The call for applications for the third cycle of the PRF Virtual Correspondents program is now open.
About the Program
The purpose of the PRF Correspondents program is to provide early-career pain investigators, including undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers, with knowledge, skills and best practices needed to communicate science effectively to a wide range of pain researchers and to patients and the broader public. (In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this program will take place virtually for the time being).
Working closely with the PRF editors, successful applicants will gain valuable science communications experience by conducting interviews, in written or podcast format, with pain researchers around the world; by writing news stories or summaries of talks; and by creating other content such as blog posts.
All content generated by program participants will be published on the Pain Research Forum and RELIEF, PRF’s companion site for the public. In addition, all participants will receive an honorarium of US$500 upon completion of all assignments.
By participating in the PRF Correspondents program, you will:
- Develop your oral and written communications skills
- Develop the ability to write for a wide range of pain researchers (PRF) and for patients and the wider public (RELIEF)
- Learn how to effectively revise and edit your work for different audiences
- Generate content for publication on PRF and RELIEF
- Share your ideas and disseminate knowledge of pain research to experts and non-experts alike
- Gain skills that are transferable to many different types of science communication
- Develop the tools you need to make science communication part of your future career
- Have the opportunity to continue to write for PRF/RELIEF after the Correspondents program has concluded
- Increase your visibility by becoming a published PRF/RELIEF author with a byline.
- Have fun!
Program Requirements
Participants in the PRF Correspondents program must be available to:
- Attend two conference calls over the course of the program
- Conduct a virtual interview with a pain researcher, to be published as a written interview or as a podcast
- Write a PRF and/or RELIEF news story or virtual meeting lecture summary, or create a data visualization
- Write weekly blog posts
All assignments will have specific deadlines that all program participants will be expected to meet.
The program will last approximately 2-3 months and is designed so that you can complete it alongside your research and other work.
Application Process
To apply for the PRF Virtual Correspondents Program, please submit a brief description (500 words maximum) explaining why you are interested in this opportunity and how it will contribute to your professional development, along with a resume/CV.
Your rationale for wishing to become a PRF Correspondent is the most important part of the application. We are interested in candidates aiming to incorporate science communications into their pain research/clinical care careers. Those who are considering full-time careers in science communications are also highly encouraged to apply.
Applications must be submitted via the application system. Applications will not be accepted via email.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be a trainee member of IASP (undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral investigator).
Applications are welcome from basic, translational and clinical investigators working in any area of pain research, as well as those working in clinical care. Twelve applicants will be accepted into the program during each application cycle and can be based anywhere in the world. Those who have applied during previous cycles but were not accepted are encouraged to re-apply. Non-scholarly writing experience can be helpful but is not required.
Note: Accepted participants in previous versions of the PRF Correspondents program are not eligible to apply.
Deadlines
Application Cycle 3
Call for applications opens: January 6, 2021
Application deadline: January 27, 2021
Notification deadline: early-mid February 2021
For any questions about the PRF Correspondents program, please contact PRF Executive Editor Neil Andrews at neil@painresearchforum.org.
The PRF Correspondents program is supported by a generous grant from the Rita Allen Foundation. Read more about the grant here.
