AAS Media Fellowship 

Job Description  

The AAS Media Fellowship is a quarter-time, one-year, graduate-level position. The position, which is remote, will begin in Fall 2026 (exact starting date negotiable) and will have the possibility of extension for a second year. The intent of the Fellowship is to provide training and experience for graduate students in the astronomical sciences interested in science communication. It offers development of scientific writing and editing skills under the mentorship of the AAS Director of Communications & Media Relations and the AAS Communications Manager; exposure to, and experience in, both media relations and scientific publications; and the opportunity to build a publication record on AAS Nova. The Media Fellow(s) will also have the opportunity to work with other departments at AAS in accordance with their career interests. Applications for this position are now open.  

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:              

The AAS Media Fellow(s) will report to the AAS Communications Manager. The Fellow(s) will work the equivalent of one day per week (on a schedule that will be jointly developed and agreed upon by the Fellow(s), the AAS Director of Communications & Media Relations, and the AAS Communications Manager) and be responsible for a wide range of duties. The Fellow(s) will be expected to:  

• Assist in sharing astronomy press releases via AAS press office channels.  

• Regularly (nominally 2–3 times per month) write and publish articles for AAS Nova.  

• Occasionally help to prepare other written communications such as AAS or Division press releases.  

• Assist in managing AAS communications such as social media accounts, postings to the AAS website, and emails to members or authors.  

• Serve as backup to the AAS Director of Communications & Media Relations or the AAS Communications Manager during absences for daily tasks like distributing press releases and publishing AAS Nova posts.  

• In the lead-up to and at the AAS winter and summer meetings, help the AAS Director of Communications & Media Relations plan and run press conferences; help represent AAS Nova; and help organize and participate in the live-blogging coverage of the meeting by Astrobites and AAS Nova.  

Qualifications: 

Each Fellow must: 

• Be a graduate student in good standing in the astronomical sciences or a related field at a US institution. 

• Receive the approval of their advisor or department chair to apply. 

• Receive their primary support from their home institution. 

• Have a keen eye for detail and accuracy. 

• Have the ability to absorb complex material, synthesize information, and write short articles that concisely reflect key points of the material to a target audience. 

• Have good working knowledge of, and/or ability to quickly master, tools such as WordPress, Drupal, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite.