Rachel Carson Science Journalism Fellow

Nashville Public Radio; Town of Ithaca (NY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Tuition benefits

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Generous leave provisions

Job summary

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY invites applications for a one-year Rachel Carson Science Journalism Fellowship. This early-career role blends hands-on science journalism, public outreach, and teaching, working with editors, designers, and subject‑matter experts to tell engaging stories about birds and conservation.

You will mentor students, co-teach an undergraduate science journalism course, and contribute to editorial production with data visuals and multimedia.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in journalism or equivalent experience.
• Early-career journalists with no more than two years of professional journalism or writing experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop story angles with editors for assigned stories.
• Conduct interviews and reporting, and produce original written content on deadline.
• Write, revise, and edit stories for a range of public audiences and platforms.
• Pitch story ideas to editors for Living Bird magazine, All About Birds, Birds.Cornell.edu, and more.
• Report and write stories about Lab research, conservation, and outreach.
• Create stories engaging audiences in birds, science, and conservation.
• Collaborate on data visualizations and multimedia elements to enhance stories.
• Co‑teach an undergraduate, pass/fail course in science journalism.
• Mentor 1–3 undergraduate interns throughout their experience.

Skills

Journalism

Science reporting

Data visualization

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's or higher in journalism

Tools

Data visualization tools

Job description

Job ID: 74800

Job Views: 25

Location: Ithaca, New York, United States (Zip 14850)

Employment Type: Full time

Salary: $65447-$75632 per year

Posted: 08.25.2026

The Opportunity

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is seeking an early-career journalism professional for the one-year Rachel Carson Science Journalism Fellowship. This fellowship provides hands‑on experience in science journalism and public outreach while contributing to undergraduate teaching and mentorship. As a member of the Lab’s Marketing & Communications team, the Fellow will work with editors, artists, designers, multimedia producers, and multidisciplinary experts to tell compelling stories about the Lab’s science, conservation, and outreach. In addition to creating engaging content that connects public audiences with birds, science, and conservation of the natural world, the Fellow will teach an undergraduate course in science journalism and mentor student interns.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop story angles in collaboration with editors for assigned stories.
• Conduct interviews and reporting, and produce original written content on deadline.
• Write, revise, and edit stories for a range of public audiences and platforms.
• Pitch story ideas to the editorial team for potential publication in Living Bird magazine, All About Birds, Birds.Cornell.edu, Cornell Chronicle, and other outlets.
• Report and write stories about the Lab’s research, conservation efforts, outreach, and impact.
• Create stories that engage audiences in birding, science, and conservation of the natural world.
• Contribute fact‑checking, editing, and content management to support editorial production needs.
• Collaborate with editors, artists, designers, multimedia producers, and subject‑matter experts to develop stories.
• Work with colleagues to enhance stories through data visualizations, multimedia, and other interactive elements.
• Collaborate with Lab faculty and advisors to co‑teach an undergraduate, pass/fail course in science journalism.
• Serve as the primary mentor for 1‑3 undergraduate interns, providing guidance and support throughout their experience.
• Contribute to the Lab’s broader public communication and outreach efforts.

About The Cornell Lab Of Ornithology

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a globally renowned nonprofit institution that advances research, education, participatory science, and conservation to improve the understanding and protection of birds and biodiversity. A vibrant unit of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Lab is a nonprofit organization with more than 200,000 donors, 1 million participatory scientists, and a community of nature enthusiasts around the world.

Rewards And Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role remotely 2 days per week and on‑campus 3 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• This position is based in Ithaca, New York. Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W‑2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award‑winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25‑January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition‑free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

With a founding principle of “... any person ... any study,” Cornell is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s or graduate degree in journalism or the equivalent in experience. This fellowship is designed for early career journalists with no more than two years of professional journalism or writing experience.
• Ability to write quickly, clearly, and concisely in collaboration with others.
• Experience generating, reporting, and writing science stories for nonscientific audiences; a minimum of three published clips is required with application.
• Learning mindset and positive, collaborative spirit.
• Experience modeling values that support inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing data visualizations or multimedia is helpful.
• Demonstrated interest in birds or nature is a plus.
• Experience with informal or formal teaching, tutoring, or mentorship.