Biologist | Writer | Coach | Advocate
About Me
I am a biologist and leader with deep interest in big scientific pursuits, passionate about advancing the scientific enterprise while prioritizing equity and justice, with vast energy to devote to these efforts. I know publishing and peer review, I know scientific writing and I teach it, I know the lab, I know the symposium lecture hall, and I know how to lead and inspire. I am naturally and intentionally collaborative and an energetic champion of creative open science.
Scientific communication in all its forms and at all levels has been my job for the past twelve years and a theme of my entire career. I spent ten of those years at Cell Press working at Cell Reports, where I was Editor-in-Chief for four years. It was the best job I ever had, with the best people I had ever worked with. (Those honors now go to Life Science Editors.)
I read and edit topics across the life sciences—there are no subjects I don’t like and none I can’t understand. But my strongest expertise is in neuroscience, cell/developmental biology, genetics/genomics, cancer biology, and evolution. I read the literature for fun, and I’m writing a book about evolution. My nerd cred is unsurpassed. My Linktree will take you to more info about me and my doings.
What I Do
I can do almost anything to help you with planning, writing, polishing, and revising your manuscript, your grant, or whatever you are working on. I regularly read and edit papers and grant proposals, providing specific and in-depth advice along the way. I also act as project manager for larger endeavors, such as the full process of writing and revising and submitting a manuscript to a journal.
Every year (for ten years now), I co-lead the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Scientific Writing Retreat, which I co-founded with Dr. Charla Lambert in 2015. It’s a great, successful program and I’m keen to replicate it elsewhere.
As an editor at Cell Reports, I regularly visited institutions to meet scientists and to give talks and workshops about publishing. I still do that, but with all my loyalty to you and none to the publishers.
My Services
- Consulting, editing, and writing science
- Workshops and seminars and even retreats on scientific writing, publishing, peer review, and writing project management
- Office hours
- Editor in residence (ask me about this)
- Advocacy: I serve on the board of the Life Science Editors Foundation
Let’s Connect
I’m passionate about science, mentoring, creation, peer review, and open access. (Also biking and Shakespeare, for what it’s worth.) I’d love to talk about how I can support you and your team.
Email: stephen.matheson@lifescienceeditors.com