Sarah Bay is an exceptional communicator with a PhD in genetics and nonprofit experience in scholarly publishing at a professional scientific society. She is adept at transforming complex information into compelling written and visual narratives. She is skilled in developmental and substantive editing with a solid background in communications, marketing, and branding initiatives. She brings a multi-faceted understanding of academic research and peer review with perspectives as an author, peer reviewer, and scientific editor.

Why work with me?

You get the best of both worlds. I’m a former research scientist who is skilled in both academic and popular science writing, and I specialize in working with academics.

As a writer and editor, I spent years producing content for a scientific society blog. I worked with talented editors whose feedback improved my writing, and I later got the opportunity to do the same for others.

During that time, I also worked in the editorial office of two scientific journals. I’ve experienced peer review as an author, as a peer reviewer, and as a scientific editor. I’ve taught the basics of effective peer review to others, and I know how journal editors think.

If you’re a scientist interested in a career in science writing, and you’re looking to learn the industry or level up your non-academic writing, I can help.

Effective science writing is pretty distinct from the academic writing most PhD students and postdocs spend their time perfecting, so it's important to hone your writing skills in a new direction. I can provide detailed feedback and edits on your writing, plus resources to consult as you develop your talent.

Science writing as a career is pretty different from life in the lab, but I can help you understand the landscape and point you toward key information you need to succeed in that transition.

If you’re prepping a paper for peer review and journal submission, no matter where in the process you are, I can help with that, too.

Communicating the results of your research is a critical piece of the scientific process, but not everyone receives sufficient writing training due to the individualized nature of PhD training in the biomedical sciences. And some people want to get their discoveries out there more than they care about grammar and punctuation—I get it! That’s where I come in.

You’ve done the work, and you’ve drafted the paper. I can help transform that draft into a standout submission for your journal of choice. I’m happy to care about the grammar, image formatting, and citation styles—and to refine your arguments, clarify your rationale, and help your conclusions shine.

Want to work together? Contact me!

Open to Work

I’m eager to leverage my broad experience in a dynamic, mission-driven environment, and I’m open to freelance, contract, and full-time employment opportunities related to scholarly publishing, science communications, and nonprofit management.

Have an employment lead? Contact me!