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Behind the Research: The Invisible Work That Makes Science Readable
Most people don’t think about what happens between the end of data collection and the moment a published paper is read by a scientist, or inspires further research or policy change. They assume it simply involves writing up the research and publishing it. The reality of what goes on in that gap is more complicated, more human and more significant than most people imagine. Behind this process are people whose names often don’t make it into the final publication.
I’m one of those people.
As a freelance research writer, editor and reviewer, I work with scientists, clinicians and academics to turn raw research into research that can be read, understood and acted upon. It is quiet work, done behind the scenes. But I believe it is one of the most important parts of research in the knowledge economy. If research is not communicated clearly, its effectiveness will be limited.
Why good research can still miss its audience
Allow me to clarify.
A study may be methodologically sound, ethically conducted and statistically rigorous, and yet still not reach its audience. The publication may be too abstract for non-specialists to grasp. Its argument may be written in jargon that general readers find hard to follow, so it remains largely inaccessible. This breakdown often happens because the researcher has lived with the project for years. The structure is logical to them, but not to a reader who is new to the ideas. Research therefore needs both scientific and writing knowledge to find its voice and a larger audience.
A research writer does just that.
What does a research writer do?
The work takes different forms, depending on what the project needs.
Research writing
Sometimes it starts at the writing stage. I take the raw data, the literature search and the methodological details and turn them into coherent, readable, journal-ready prose, while preserving the nuance of the original material.
Scientific editing
Sometimes it is editing: taking a full draft and refining it. That means trimming arguments, clarifying ambiguous statements, smoothing over the parts that don’t make sense, and making sure the paper means what the researcher means, not something close to it.
Pre-submission review
Sometimes it is review: reading a manuscript as a peer reviewer would. I look for logical gaps, point out claims that the data do not back up, and ask the questions a journal editor would ask. The researcher can then address them before sending the manuscript out for publication, instead of after it has been rejected.
Why understanding the science matters
My background is in medicine and medical research, so I bring something specific to this work: I understand the science. Dialogue with researchers is the foundation of my career. But I don’t need a researcher to explain what a confidence interval is, why a specific diagnostic criterion was chosen, or what the clinical significance of a finding might be.
Because I am familiar with the subject matter, I can engage with the material beyond the surface level of grammar and punctuation. I can recognise when a claim overstates the facts. And I can ask informed questions that improve the work, not just polish it.
Writing for the reader
I have also learned that good research writing doesn’t just require knowing the field. It is about the reader’s understanding. Every research project has a target audience: the readers of a journal, a funding agency, policymakers, clinicians or someone else. The writing must be shaped for that audience.
A specialist journal needs a different approach from a public health brief. A grant application and a systematic review have different requirements. Part of my work is to keep the content and the reader in mind at the same time, and to find the form that serves both.
Why this matters for African researchers
In my experience, demand for this kind of work is growing, and experienced research reviewers are hard to find. Many African researchers also face an extra hurdle: producing world-class research with limited access to editing services, writing training or publication advice. Good studies can be turned down not because of poor science, but because the writing did not meet international standards. This is a problem that can be solved one manuscript at a time, and it is one I am keen to help solve.
Got research worth sharing?
Perhaps you are a researcher with results that need to be published. Or a scientist who knows the data but can’t write the page. Or a clinician who wants to turn clinical observations into publishable research. I’ve got you. I write. I edit. I review. And I do it believing that every piece of research deserves the chance to be read.
Need help with research writing or editing? We support researchers, students and organisations with proofreading and ethical human editing and reports and proposals. Send a short brief on WhatsApp or by email. Also see our editing and proofreading checklist.
Write it Right, Choose Erudite.