Transferable Skills Course: Scientific Writing

Please email gindrat@molgen.mpg.de to register for this course.

Description

This two-day in-house workshop enables life scientists to communicate their research clearly and effectively. Through numerous writing examples and relevant exercises as well as class discussions, participants learn how to describe their research findings in a publication containing a flowing narrative with a clear “take-home message”. The interactive nature of the workshop means participants benefit not only from the extensive experience of the instructor but also from the ideas of other participants.

Each participant receives a printed workshop manual and exercise book intended to serve as long-term reference material. Additionally, writing samples from each participant are edited by the class instructor and integrated into the workshop.

The workshop teaches participants not only to target their publication to a specific audience but also to direct their day-to-day research using the writing process.

Preparation

Before the workshop, participants are asked to choose a published research article of interest from their own research field. They also provide a short sample of their own writing comprising an Abstract and Title (max. 250 words) either from a manuscript currently in preparation or describing their research so far.

Early-stage PhD students may choose to submit an outline of their proposed project.

Several unique features differentiate Science Craft's workshop on Scientific Writing from other forms of training:

• Participants receive extensive edits and comments on their own writing sample from the trainer.
• Integration of selected research articles ensures that workshop activities are even more relevant to participants' specific fields of research.
• Participants are provided with a clear “road-map” to help them write their next research article in an efficient and painless manner.

Contact

For further details, the workshop instructor can be contacted directly: Dr. Brian Cusack, brian.cusack@science-craft.com

Program

Thursday 29^th January 2026 (9:30 – 17:30)

9:30 – 11:30

• Participant Introductions, Workshop Overview
• Discussion Topic: Scientific Writing as Scientific Communication
• Exercise: Pitch your Paper

11:30 – 11:45 Break

11:45 – 13:00

• Choosing Words (part 1)

13:00- 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:30

• Choosing Words (part 2)
• Structuring Sentences (part 1)

15:30 – 15:45 Break

15:45 – 17:30

• Structuring Sentences (part 2)
• Building Paragraphs

17:30 End of Day 1







Friday 30^th January 2026 (9:30 – 17:30)

9:30 – 11:30

• Arranging the Text
• The Structure of a Research Article
• Writing the Introduction (part 1)

11:30 – 11:45 Break

11:45 – 13:00

• Writing the Introduction (part 2)
• Framing your Research Article
• Writing the Materials & Methods section

13:00- 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:30

• Writing the Results section
• Writing the Discussion section (part 1)

15:30 – 15:45 Break

15:45 – 17:30

• Writing the Discussion section (part 2)
• Writing the Abstract & Title
• Extended Writing Exercises: Framing your Research & Title Writing
• Workshop Conclusion

17:30 End of Day 2




Before signing up for this workshop, please make sure that you can attend all the dates and write them in your calendar. If you do not show up or cancel at very short notice, other interested students will not be able to participate.