Elizabeth Hileman, PhD '03, and Mabel Perez-Oquendo, PhD '23, are using their experience to help science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate students develop their writing skills.

Hileman, director for research planning and development at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Perez-Oquendo, director of Baylor College of Medicine's Student Opportunities for Advancement in Research (SOAR) office, recently published an article for Inside Higher Ed titled 'How and Why STEM Trainees Must Hone Their Writing Skills.' The article is aimed at helping future STEM professionals write more clearly and effectively.

In the article, Hileman and Perez-Oquendo assert that “proficiency in writing is not merely about stringing words together … it is a powerful tool that can shape careers, amplify research impact, and unlock countless professional opportunities.” They explain that STEM trainees must know how to convey their ideas effectively to be successful and offer resources and guidance on how future STEM professionals can hone their writing skills.

In 2022, Hileman established a writing studio for students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch to meet the need for guidance and mentorship in writing. The studio provided monthly workshops, templates for writing projects, and one-on-one mentoring in best practices for applications, grants, CVs, and more. She says the writing studio was intended to provide additional support to augment the professional writing courses in the school's curriculum. In this role, Hileman served as a resource for students who needed assistance honing their communication skills.

According to Perez-Oquendo, who serves as Director of the SOAR office at Baylor College of Medicine, mastering the art of writing is key for medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. "Proficiency in writing allows students to articulate groundbreaking discoveries, secure funding, and forge impactful connections," she says.

In the article, Hileman and Perez-Oquendo offer tips to help students improve the clarity and efficacy of their communication. Perez-Oquendo advises that breaking down a large project into smaller segments can make the task seem more achievable. She also recommends that students create a timeline at the beginning of each project to help balance their workload. She says that this trick has helped her students overcome procrastination and make better progress toward their goals.

Hileman and Perez-Oquendo emphasize the importance of feedback in the writing process. Feedback from “faculty mentors, peers, institutional writing centers … and field experts is essential for enhancing the quality and effectiveness” of writing, whether it's by a graduate student, medical student, or postdoctoral fellow. They stress that trainees in all stages of their education can benefit from institutional support.

Both authors also emphasize utilizing the writing resources available to students. Although availability of resources depends on a specific task, they urge students to make use of the help available. For grant applications, they advise seeking feedback from peers or faculty mentors who may have applied for similar grants. They also recommend that students make use of campus resources such as writing centers, as they have "staff members who can provide editorial feedback" and that campus development offices are excellent resources when pursuing philanthropic funding. For medical writing such as healthcare policy and regulatory documents, they suggest obtaining guidance from locations such as clinical research offices and institutional review boards. They stress that no matter what type of writing a student is tasked with, there are resources available for assistance.

In offering their guidance on why writing is important for STEM trainees, Hileman and Perez-Oquendo give students the opportunity to learn real-life ways to make writing easier to manage. In addition to their practical advice, they give students a new way to think about writing – as an essential skill that can have far-reaching impacts on their careers.