MUSC doctoral candidate wins prestigious fellowship in science communications

MUSC doctoral candidate Amber Hazzard has been named one of 17 Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows for 2025, the 50^th cohort of fellows since the American Association for the Advancement of Science began offering the award. The fellowship provides the opportunity for both undergraduate and graduate students as well as recent graduates and postdoctoral fellows in scientific fields who have a strong track record of science communications to spend 10 weeks in the summer on the front lines of science journalism at publications across the country. Hazzard will intern at The News & Observer in Raleigh, the largest-circulation newspaper in North Carolina, as a science news writer.

“The whole goal of the fellowship is to promote science communication and help scientists or scientists in training to explain research to the public,” said Hazzard. “Receiving this fellowship is really exciting for me since this has been a goal of mine since my first year at MUSC.”

“This opportunity to experience life as a science journalist while keeping my spot in the graduate program is a dream come true for me.”

-- Amber Hazzard

Hazzard learned about the field of science communications through a science writing class that is required by the MUSC College of Graduate Studies in the summer after a student’s first year. She already knew that she was passionate about increasing scientific literacy in the broader public and increasing their awareness of the latest breakthroughs in science. Very early in her graduate career, she began engaging in outreach to local schools. The summer writing class taught

her that science communications provided another important avenue for reaching the public about science.

“There is a huge disconnect between the public and scientists,” said Hazzard. “Science is not being explained in a way that people can understand, and I think it's crucial for us to tell the public what we're doing, why it's important and how it benefits them.”

To hone the skills she would need to address this disconnect, Amber became a science communications intern in CGS’s Science Writing Initiative for Trainees (SC-SWIFT) program, which was established by dean emeritus Paula Traktman, Ph.D.

“It’s vitally important that our trainees have the skills to communicate effectively to a broad range of audiences, so that they educate and advocate, fulfilling the mission of being scientists in society,” said Traktman.

The program is currently directed by Matthew Greseth, Ph.D., director of academic affairs in CGS.

“Scientists rarely receive formal training in science communication skills despite their necessity,” said Greseth. “I’m excited to see Amber embrace the skills she learned in the SC-SWIFT program and apply them to a more impactful platform at The News & Observer.”

SC-SWIFT was created as the science communications track for the National Institute of General Internal Medicine-funded Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences T32 Training Program led by Traktman, but all CGS students and postdoctoral fellows are eligible to participate, as Hazzard did. SC-SWIFT interns write news stories and releases on recent, high-impact MUSC research, contribute blog posts on any science-adjacent topic to the CGS Speaks blog and take Science Communications workshops. It was at one of those workshops that Hazzard learned about the Mass Media Fellowship.

“It’s vitally important that our trainees have the skills to communicate effectively to a broad range of audiences, so that they educate and advocate, fulfilling the mission of being scientists in society.”

-- Dr. Paula Traktman

In the two years since, Hazzard has written news stories about basic, clinical and community-engaged research and blog posts that highlight research breakthroughs as well as advocate for scientists to engage in outreach initiatives. She won the CGS three-minute thesis competition, where graduate students present their research in a way that can be understood by a non-scientific audience, and represented MUSC at regionals, where she was a finalist. She has earned the beginner and intermediate digital badges in science communications offered by SC-SWIFT and is nearing completion of the advanced badge. These badges provide digital documentation of skills gained outside the classroom and can be shared via online profiles and with potential employers. Finally, Hazzard put together an online collection of her published writing, which she shared with AAAS as part of her application.

“The internship helped me develop a well-rounded portfolio of stories and showed that I had experience writing and working with editors,” said Hazzard. “Because the stories had been published by MUSC Catalyst News, the reviewers judging the application knew my work had been reviewed by other science writers.”

For her 10-week fellowship this summer, Hazzard will be returning to Raleigh, where she completed her undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University, to work as a science reporter at The News & Observer in Raleigh. Her internship is being sponsored by the Heising-Simmons Foundation. Hazzard was matched with the newspaper by AAAS, but both Hazzard and the placement site could express their preferences, and both think it will be a good fit.

“Returning to Raleigh to write about science for such a prestigious publication feels as if everything is coming full circle,” said Hazzard.

"Amber's application immediately stood out. Not only does she have a diverse range of impressive experiences, but she's passionate about being a science communicator and making the world of STEM more inclusive."

-- Jessica Banov

Hazzard’s local knowledge also appealed to The News & Observer, as did her enthusiasm to make science more accessible. “That she also graduated from N.C. State University was a bonus, as we knew she would be familiar with the region, its position as a research hub and issues affecting our readers,” said Jessica Banov, intern coordinator at The News & Observer. “But Amber's application immediately stood out. Not only does she have a diverse range of impressive experiences, but she's passionate about being a science communicator and making the world of STEM more inclusive.”

Hazzard will be covering science stories from around the Research Triangle, which includes Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, an area known for attracting major players in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and for its high-powered universities, such as Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. Hazzard is particularly pleased that she will have the opportunity to pitch her own stories and believes her familiarity with the area will be an asset in doing so.

Hazzard is still mulling her career plans, and the stint at The News & Observer will help her to make an informed decision.

“I firmly believe that experience is the best teacher,” said Hazzard. “This opportunity to experience life as a science journalist while keeping my spot in the graduate program is a dream come true for me.”

But the fellowship’s learning opportunities do not end there. Hazzard has already been introduced digitally to the other fellows, who are at varying stages of their science communications journey, and will meet them in person when she travels to Washington to the AAAS office for orientation before the internship begins and again for a wrap-up meeting at the end of the internship. At the wrap-up meeting, interns will report on the stories they covered over the summer and the learning experiences the internships provided.

In essence, Hazzard has instant access to a national network of passionate science communicators. But that network is not limited to the other 2025 fellows, but includes alumni of the long-standing program. Current and past fellows and journalists with which they have worked meet up annually at the AAAS meeting in a one-of-a-kind networking event.

All in all, the fellowship offers scientists and scientists in training an opportunity to hone their ability to communicate science to a broader audience and serves as a launchpad for those wishing to pursue a career in science journalism or communications.

Hazzard’s advice for other MUSC graduate students or postdoctoral fellows with a strong interest in science communications who would like to apply for the fellowship?

“Just go for it,” she said. “It’s hard not to look at other people’s accomplishments and feel inadequate, but you must believe in yourself. They want people with a range of experiences in the program.”