The Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT supports a global community of dedicated and thoughtful journalists specializing in science, health, technology and environmental reporting. Knight Science Journalism at MIT(KSJ@MIT) is designed to recognize journalists who demonstrate a high level of professional excellence and accomplishment as well as a long-term commitment to their craft.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a KSJ@MIT Fellowship, applicants must:

• Be full-time journalists, whether on staff or freelance. Part-time writers or producers are not eligible.
• Have at least three full years of experience covering science, technology, the environment, or medicine.
• Be reporters, writers, editors, producers, illustrators, filmmakers, or photojournalists. This includes work for newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and digital media.

Stipulations

To be awarded a Fellowship, selected applicants must agree to the following requirements:

• Reside full-time in the Boston/Cambridge area for the academic year: August 15, 2019, through May 25, 2020.
• Attend field trips, seminars, and required training sessions arranged by the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT.
• Develop a course of study that includes at least one science course per semester.
• Refrain from outside professional work during the Fellowship, unless written permission has been granted by the Director.
• Produce a well thought out research project during the academic year. The research project may be a book proposal, but fellows may not sell the proposal during the fellowship year, nor may they arrive with a contract to write a book during the fellowship year.
• International candidates must obtain a valid visa from the U.S. State Department after being awarded the Fellowship; the visa is normally sponsored by MIT. A language proficiency test (such as TOEFL) may be required as part of the visa process.

Required Documents 

The following documents are required for 9-Month Fellowship applications:

• Professional Autobiography: Provide a brief statement (500-word maximum) about why you want to participate in the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship Program at MIT and how it would fit with your professional goals.
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae: Be sure to include education and work history. (Freelancers should include a list of freelance jobs in the past 12 months. Include each story, venue, and date of publication or broadcast.)
• Research proposal: In consultation with the KSJ staff, Knight fellows will develop and produce a research project in a chosen area of science or science journalism, which should be designed to allow a fellow to explore a particular interest in depth. Fellows will deliver a formal presentation on their topic at the end of the fellowship year. All applicants should describe, in 500 words or less, a project to be developed during the desired fellowship.
• Work samples: Five relevant work samples are required. Choose samples that best illustrate your interest and abilities. Please include a translation for any work not in English.
• Professional references: Three letters of recommendation are required. Letters should come from individuals familiar with your work and should comment on your abilities and your commitment to journalism.