Senior Research Writer, Applied Research Laboratory and National Security Institute

Application Instructions

Current Penn State employee (faculty, staff, technical service, or student) must login to Workday for the internal application process. Do not apply here; apply internally through Workday.

Current Penn State student (not previously employed at the university) seeking employment must login to Workday for the student application process. Do not apply here; apply internally through Workday.

If you are not a current employee or student, click “Apply” to complete the external applicant process.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

Penn State’s Office of Strategic Communications—the University’s central public relations and marketing division—seeks an experienced Senior Research Writer to help elevate Penn State’s reputation as a leader in national security research. With a primary focus on supporting Penn State’s Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) and newly created National Security Institute (NSI), the person in this role will also cover national security‑related research across other units, providing strategic communications leadership around complex, mission‑driven research.

This position will develop and implement integrated communications strategies, produce high‑impact storytelling, and position Penn State researchers and programs in national conversations relevant to defense, security, resilience, and applied innovation‑driven research. The role requires close collaboration with ARL and NSI leadership, faculty researchers, research administrators, and communications colleagues across the University. Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings, visit research sites, or conduct in‑person interviews.

This is a hybrid position that combines remote and on‑campus working.

• Participate in strategic planning to promote Penn State’s applied research and national security research strengths, with a particular emphasis on ARL and NSI.
• Build trusted relationships with ARL, NSI, and unit leadership to understand research priorities, sponsor expectations, and institutional goals.
• Develop and implement integrated communications plans that support reputation building and stakeholder engagement, using multichannel approaches (i.e., news stories, feature articles, multimedia, social media, executive messaging).
• Lead the promotion of peer‑reviewed and sponsor‑funded research, translating technically complex work into clear, accurate, and compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Position faculty experts and research leaders in appropriate national conversations, including media, policy, and industry forums, while navigating sensitivities related to national security research.
• Collaborate with internal partners to ensure communications align with federal sponsor requirements, export control considerations, and institutional policies.
• Identify opportunities to highlight the real‑world impact of applied research, including technology development, partnerships, and workforce contributions.
• Build and maintain relationships with regional and national media outlets, as appropriate.
• Respond to media inquiries and coordinate interviews in collaboration with Strategic Communications leadership.
• Experiment with innovative storytelling formats and evaluate performance metrics to refine communications strategies.
• Review and edit research‑related stories written by communicators across the University to ensure quality, accuracy, and consistency.
• Develop reports and briefings for leadership that highlight communications outcomes and impact.
• Mentor junior writers and provide guidance to unit communicators on best practices in research and science storytelling.
• Contribute to University‑wide initiatives, including research impact campaigns and leadership communications.

• Demonstrated experience translating complex scientific or technical research into accessible, accurate narratives.
• Understanding of trends in applied research, national security, higher education, and/or science…