Freelance Science Communication Jobs in Washington

SciLine, a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is accepting applications for a fully remote, On-call Scientific Outreach Support Specialist -a part-time opportunity to contribute to the organization's mission of connecting journalists to scientific expertise on deadline. This individual will fill in capacity gaps in rapidly researching, identifying, vetting, and recruiting scientific experts to participate in SciLine's flagship Expert Matching service on same-day deadlines. A competitive candidate will have a concrete understanding of the principles, methods, and culture of science; familiarity with current research trends; excellent research, data analysis, and time management skills; and the ability to communicate effectively and quickly with busy peers in the science community-all within the context of a bustling, deadline-driven, newsroom-like shop.
This is an on-call, part-time position for up to 17 hours per week, ideally primarily on Tuesdays and Wednesdays-our busiest days for the Expert Matching service-with the opportunity to negotiate exact hours. The position may be especially attractive to freelancers and individuals with a Master's or PhD degree in a field of science who are considering or have experience in science communication, journalism, public relations, or other non-academic career options.
Help us ignite the next era of science.
What You'll Do
During on-call hours, begin work on the following tasks within 30 minutes of getting a request from SciLine:

• Identify scientific experts from SciLine's internal database or other sources, and vet their scientific expertise and communication skills for possible referral to journalists;
• Reach out to scientific experts to recruit them to participate in interviews with same-day deadlines; and
• Add to SciLine's database of experts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in a scientific discipline;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; fluency in Spanish a plus
• Excellent research skills and commitment to scientific rigor;
• Ability to build trusting relationships with scientists, research institutions, and scientific organizations;
• Ability to read, digest, and quickly extract meaning from scientific and technical papers across a wide range of scientific domains;
• Ability to identify and assess scientific communications skills using a diverse range of potential resources;
• Ability to work quickly on short deadlines;
• Ability to work independently, but appreciative of collaborative inputs;
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the scientific and journalistic enterprises-themes central to SciLine's mission and success;
• Sensitivity to social and ethical issues relevant to science, science communication, and journalism;
• Appreciation for SciLine's overarching mission of enhancing journalism with scientific expertise and context and leveraging journalism in support of evidence-based decision-making.

Location
This is a remote position. Job candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to a state where AAAS has a business presence. Please review the approved states list below to confirm eligibility. If you have any questions, please contact our Talent Team at jobs@aaas.org.
Application Process:
Submit a resume and cover letter outlining qualifications and interest in the position by August 22, 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. A Recruiter will contact you with next steps if you are selected for an interview.
The anticipated initial rate of compensation for this position is $38 per hour with a term length of: September 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027.
AAAS is aware of fraudulent messages from individuals and entities falsely claiming to represent our organization. Please note that all official recruitment communications will come from an @aaas.org email address, and all open positions are posted on our Careers page (aaas.org/careers). AAAS will never ask applicants to provide payment, financial information including credit card numbers, or Social Security numbers during the hiring process via an email. If you receive an email claiming to be from AAAS that looks suspicious, do not click on any links or open any attachments. Instead, please contact us at jobs@aaas.org before responding or sharing any personal information.
Any actual offer of employment, reflecting the total compensation package and benefits, will be made in the sole discretion of AAAS and will be based on a variety of factors, including years of experience, depth of experience, and other relevant factors. AAAS reserves the right to amend or modify its employment benefits and compensation structure at any time.
AAAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category. AAAS uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. No visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Search Firm and Employment Agency Disclaimer
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Any unsolicited resumes sent to AAAS from a third party, such as an agency, including unsolicited resumes sent to an AAAS mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to AAAS employees, or to the AAAS resume database will be considered AAAS property. Verbal or written communications from any employee of AAAS shall not be considered binding obligations. AAAS Human Resources is the only AAAS representative authorized by AAAS enter into any employment agreements with any third party. AAAS will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.
*Approved States

• California
• Colorado
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.