Public Writing Fellows

In this program, graduate students work over the summer with a peer mentor group under the direction of the Office of Professional Development to write, revise, and polish a research communication news story. Participants also learn strategies to effectively communicate about their own research with non-experts. 

Our 2026 Public Writing Fellows stories will soon be published! Keep an eye on this webpage for the latest updates, and get to know this year's cohort:

  1. Alice Lubeck, PhD student in Environmental Conservation
  2. Chamini Kulathunga, PhD student in Comparative Literature
  3. Dhiroj Koirala, PhD student in Resource Economics
  4. Florence Dadzoe, PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering
  5. Julia Giguere, Master's student in Design, Architecture
  6. Muhammad Faheemur Rahman, PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering
  7. Pranandita Biswas, PhD student in Economics
  8. Samantha Kloft, PhD student in Health Policy and Management
  9. Scholastika Massawe, PhD student in Teachers Education and Curriculum Studies

Are you interested in improving your writing for non-expert audiences? Or maybe you want to pursue a career in public relations, communication, or outreach?  Become a Graduate School Public Writing Fellow! The application for 2026 Public Writing Fellows has closed. Stay tuned in spring 2027 for our next call for applications!

2025 Public Writing Fellow Stories

Dr. Walid A. Hanafy
How One Computer Scientist Is Rethinking Sustainable Computing at Scale

Dr. Walid Abdelrahman Hanafy’s Journey Through PhD and Postdoctoral Research at UMass Amherst to Advance Sustainable Computing.
Kathleen Mahoney
Can Playing in the Woods Help Kids Learn Science Better?

Graduate student Kathleen Mahoney investigates whether outdoor learning outperforms traditional early-childhood models
Rozy Bathrick
Mapping the Skies: Rozy Bathrick’s Work Toward Migratory Bird Conservation

UMass Amherst PhD student blends fieldwork, research and grassroots collaboration to protect migratory birds.
Bo Kim
Beyond the Canvas: Using Art to Transcend Borders

 How UMass Amherst Visual Arts Researcher Boram Kim Communicates Through Art
Jaeye Baek
Justice Without Verdicts: How Jaeye Baek’s Research Uncovers the Global Fight for Historical Memory

UMass Amherst researcher reveals how the fight for justice endures beyond the courtroom
Raphael Nnachi
Uncovering Public Health Signals Through Environmental Engineering

UMass Amherst Graduate Student Raphael Nnachi Monitors Immunity against COVID-19 Using Wastewater from Local Communities.
Marcus Smith
What is the Work of Remembering?: Learning About Scholar-Activism and Documenting Black Grassroots Heritage Preservation with UMass PhD Candidate Marcus P. Smith

This Proud Home: Grassroots Museums, Historic Preservation, and Social Change in the Rural and Coastal South.