Regional Outreach Internship (remote)

eLife is looking for early-career scientists (post-doc or early group leader) passionate about making a difference to take part in a paid internship. With a commitment of 10 days spread throughout the year, you will help to enhance eLife’s reputation for scientific excellence and innovation. You will also encourage regional engagement and submissions to our new model for publishing in all areas of the life and biomedical sciences.

We are looking to recruit globally and will appoint six interns in total. We especially welcome applications from women and non-binary researchers as eLife is committed to helping accelerate progress toward gender equity in both research and the publishing industry.

Experience and attributes

You will be an active researcher in the field of life and biomedical science, ideally a postdoctoral researcher or an early-stage group leader. You will work remotely but stay in close contact with a small and lively team based in Cambridge, UK and the community of fellow interns. You will need to be an excellent communicator in English (in person and in writing) and be willing to undertake travel to relevant labs and scientific meetings in your local region. The ideal candidate should also have:

• Knowledge and experience of journal publishing and research communication
• The confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues and potential authors
• Confidence in using relevant local social media platforms
• Strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to work independently
• Demonstrable commitment to open science practices

Specific responsibilities

With support from eLife staff, those appointed would:

• Represent eLife to the scientific community
• Organise at least 3 visits to local labs to run a session about the eLife new model
• Identify and attend relevant scientific meetings on behalf of eLife, taking materials provided
• Undertake training provided at the start of the internship to learn more about the organisation and to be coached in the tasks to be performed

Terms and conditions

Our offer

The successful candidate would receive full training (provided remotely) at the start of the internship to learn more about the organisation and to be coached in the tasks to be performed. There is the opportunity to learn more from specific departments within eLife, should the candidates have a particular interest in an area of scientific publishing. The time commitment of 10 working days can be flexible throughout the year and will be paid at a daily rate (7.5 hours) of $350 USD per day (or equivalent in your local currency), plus expenses following receipt of an invoice.

There is also the option for additional working days, subject to approval in advance by eLife.

Application process

In order to apply, please provide the following:

• A 250–500-word cover letter explaining your interest in open science and demonstrating previous experience relevant to this position
• Your CV
• A supporting letter from your supervisor (if applicable), indicating that you are able to work part-time (10 days during the year) and receive partial salary.

One of the goals of this project is to reduce the carbon footprint of eLife’s outreach efforts. Candidates will be grouped and assessed by region and priority will be given to those located in areas where local outreach at other institutions is possible.

Applications close April 5, 2024 (5pm, GMT) and interviews will be conducted via Zoom/Google Meet from April 22, 2024.