Science Communication Consultant Gets to Be Her Own Boss

Name: Sarah Ellinwood (she/her)

PhD: Molecular & Cellular Biology, University of Maryland, 2017

What was your main area of research?

My graduate research focused on understanding how the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) evades different innate immune response pathways to help its survival. In particular, I studied how M. tuberculosis inhibited interferon signaling and inflammasome activation, both of which are important ways that our bodies detect, respond to, and clear pathogens.

What is your current job?

I am a freelance science communication consultant, self employed by Ellinwood SciComm in Germantown, Maryland.

As a freelancer I lean on a lot of the skills I've learned at my previous full-time roles. For context, my first job out of grad school was as a medical writer at a CRO, followed by a scientific analyst at a science-focused public relations agency, then a managing editor at a small biotech-focused media outlet.

The bulk of my clients are smaller-scale biotech companies that need help crafting and sharing their scientific stories in compelling ways.

One of the core services that I offer is writing services, particularly blogs and short-form articles that highlight a company's scientific approach or talk about a particular scientific topic they're interested in.

Another service is general communications support - understanding companys' scientific and therapeutic approaches and helping to frame their stories in ways that resonate with key audiences, which most often are investors they're trying to target, journalists, and patients/physicians.

Once these companies have a solid story, I also help translate that into whatever collateral they need - this might be copy for their website, help building their corporate presentation powerpoints, writing a script for a scientific animation they're working on, or drafting social media posts. I also offer media outreach services for when companies have major news announcements - here I help draft press releases, create media strategies and figure out which outlets and reporters to target, then coordinate all the outreach and interviews with said reporters.

My favorite parts:

1) Even though I'm not at the bench, I'm still learning new things all the time! I'm also constantly learning about new scientific and therapeutic advancements in totally different areas from what I did my PhD in, which keeps things interesting.

2) The flexibility of being a freelancer and "being my own boss" is a huge perk, especially since having a kid. The downside is that you don't get "paid time off" if you take time away, but not having to burn through PTO days if my kid has to stay home sick is nice.

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

I worked various full time roles from 2017-2023. Unfortunately, I was laid off from my last role in Summer 2023 due to budget reasons. After doing some soul-searching and talking to some past colleagues of mine who had also started doing full-time freelancing, I decided to also take the plunge and try it for myself. As of January 2025, I've been doing it for over a year and a half, and I've really been enjoying it!

PhD graduate ➡️ Medical Writer ➡️ Science Analyst ➡️ Managing Editor ➡️ Freelancer/Consultant

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I was never really interested in academia, even from the start. I knew I wanted to do something different but didn't really know what else was out there besides industry. After networking with and talking to other folks in the SciComm community, I realized there was a whole world out there that I could explore.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

1. Network, network, network! As a grad student, I joined and volunteered in a group called Women In Bio, which was pivotal for me in landing my first job and not having to do a postdoc. Attend networking events and don't be shy about asking for informational interviews to learn more about a person's job and career path.

   
   

2. If you're interested in science communication or policy, check out the resources from professional science societies such as AAAS, ASBMB, ASC, etc. These societies often have free/affordable courses you can take, fellowships/internships, tips to gain experience, volunteer writing opportunities, etc. One course that I always recommend for science communication enthusiasts is ASBMB's "Art of Science Communication" course. It's affordable and VERY well done.

   
   

3. You might unfortunately run into pushback or disappointment from your PI if they know you want to pursue something different. In some cases, your relationship with your PI might even start to turn sour. This is why networking is so important - if you set yourself up right, you don't need to worry about having your PI as a reference. My relationship with my PI wasn't so great towards the end, but I had enough people in my network who knew me and my capabilities that I didn't even list him, and my interviewers NEVER asked about it.

Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?

Being a woman in science, I found a lot of support with other women scientists, especially having joined Women In Bio. I was privileged to have a great group of folks who supported me and helped lift me up when I was at the tail end of my PhD and super stressed.