Science Writer - Internal Medicine, Cardiology

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine

Department: Pauley Heart Center

Department Summary: Founded more than 20 years ago, the Pauley Heart Center is today the top-ranked heart center in Virginia, and one of only a handful of named heart centers in the nation. Headquartered at VCU Health in Richmond with outpatient centers throughout central and southeast Virginia, Pauley provides clinical services and community education and outreach programs throughout the region.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death nationwide and in Virginia, and despite advances in prevention and treatment in recent decades, CVD disproportionately affects individuals with poor social determinants of health. Pauley's mission is to improve cardiovascular care and reduce health disparities for all through interdisciplinary, cutting-edge, clinical, translational and community-based research; training and developing the next generation of cardiovascular clinicians and researchers across all levels of education; and providing innovative and accessible cardiovascular procedural care (both surgical and catheter-based) that is the best in the Commonwealth. Pauley is a regional and national leader in research, education, and clinical programs involving electrophysiology; advanced cardiac imaging (MRI, CT, echo); advanced heart failure, including device-based treatments, total artificial heart, and heart transplant programs; cardio-oncology; high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions; adult congenital heart disease; and exercise-based cardiovascular disease prevention. Pauley also operates top-flight sub-specialty clinics and research programs investigating cardiac amyloidosis; cardiac sarcoidosis; and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Scientific/Technical Writer to support Pauley Heart Center faculty and research teams in the development of high-quality biomedical research proposals and related materials. This role plays a critical part in securing extramural funding by providing expert writing, editing, graphical development, and strategic guidance for NIH and other federal grant submissions. The ideal candidate brings strong scientific literacy, exceptional written communication skills, and a deep understanding of NIH funding mechanisms and expectations.

This is a restricted position with no set end date continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.

Core Responsibilities:

Scientific Proposal Development

• Lead and support the development of competitive research proposals for federal NIH (including NCI, NHLBI, and other federal agencies) and PCORI organizations, for investigator-initiated industry sponsored proposals, as well as other non-profit sponsors such as American Heart Association and local philanthropic organizations.
• Assist with written materials to support requests to city, state, and federal governments for funding of clinical, education/training and research initiatives
• In close collaboration with submitting faculty, draft, edit, and coordinate all required proposal components, such as Specific Aims, Research Strategy, Abstracts, Facilities & Resources, Data Sharing Plans, Human Subjects research documents and Other Required Documents.
• Assist faculty with preparation of bisketches, CVs and Other Support documents utilizing current tools provided by funding organizations
• Ensure proposals comply with agency guidelines, formatting requirements, and submission policies.
• Collaborate closely with faculty investigators, research staff, and grants administration to refine scientific narratives and align proposal content with funding priorities.

Graphical and Visual Content Development

• Create high-quality scientific graphics, figures, and visual schematics for grant proposals and manuscripts.
• Translate complex scientific concepts into clear, compelling visual representations that strengthen proposal clarity and impact.
• Ensure consistency, accuracy, and adherence to NIH and journal standards for graphical content.

Program Announcement Review and Grant Mechanism Advisement Protocols, Manuals of Operation, and SOP Development

• Review internal and external funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), requests for applications (RFAs), and program announcements (PAs) and target them towards appropriate faculty based on their research interests.
• Advise faculty on the appropriateness of specific funding mechanisms (e.g., R01, R21, PPG, PCORI, K awards etc.) relative to their research scope, career stage, and scientific aims.
• Assist investigators in aligning project concepts with agency missions and review criteria.

Protocols, Manuals of Operation, and SOP Development

• Write, edit, and standardize research protocols for clinical, translational, and preclinical studies.
• Develop Manuals of Operations (MOPs) that clearly define study workflows, roles, data collection procedures, and quality control measures.
• Author and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support regulatory compliance, reproducibility, and consistent study execution.
• Collaborate with investigators, regulatory staff, and study teams to ensure documents are accurate, clear, and aligned with institutional and federal requirements.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Writing or related field, or other equivalent experience
• Proficiency with graphical tools for scientific figure creation (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, BioRender, or similar).
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD preferred) in a scientific, biomedical, or related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience writing and editing NIH or other federal grant proposals.
• Experience developing research protocols, MOPs, and SOPs.
• Strong understanding of biomedical research methods and terminology.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $101,900

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 93422 - Open

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Cheyenne Taylor
Contact Email: Cheyenne.Taylor@vcuhealth.org