Science Writer

University of Chicago Department of Computer Science
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Mentors

Miranda Redenbaugh, Assistant Director for Communications

Background

The University of Chicago has seen tremendous growth in computer science in the last ten years, more than doubling our faculty, increasing the number of undergraduate CS majors tenfold, and tripling the size of our PhD student population. Here, students and faculty can explore all corners of the field, from theory to applications. They can work at the intersection of computer science and other disciplines, including the social and physical sciences, policy, business, and biomedicine, benefit from the world-class city of Chicago, and make an immediate impact, both locally and globally. Communicating the research and achievements of our faculty and students is an integral part of continuing to grow the department.

​Internship Description

The intern will learn the broad outlines of communications while also developing a series of scientifically based articles for various audiences. Through the internship, s/he will understand how to research, evaluate, and write for a prospective audience, recognize the considerations of representing the Department of Computer Science to a public audience, and become more confident in his or her scientific writing ability.

Expectations

• Writing: The intern will write 3-4 articles for the Department’s website over the course of the 10-week internship. S/he will research and draft these articles and revise them together with the mentor. The intern will reach out to faculty to ask permission to report on their research and request their help in vetting the article after it has been fully vetted by the mentor. The objective of this project is to learn to communicate scientific advances using language and style suited for the general public and to gain ease in interviewing scientific leaders in the process.

Specific Objectives

• Start cultivating a writing portfolio by contributing articles to the Department of Computer Science’s website.
• Understand the process of scientific writing: how to pitch, research, write, and vet articles on primary scientific research.
• Generate articles focused on public education, including topics such as human-computer interaction, data privacy, AI, and tech.
• Learn how to network with other schools, publications, and influencers to promote your work.
• Learn how to target content to a variety of audiences.
• Expand knowledge of computer science and ongoing research areas at the Department of Computer Science by attending seminars, reading publications, etc.

Qualifications​

Candidates should have basic writing skills, preferably an interest in science, and be interested in receiving constructive feedback on writing and other communications assignments.