Scientific Proposal Writer

About the role

The serves as the primary linguistic architect, transforming intricate research concepts into structured, persuasive narratives that secure funding and guide project execution. This role owns the end-to-end development of grant proposals, ensuring that each submission reflects the highest standards of scientific rigor and narrative coherence. You will act as the essential bridge between deep technical research and compelling communication for a diverse audience of experts and stakeholders. In this capacity, you will define the written architecture of Basis' scientific ambitions, ensuring that every word aligns with the mathematical principles of intelligence. You will own the clarity and impact of our external communications, directly influencing the trajectory of our research initiatives.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate the development of complex grant proposals, synthesizing research objectives, methodologies, and expected impacts into coherent narratives that meet stringent funder criteria.
• Engineer detailed project specification documents that delineate scope, deliverables, and theoretical foundations with precision and clarity for internal and external stakeholders.
• Author in-depth blog posts that translate cutting-edge research in probabilistic programming and causal inference into accessible insights for a broad technical audience.
• Curate and refine social media content to amplify Basis' thought leadership, ensuring that each post maintains scientific accuracy while maximizing engagement.
• Analyze and adapt technical writing to suit distinct communication modes, shifting seamlessly from rapid, urgent updates to methodical, long-term strategic documents.
• Extract and structure technical information from research scientist discussions, transforming specialized jargon into clear, logical arguments for grant reviewers.
• Collaborate directly with research teams to identify core innovations and integrate them into compelling narratives that demonstrate feasibility and societal value.
• Edit and revise existing proposals and reports to enhance readability, strengthen methodology descriptions, and ensure alignment with funder priorities.
• Develop frameworks for scientific storytelling that can be replicated across projects, establishing a consistent voice for Basis' research portfolio.
• Conduct iterative reviews of written materials with research leads, ensuring that scientific integrity is preserved throughout the drafting process.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the Basis core technology stack, including program synthesis and collaborative intelligent systems, to accurately represent capabilities.
• Track and incorporate feedback from both technical and non-technical reviewers to refine proposals until they meet the highest standards of excellence.
• Proactively identify gaps in project specifications and work with research teams to clarify assumptions and objectives in written form.
• Contribute to the strategic positioning of Basis initiatives within the broader AI research landscape through targeted written communication.

Requirements

• Demonstrate exceptional writing skills with the ability to produce clear, concise, and compelling content across a wide range of formats and audiences.
• Possess grant writing and editing experience of at least three years, with a proven track record of writing successful scientific grants, particularly for agencies such as the NSF, DARPA, and/or NIH.
• Hold a PhD or equivalent experience in a technical field, including but not limited to statistics, programming languages, machine learning, computational neuroscience, cognitive science, physics, or mathematics.
• Exhibit technical proficiency with a solid foundation in technical and mathematical concepts, coupled with a keen interest in and capacity to master Basis' core technical research areas.
• Show versatility in communication, adept at synthesizing complex information and adapting writing style to suit different modes, from urgent correspondence to multi-year project plans.
• Maintain a collaborative spirit, working closely with research teams to deeply understand their work and effectively translate intricate ideas into written form.
• Express a genuine passion for AI, its societal implications, and a clear alignment with Basis' mission of advancing society's ability to solve intractable problems.
• Commit to the non-discrimination and privacy principles outlined in the application process, ensuring that all professional interactions are conducted with integrity.

Practical notes

• Hours: While we prioritize in-person collaboration for its benefits to creative work, there is a degree of flexibility in your working hours. Expect to be available during certain set times each week for meetings, and be prepared to attend multi-day Basis-wide in-person events.

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Location: This role is ideally in-person in either New York City or Boston, but we will consider hybrid/remote candidates.

• Application Components: Please submit your CV or resume, a cover letter describing your relevant experience, and 3-5 writing samples, which may include grant proposals or other forms of technical writing.
• Non-Discrimination: Basis Research Institute provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
• Privacy: By submitting your application, you grant Basis permission to use your materials for hiring evaluation and recruitment-related research. You retain copyright while providing a license for Basis to use these materials for the stated purposes.