How to Be Life Sciences Technical Writer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Sep 27, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The development of biotechnology has had a profound effect on the life sciences. By allowing scientists to manipulate and modify genetic information, biotechnology has opened up a host of new possibilities in the way of medical treatments, industrial products, food production, and more. This has enabled the life sciences to make tremendous progress in understanding biological systems and the processes that control them.

Furthermore, advances in biotechnology have enabled researchers to create medicines and treatments that are more targeted and effective, while also allowing them to develop new methods of food production that are more sustainable and efficient. As a result, life science research has become increasingly important in recent years, leading to significant advancements in the fields of genetics, cell biology, immunology, and other related disciplines.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. The first step to becoming a technical writer within the life sciences field is to obtain a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, or other biomedical sciences. A degree in English, journalism, or communications may also be helpful.
Gain Experience. Gaining experience in the life sciences field is essential to becoming a technical writer. This can be done by working as a research assistant, laboratory technician, or even in quality control. Internships are also a great way to gain experience and become familiar with the industry.
Build Your Portfolio. Once you have gained some experience, it's time to start building your portfolio. This should include samples of your writing, both long-form and short-form, as well as any other relevant skills you possess. It should also include information about your education and experience.
Seek Certification. Certification shows potential employers that you have the requisite skills and knowledge needed for the job. There are a few organizations that offer certifications for technical writers in the life sciences, such as the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA).
Network and Apply for Jobs. Once you have built your portfolio and obtained certification, start networking and applying for jobs. Reach out to other professionals in the industry and attend career fairs to find job opportunities. You can also search online job boards and apply directly to companies.

The life sciences industry is highly competitive, and having the ideal and capable technical writer can make a huge difference in the success of any project. The technical writer must be well-versed in the life sciences field and have the ability to understand complex concepts and explain them in a manner that is easily understood by a wide range of audiences. Furthermore, they must be able to write in a clear and concise style, using appropriate language and terminology, while being able to adhere to deadlines and expectations. Having an ideal and capable technical writer allows the life sciences project to move forward quickly, efficiently and effectively, leading to greater chances of success.

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Job Description

Bioinformatics Analyst
Clinical Research Associate
Medical Writer
Technical Publications Editor
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Research Scientist
Quality Assurance Officer
Scientific Data Analyst
Lab Technician
Clinical Trial Coordinator

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of the life sciences and related fields
Excellent writing and communication skills
Ability to translate and interpret complex scientific information
Proficiency in editing and proofreading
Ability to meet deadlines and work independently
Ability to work with scientists and other technical professionals
Experience with scientific software and databases
Ability to create visually appealing content for publications, presentations, and websites
Knowledge of relevant regulations and industry standards
Familiarity with graphic design software and digital media tools

Technical writing in the life sciences is an important skill to have as it enables the communication of complex scientific concepts in a clear and concise manner. Effective technical writing allows for a better understanding of research results and can have a significant impact on the success of a project or experiment. It is important for the writer to be familiar with the biological and chemical terminology used in the life sciences, as well as to have an understanding of the scientific method and its associated processes.

the writer must be able to create a concise narrative that accurately describes the cause and effect of the research. Finally, it is important for the technical writer to pay close attention to detail, as even small mistakes can have a major impact on the credibility of the research and its findings.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in the life sciences industry?
What challenges have you faced as a technical writer in the life sciences sector?
How would you handle a situation where you need to produce a large volume of content in a short amount of time?
How do you stay up to date on the latest trends and research in the life sciences sector?
Describe your experience developing user-friendly documentation for complex topics.
What techniques do you use to ensure accuracy and consistency in your writing?
How do you ensure that your writing is accessible to a wide range of audiences?
What strategies do you use to create compelling stories and visuals to communicate complex topics?
How have you worked with other teams to ensure the quality of your writing?
Describe a project you have completed that you are particularly proud of.

Common Tools in Industry

Microsoft Word. Word processing software used to create print and digital documents (eg: creating reports, proposals, and presentations).
EndNote. Bibliographic software used to create bibliographies and manage references (eg: organizing citations for scholarly papers).
Adobe InDesign. Graphic design and desktop publishing software used to create high-quality layouts for documents and publications (eg: creating brochures, flyers, and posters).
Adobe Photoshop. Image editing software used to create and manipulate digital images (eg: editing photos for publication).
Adobe Acrobat. PDF creation and editing software used to create and edit documents in a Portable Document Format (eg: creating shareable documents with interactive properties).
Adobe Illustrator. Vector graphics and illustration software used to create logos, illustrations, and diagrams (eg: creating illustrations for scientific papers).
Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheet software used to store data in tabular form (eg: analyzing data sets and creating charts).
SAS. Data management and analytics software used to analyze data and create reports (eg: performing statistical analysis).
Python. Programming language used to develop software applications (eg: writing scripts to automate data processing tasks).
LaTeX. Typesetting language used to create scientific documents (eg: creating scientific manuscripts in the proper format).

Professional Organizations to Know

American Medical Writers Association (AMWA)
Association for Medical Publication Professionals (AMPP)
European Medical Writers Association (EMWA)
National Association of Science Writers (NASW)
International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP)
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)
Council of Science Editors (CSE)
International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE)
Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
American Copy Editors Society (ACES)

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Common Important Terms

Bioinformatics. The use of computational methods to analyze and interpret biological data.
DNA Sequencing. The process of determining the exact order of nucleotides within a DNA molecule.
Genomics. The study of the complete set of genetic material contained within an organism.
Proteomics. The large-scale study of proteins, including their structure and function.
Metabolomics. The study of the metabolic processes occurring in a cell or organism and the metabolites involved in those processes.
Transcriptomics. The study of gene transcripts and the analysis of transcriptomes (the sum of all transcripts in a cell).
Pharmacogenomics. The study of how genetic variations affect drug responses in different individuals.
Computational Biology. The use of computer programs and algorithms to solve biological problems.
Biostatistics. The study of the collection, organization, and analysis of data related to biomedical research.
Systems Biology. An interdisciplinary field that combines mathematics, computer science, and biology to study complex biological systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Life Sciences Technical Writer?

A Life Sciences Technical Writer is a professional who creates technical documents, such as product manuals, user guides, and procedure documents, related to the life sciences, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

What qualifications are needed to become a Life Sciences Technical Writer?

To become a Life Sciences Technical Writer, you should possess excellent writing and research skills, knowledge of the life sciences industry, and a degree in life sciences, biology, chemistry, or related field.

What tasks does a Life Sciences Technical Writer perform?

Life Sciences Technical Writers perform tasks such as researching topics related to the life sciences, writing and editing technical documents, creating graphics and illustrations, and working with subject matter experts to ensure accuracy of content.

What is the average salary for a Life Sciences Technical Writer?

According to PayScale.com, the average salary for a Life Sciences Technical Writer ranges from $46,927 to $77,481 per year, with the median salary being $59,250 per year.

What type of environment do Life Sciences Technical Writers typically work in?

Life Sciences Technical Writers typically work in office environments and may be required to travel to various locations to meet with stakeholders and attend conferences.