As a freelance environmental reporter at the start of her career in India, Monika Mondal wasn’t looking for fellowships. She was busy writing features on pollution, water, and rivers. But when an announcement for a yearlong residential fellowship in Germany bubbled up in her LinkedIn feed, she was intrigued. Mondal applied, won the fellowship, and spent her 2022–23 German Chancellor Fellowship (GCF) exploring how developed countries like Germany manage their rivers. The experience helped her realize that she wanted to bring more science into her reporting.
Serendipity struck again a few years later, in the form of another LinkedIn post. Mondal successfully applied for a residency at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), near Vienna, where she spent several months in 2025 learning about neuroscience, astronomy, and chemistry—and began thinking about a book project. That project became the focus of yet another fellowship, this one a six-month stay at the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies (HITS).
While Mondal’s string of successful fellowships is not the norm for early-career journalists, residential fellowships, or “residencies,” are accessible to journalists at all career stages. These programs embed journalists at research institutions for weeks, months, or even a year, offering a unique opportunity to see science in action. Especially for freelancers, they can be a welcome break from the pitch-write-repeat cycle and a chance to explore a new beat or pursue an ambitious project. But would-be residents should plan for potential complications, too. Residential fellowships typically require a pause in one’s career, may entail relocation, and, depending on program requirements and structure, might raise concerns about conflicts of interest.
In a conversation conducted via email, Mondal and six other science journalists discussed their recent experiences with science journalism residencies and how these fellowships have opened doors, raised challenges, and shaped their careers. (The discussion has been edited for length and clarity.) The participants are:
Dyna Rochmyaningsih, a freelance science journalist from Indonesia who relocated mid-career with her two children for a one-year Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She later undertook a two-month residency at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG) in Heidelberg, Germany.
Javier Barbuzano, a freelance science journalist from Spain who spent his FRONTIERS science journalism residency at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona developing a new beat.
Maria Bolevich, a freelance science journalist who spent two months at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium* on a Maria Leptin | EMBO Science Journalism Fellowship and launched an independent journalism platform.
RJ Mackenzie, a Scotland-based science and health writer who used his three-month FRONTIERS science journalism residency at the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) near Bilbao, Spain, to transition to freelancing after seven years of staff-writing experience.
Monika Mondal, a freelance science journalist from India who is now based in Germany. She won a string of residencies early in her career: the yearlong German Chancellor Fellowship in 2023, a six-month* ISTA science journalism residency in 2025, and the six-month HITS residency in 2026.
Sharon Muzaki, a Ugandan freelance environmental and science journalist who won a Knight Science Journalism (KSJ) Africa and Middle East Fellowship five years into her career.
Zack Savitsky, an American freelance journalist who moved to Germany for a one-year MIP.labor Science Journalism Fellowship at the Free University of Berlin just three years into his career.
Elise: What did you use your residency to learn, make, or do?
Zack: I used my project to explore a longstanding fascination with entropy and its many manifestations across the sciences. The result was an interactive feature with mini games embedded into the narrative, which I published with Quanta. It’s the sort of project that’s very hard to justify as a freelancer (money or timewise) without the support of a fellowship.
Sharon: I focused on strengthening my ability to report on the intersection of climate, health, and data through both academic training and practical engagement. Beyond learning, I used the residency to build a foundation for future work by developing story ideas, strengthening international collaborations, and identifying gaps in climate and health reporting in my region.
The fellowship opened my mind to what is possible. – Sharon Muzaki
RJ: My residency was focused on rare disease research at a biosciences institute in Bilbao. I spent my residency interviewing researchers, sitting in on lectures, and learning about the research process. I wrote several articles, including [a] feature.
Dyna: It’s nice to hear about everyone’s project. My project was about the science of the origin of life and its intersection with Islamic philosophy. However, media outlets don’t buy religion and philosophy issues. It’s been hard for me to sell it as a book proposal. But I don’t regret it at all. It was the best year in my life, and I am still writing a book.
Elise: How did participating in a residency impact your career?
Maria: I like this question. I launched my own platform, and it feels like I’m calmer [now]. When you’re a freelancer, you fall into a routine of sending pitches, reading studies and news, and so on. This experience changed the routine and structure I had. It gave me the courage to continue following the topics I truly care about and to make certain changes.
Monika: My answer is similar. I have found a voice and confidence to pursue what I believe in.
Javier: On the practical side, I learned about a field that was completely foreign to me: plant genetics and agriculture. I reached a level where I can confidently report on stories in this field. There’s also a more intangible [side]. Residencies are usually very competitive, and being accepted into one is like receiving a badge of honor.
RJ: When I went on my residency, I had been freelancing for only around six months, even though I had the better part of a decade’s experience as a staff writer. The fellowship gave me a dose of confidence that I could succeed in this new role.
Sharon: I honestly did not realize how much [my residency] would shape the direction of my work and my confidence as a journalist. Since returning to Uganda, I have focused more on reporting public health and climate change [stories], and I now approach editors with much more confidence. I have also been able to contribute to several international media outlets. What the fellowship has really done is open my mind to what is possible.
Elise: How did you find your residency program, and how can journalists look for—and evaluate—such opportunities?
RJ: I found the European Research Council FRONTIERS Residency Programme through an email newsletter. I’d recommend Heather Doran’s The SciCommer and Marianna Limas’s Science Writing News Roundup. As for evaluation, I looked for institutions and researchers that focused on science I was interested in. You’re upending your life for several months to do a residency, so it might as well be for research you care about. Also, make sure the stipend is sufficient to keep you alive for the duration of the residency.
Maria: I found out about [my fellowship] completely by chance on [its] website.
Zack: I came across my residency in Germany from my science journalism network. As for evaluating the program, I recommend looking at published work that has emerged from prior cohorts and reaching out to previous fellows—especially if the program requires you to move or pause regular work.
A good application is when you are truly honest with yourself and are clear on what you want. – Monika Mondal
Javier: Even if you don’t get a lucky email or tip from your peers, it’s easy to search for residency programs online. A quick query to Gemini or ChatGPT will give you lots of ideas.
Monika: I got to know about all my residencies through LinkedIn.
Dyna: Joining journalists’ associations, attending world conferences, and any other networking activities where we could meet and talk to previous fellows could work, too.
Elise: What did the application process entail, and what advice do you have for putting together a good application?
Monika: That’s a great follow-up question, Elise. A good application is when you are truly honest with yourself and are clear on what you want. A fellowship is not necessarily the goal; it’s a means to the goal.
Zack: I agree with Monika that these positions should be a means to achieve a goal rather than the goal itself. Look for a program that aligns with a project you’ve been wanting to work on, as opposed to hunting for a project that fits with a particular fellowship.
Maria: When I think about some of the applications I sent at the beginning of my career, I wish no one had ever read them because [they were] a mess. I would advise younger colleagues to be clear and focused when presenting their goals and interests.
Sharon: I had to submit a statement of purpose, my CV, three work samples, and a professional reference, along with personal and background information. The most demanding part for me was the statement of purpose. It required me to connect my background in environmental journalism to the broader challenges facing Uganda. My advice is to be intentional and honest in your application. Also, be strategic with your work samples. Choose pieces that align with the fellowship and highlight your strengths. Finally, give yourself enough time. A strong application requires reflection, revision, and clarity.
RJ: I agree with Sharon—giving yourself enough time to complete the application is critical. If you need letters of recommendation, get emails sent to your chosen referees as soon as possible.
Dyna: I applied three times before I got accepted [to KSJ]. While I do agree that we need to be well-prepared, I think I would say: Do not overthink your application! I only spent two days [applying to] MPIWG and a week for KSJ.
Elise: Did you encounter any problems with real or perceived conflicts of interest related to your residency? If so, what were they, and how did you navigate them?
Monika: Going to rant a little bit here. With my GCF and the ongoing HITS residency, there [were] no expectations for any outputs. [But] the second one, at ISTA, demanded we produce two stories and conduct workshops and panel discussions. At one point, they mentioned that they won’t pay me until I submit the stories. For me personally, it was still okay since I produced more stories than they needed.
Dyna: I’ve never encountered this kind of conflict. I had complete freedom to do my own thing.
RJ: The FRONTIERS residency had the ideal setup: the European Research Council funded the residency, so all the host institution had to provide was a workspace and access to researchers and facilities. I didn’t feel any external pressure to write stories. If a potential residency requires you to write about your host institute in a certain way, use caution. As Monika mentioned, it’s a humongous red flag.
Maria: I agree, I’m not a fan of such conditions.
Monika: Absolutely and totally agree with RJ. I and other previous residents actually raised this with the ISTA staff. This year they removed this condition. It’s very important to raise some awareness within the institutions and in the media on what it means to offer such [a] residency to journalists. It’s not really about “results.”
A residency can be an opportunity to shake things up for a bit—or even explore a totally new life path on another continent. – Zack Savitsky
Javier: There’s another side to this, which is how publications might perceive the conflict of interest. Certain publications, especially in the U.S. and the U.K., are extremely scrupulous about this. They could prevent you from reporting on the institution where you did the residency or [on] the funding agency, even after the residency is over. Also, the standard of what journalistic independence entails seems to vary quite a bit between countries. Some colleagues from my cohort in FRONTIERS were genuinely shocked to learn that some publications might have qualms about residencies.
Maria: I agree with Javier. I’ve had three articles rejected simply because they came through a fellowship. I published [those stories] on my own platform, which I recently launched.
Elise: How did you weigh the costs and benefits of interrupting your career and relocating for a short-term opportunity?
Zack: There are lots of tradeoffs. The relaxed structure and consistent funding of residencies can be a nice break from the fast-paced, financially unstable modus of covering news. But the personal sacrifices of uprooting one’s life for a temporary fellowship don’t make sense for everyone. For those whose circumstances [are flexible], a residency can be an opportunity to shake things up for a bit—or even explore a totally new life path on another continent.
RJ: I applied for the residency at almost exactly the same time I quit my staff writing job to go fully freelance. My career was already in flux, and I didn’t have young children or elderly parents to care for. It seemed like a perfect time to take this new opportunity.
Sharon: This was one of the hardest parts of the residency for me. Taking time away from my normal work and relocating came with significant financial and logistical challenges. At the time, I did not have enough funds to secure accommodation in advance while still in Uganda. However, after an intense and exhausting search, with support from the KSJ [program], I was able to secure a place.
Zack: As I overheard a stranger say on the train yesterday, “Sometimes you’ve just got to close your eyes and jump.” That said, definitely make sure you get your bureaucratic, financial, [and] emotional ducks in line before making the leap.
Monika: Zack has beautifully put it. I also relate with the challenges Sharon mentioned [and] cannot stress enough how difficult it is EVERY TIME to get a visa, find housing, [and manage] travel, bank account, insurance.
Dyna: When you have a family, relocating for a fellowship will be challenging. I brought my two children with me [for the KSJ fellowship]. For [the] two-month fellowship at the MPIWG [in Germany], I left my children [at home]. My husband took care of them. So, for journalists [with partners], get ready for this too. This is not only a thing for your professional development but also a relationship milestone for you and your partner.
Maria: Well done to Dyna.
Javier: I’m also impressed by Dyna’s determination! I guess with good planning, a fellowship is doable at any stage of your life or career.
*Correction 7/28/26: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Maria Bolevich spent a year at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands and that Monika Mondal spent three months at her ISTA science journalism residency.
Elise Cutts is a freelance science journalist and an early-career fellow at The Open Notebook supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Her writing appears in Quanta, Scientific American, Science News, New Scientist, and more, and she was 2025 FRONTIERS Journalist in Residence at the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, Austria, and a 2022 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at Voice of America. Elise earned her MSc in earth science from MIT in 2022 and now lives in Graz, Austria. Elise spends too much time on Bluesky @elisecutts.bsky.social and writes a newsletter about the systems and incentives of science and science communication called Reviewer, too.