Scientific publishing studentship

Part of the Biochemical Society's Summer Vacation Studentship scheme, our scientific publishing studentship will give students experience of working in scientific publishing with the Biochemical Society journals.

Scientific publishing studentship

What will the studentship involve?

Students will have a dedicated 6-week project within the publishing team at the Biochemical Society, focusing on the commissioning process. The students will work to commission articles for the Society’s themed collections or review-only journals. Students will also gain knowledge of the full publishing life cycle.

The publication process often starts with commissioning. The commissioning process involves researching relevant and interesting topics in the biosciences, building relationships and discussing the commissioning ideas with Editorial Board members, promoting the journals to prospective authors, and inviting them to write an article or encourage them to submit their research to a particular journal.

Students working with the publishing team will also gain knowledge of the quality control and peer review processes, the production process and the promotion/marketing of an article, collection or journal.

Read more about the scientific topics covered by the seven Biochemical Society journals here.

As the Society is a remote working organisation, the studentship would take place remotely.

Studentship funding

Students will be awarded a stipend of £400.40 per week for 6 weeks, to support the students’ living costs for the duration of the placement. The stipend is based on a 35 hour week at £11.44/hour (National Living Wage).

The student will receive the grant at the beginning of the studentship.

Students will also be awarded a one-year undergraduate membership of the Biochemical Society. Read more about the benefits of Society membership here, including discounted registration fees for training courses and events.

The application process

Students will apply for the scientific publishing studentship online.

Students will need to explain why they are applying for this studentship, specifically, and will have the opportunity to highlight any particular topics of scientific research they are interested in.

Outcome of applications

Following the review process, the student will be informed of the outcome of their application.

During the studentship

Students will have a dedicated supervisor throughout the project but may also be supervised by other members of staff with particular roles in the Society. Students will work within the entire publishing team, and the wider Society throughout the project.

As the Society is a remote working organisation, the studentship would take place remotely.

Students are encouraged to keep track of any skills they have developed over the course of the placement, both technical and transferable, and any impact the project has had on their potential future career.

They are also encouraged to develop their own blogs about their studentship, and to update the Society on their placement using social media by tagging us on Instagram @officialbiochemsoc, on LinkedIn or on X @BiochemSoc.

End of studentship report

It is a condition of the award that the student subsequently submits a report of their studentship, which can be uploaded onto our website.

Additionally, any related output from the project should be written up for use by the Society.

An example report from 2023 can be found here.

The deadline to complete and send your report is 1 October 2024.

Criteria and eligibility

The studentships are for undergraduate students in biochemistry, molecular bioscience and related subjects.
Students take up the award during one of the middle summer(s) of their undergraduate degree.
- For example, students carrying out a three year undergraduate course are eligible in their second year of study. Students carrying out a four year course are eligible in their second or third years of study.
The scientific publishing studentship is open to students who will be based in the UK over the summer of 2024.
Students do not need to be members of the Biochemical Society to apply.
Students can only apply for one Biochemical Society studentship.

Contact us

For further information, please get in touch with the Grants department.

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Application deadline