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Rachel Carson Science Journalism Fellowship

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is seeking an early-career journalism professional for the one-year Rachel Carson Science Journalism Fellowship. This fellowship provides hands‑on experience in science journalism and public outreach while contributing to undergraduate teaching and mentorship.

As a member of the Lab’s Marketing & Communications team, the Fellow will work with editors, artists, designers, multimedia producers, and multidisciplinary experts to tell compelling stories about the Lab’s science, conservation, and outreach. In addition to creating engaging content that connects public audiences with birds, science, and conservation of the natural world, the Fellow will teach an undergraduate course in science journalism and mentor student interns.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop story angles in collaboration with editors for assigned stories.
• Conduct interviews and reporting, and produce original written content on deadline.
• Write, revise, and edit stories for a range of public audiences and platforms.
• Pitch story ideas to the editorial team for potential publication in Living Bird magazine, All About Birds, Birds.Cornell.edu, Cornell Chronicle, and other outlets.
• Report and write stories about the Lab’s research, conservation efforts, outreach, and impact.
• Create stories that engage audiences in birding, science, and conservation of the natural world.
• Contribute fact‑checking, editing, and content management to support editorial production needs.
• Collaborate with editors, artists, designers, multimedia producers, and subject‑matter experts to develop stories.
• Work with colleagues to enhance stories through data visualizations, multimedia, and other interactive elements.
• Collaborate with Lab faculty and advisors to co‑teach an undergraduate, pass/fail course in science journalism.
• Serve as the primary mentor for 1‑3 undergraduate interns, providing guidance and support throughout their experience.
• Contribute to the Lab’s broader public communication and outreach efforts.

This fellowship is designed for an early‑career journalist who wants to deepen their skills in science journalism while gaining experience working within a multidisciplinary communications team. The Fellow will have opportunities to develop a diverse portfolio of published work, collaborate with experienced communicators and scientists, and build skills in teaching and mentorship.

This is a full‑time (40 hours/week), one-year term Contract College position based in Ithaca, NY. This position follows a 3:2 campus‑to‑home hybrid work arrangement. This hybrid work arrangement is subject to change at any time. Work hours are flexible but will be mutually agreed upon.

About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally renowned nonprofit institution that advances research, education, participatory science, and conservation to improve the understanding and protection of birds and biodiversity. A vibrant unit of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Lab is a nonprofit organization with more than 200,000 donors, 1 million participatory scientists, and a community of nature enthusiasts around the world.

What We Need

• A cover letter and resume are required for consideration for this position. In addition, please upload three published writing samples on scientific topics that are written for a non-scientific audience. Please upload these samples in the same section of the application where you upload your cover letter.
• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in journalism or the equivalent in experience. This fellowship is designed for early career journalists with no more than two years of professional journalism or writing experience.
• Ability to write quickly, clearly, and concisely in collaboration with others.
• Experience generating, reporting, and writing science stories for nonscientific audiences; a minimum of three published clips is required with application.
• Learning mindset and positive, collaborative spirit.
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities.

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include:

• Experience in developing data visualizations or multimedia is helpful.
• Demonstrated interest in birds or nature is a plus.
• Experience with informal or formal teaching, tutoring, or mentorship.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on‑campus 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• This position is based in Ithaca, New York. Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award‑winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell .
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition‑free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell .

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

University Job Title: Staff Writer I

Job Family: Communications/Marketing