Scientific Writing and Publishing Workshop Series
Publishing scientific research involves more than writing a manuscript, it also requires choosing the right journal, navigating peer review, and responding effectively to feedback. This two-part interactive workshop series for graduate students at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will provide practical guidance on each stage of the publication process, from manuscript preparation and journal submission to revising manuscripts and responding to reviewers. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, participants will gain practical skills to navigate the publishing process with confidence.
WORKSHOP 1
The before: manuscript preparation and journal submission
- How to distill a narrative
- Balanced writing (brevity, specificity, hourglass structure)
- Hands-on abstract exercise (depending on number of people):
- What to look for in abstracts
- Exercise (few people): People bring in a version of their abstract and we can discuss/improve them maybe in small groups?
- Alt Exercise (more people): Use an existing manuscript (sans abstract) and write up an abstract in real time as a group
- Coffee/snack break
- Deciding on target journals for impact and desired audience
- Cover letter writing considerations and journal submission
WORKSHOP 2
The after: practical peer review and revision
- General principle and structures of peer review
- Providing my bioRxiv paper, read peer reviewer reports and my revision rebuttal to discuss:
- How to read reviewer reports and understand the main critiques
- Deciding when to undertake new experiments and analyses (and what are tradeoffs)
- Responding to reviewers: tone, clarifications and arguments
- Optional: Serving as peer reviewers and writing reports
Speaker Information
Michael Chao
ⓘ Harvard Chan School hosts a diverse array of speakers, invited to share both scholarly research and personal perspectives. They do not speak for the School, and hosting them does not imply endorsement of their views, organizations, or employers.