BOLD Science Communication Fellowship 2026–2027: Earn CHF 5,000 and Build Global Science Communication Skills
Are you an early-career researcher passionate about children’s learning and development and interested in communicating scientific research beyond academic audiences? The BOLD Science Communication Fellowship 2026–2027, supported by the Jacobs Foundation, offers a unique opportunity to develop practical science communication skills while reaching educators, caregivers and wider audiences around the world.
The six-month, part-time Fellowship will select up to three researchers from anywhere in the world. Each selected Fellow will receive a CHF 5,000 stipend and access to specialist training, mentoring and practical opportunities to create content for BOLD’s website and social media channels.
Application deadline: 31 October 2026.
About the BOLD Science Communication Fellowship
BOLD is a global multimedia platform supported by the Jacobs Foundation that works to make scientific knowledge about children’s learning and development more accessible and actionable.
The platform connects researchers, science journalists and practitioners to share evidence-based insights that can help caregivers and educators better support children.
The BOLD Science Communication Fellowship marks the platform’s 10th birthday and is designed to help researchers develop the skills needed to translate complex academic research into engaging, understandable content for non-academic audiences.
The Fellowship is particularly suitable for researchers who want to become stronger science communicators while continuing their research careers.
What Fellows Will Receive
Selected Fellows will benefit from a combination of professional development, mentorship and practical experience.
The programme includes a specialist writing workshop led by Annie Brookman-Byrne, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of BOLD, as well as a monthly writing club with the BOLD team.
Fellows will also receive training in:
- Editing their own work and the work of colleagues
- Writing for general, non-academic audiences
- Producing science communication videos for social media
- Developing engaging public-facing scientific content
In addition, Fellows will have opportunities to produce content for publication through BOLD’s website and social media platforms.
Each Fellow will receive a CHF 5,000 stipend to help support the time and resources required to participate. The stipend will be paid in two instalments, with 50% provided at the beginning of the Fellowship and the remaining 50% upon completion of the required tasks and milestones.
Fellowship Responsibilities
The Fellowship runs from 4 January to 30 June 2027.
During the programme, Fellows will attend a virtual introduction and participate in training and writing activities. They will be expected to dedicate approximately six hours per month to content development and virtual training sessions.
Each Fellow will produce at least three pieces of content, which could include articles, interviews or videos, in agreement with the BOLD Editor-in-Chief.
Fellows will also apply the skills gained through the programme to communicate scientific evidence in ways that are accessible and useful to caregivers, educators and wider audiences.
Who Can Apply?
The BOLD Science Communication Fellowship is open to researchers from anywhere in the world.
Applicants should:
- Be active researchers studying an aspect of children’s learning and development
- Be no more than 10 years post-PhD
- Have a strong interest in communicating scientific knowledge beyond academic audiences
- Be passionate about making evidence-based research accessible to caregivers and educators
Importantly, a PhD is not required to apply. This makes the Fellowship accessible to researchers at different stages of their research careers, provided they meet the other eligibility requirements.
Application Requirements
Applications must be submitted in English through the official application form.
Applicants will need to provide a science communication sample, such as an article or video explaining a scientific concept relevant to BOLD in an accessible way for caregivers.
Written samples should ideally be no more than 500 words, while video samples should be no longer than three minutes.
Applicants must also submit a written statement of up to 500 words explaining why they want to join the Fellowship and why they would be a good fit.
A current CV highlighting research experience and any previous science communication activities is also required.
Selection and Timeline
Applications will be reviewed by Annie Brookman-Bryne, Editor-in-Chief of BOLD, and Gemma Wirz, Learning Outreach Lead at the Jacobs Foundation.
The key dates are:
- Applications open: 1 September 2026
- Application deadline: 31 October 2026
- Application review: November 2026
- Fellows notified: 1 December 2026
- Fellowship begins: 4 January 2027
- Fellowship ends: 30 June 2027
Why Apply?
For researchers interested in building a career beyond traditional academia, the BOLD Science Communication Fellowship offers an excellent opportunity to develop writing, editing, video production and public engagement skills.
The combination of a CHF 5,000 stipend, specialist mentorship and real-world publishing opportunities makes this an attractive professional development opportunity for researchers working in child learning and development.
Because the Fellowship is fully remote and part-time, participants can develop their science communication skills while continuing other professional or research commitments.
Researchers who want their work to reach caregivers, educators and the wider public are encouraged to prepare their applications early and submit a strong communication sample before the 31 October 2026 deadline.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
