part of what you’re paying for.
I make one exception: coaching call transcripts. I use an AI tool called Otter to generate a transcript that’s aligned with the recording and make this available to clients. This can make it easier to search for and find specific sections of our conversation later.
I can’t afford coaching. Can still you help me?
Yes. I’m happy to answer questions on Bluesky, where the answers are public and can be helpful to more than one person. If you have a personal question I can answer via email in less than 2 minutes, I’m happy to respond. You can also sign up for my free newsletter for monthly tips and discounts on upcoming workshops and coaching offers. I’m working on some exciting new free and cheap resources for new science writers, so stay tuned!
If you’re looking for free mentorship, both the National Association of Science Writers and British Association of Science Writers offer resources for new writers, sometimes including mentorship programs. The Open Notebook also provides an extensive library of resources for science writers, including a database of successful pitches.
I’m in! How do I book coaching as a new client?
Just fill out this form and I’ll get in touch via email within 2 working days with next steps.