Scientific Writing and Scholarly Publishing: Editing services, classes & workshops

At this time there is no central, free writing or editing service at UCSF. A feasibility study for a potential central UCSF writing and editing center was conducted in 2024. Learn more about the study. 

UCSF-wide resources

• CTSI consultation service for scientific writing - manuscripts and grant proposals
  • First hour is free for staff and faculty. First two hours are free for students. Hourly fee after
• Grammarly - a writing tool that uses AI to review your writing and make suggestions for improving grammar, clarity, and conciseness
• Grant templates and guides from the Research Development Office, including a library of successful grant proposals
• Institute for Global Health Sciences (IGHS) - manuscript writing video course (freely available)
• National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) - writing challenges, virtual writing sessions, videos on the publishing process, and related resources for UCSF faculty, postdocs, and graduate students
• Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) - online resources for writing research articles and grants for all UCSF; in-person writing retreats for graduate students and postdocs
• Scientific Writing for UCSF Authors: Techniques for Clarity and Brevity - free, self-paced, non-graded writing course for all UCSF students, staff, and faculty on the Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE)
• UCSF Versa Chat - UCSF's secure generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform, which can be used to assist with writing activities

Program-specific classes, workshops and editorial support

• Cancer Center - grant writing resources
  •  F grant writing workshop, career development grant writing course, and links to grant resources
• Center for Faculty Educators - 3-day scholarly writing workshop in January for faculty in medical education
• CTSI/Epidemiology & Biostatistics K Scholar Program - grant writing workshop and career development for NIH K awardees
• Department of Medicine - PRE Proposal Application REview (PREPARE) - peer review of grant proposals for faculty in the DOM
• Gladstone Institutes - scientific writing classes and editing services for grants, manuscripts, and fellowships 
• Office of Collaborative Research (ImmunoX and IGHS) - grant writing consultation and editing services
  • Writing workshops are open to all
• Research Development Office - Large Grant Development Program - grant writing support for grants over $1M
  • Grant templates and guides, including libraries of successful grant proposals, are available to all at UCSF
• School of Nursing
  • Student editor services (peer to peer) - class writing assignments
  • Manuscript editing services for students and faculty (free and fee-based)
  • Office of Research - grant writing support for faculty - includes successful grants library
• School of Nursing/UCSF Health - Center for Nursing Excellence and Innovation Leadership Institute
  • Research and Scholarship team - support for clinical and advanced practice nurses in the health system - preparing abstracts, conference posters/presentations, manuscripts, and research proposals
  • Grant Writing Immersive - fee-based grant writing development program for Nursing faculty and PhD/DNP nurses
• Surgery Department - Scientific Writing Core - writing courses and editing services for manuscripts and grant proposals for Surgery faculty and trainees

UCSF does not offer free general editing services (see UCSF resources above). Fee-based professional editing and translation services are available from numerous companies. Some publishers offer their own editing services or have contracts with companies like the ones listed below. Prices typically start at about $250 for language editing for a 3000-word manuscript and are higher for scientific review and more advanced services.

The following companies are recognized as trustworthy providers of editing services, though they are not officially endorsed by the UCSF Library:

• AJE (American Journal Experts) provides English language editing for academic writing with four levels of service. Additional services include scientific editing, translation, manuscript formatting, and AJE's AI writing assistant, Curie.
• BioScience Writers offers academic, medical, and scientific writing and editing services (hourly fee) as well as online courses and workshops for many types of scientific writing and presenting. See price calculator.
• Editage has three levels of editing services (see pricing), translation services, and AI tools for writing (Paperpal), literature review, and creating illustrations.
• Science Journal Editors (SJE) provides language and scientific editing, translation, and figure services for many types of scientific writing. Editing is performed by native English speakers. SJE states it "does not use AI for any purpose".