Publication: Quanta Magazine
Topic(s): Biology, neuroscience, evolution, molecular biology, biophysics, cell biology
Rate: $2 per word
Deadline: Rolling (assignments ongoing)
Join Sure Media Agency for submission details

Quanta Magazine is actively commissioning biosciences journalism with a strong preference for deeply reported, concept-driven stories that explain how life actually works at a mechanistic level. This is not surface-level science reporting. They want clarity around biological systems: what is happening, why it happens, and what physical principles or evolutionary logic sit underneath the findings.

The biology desk is currently prioritizing neuroscience, molecular biology, biophysics, cell biology, and evolutionary biology. However, strong pitches from adjacent bioscience fields are also considered, especially if the idea reveals a surprising mechanism, reframes an established concept, or connects disparate biological phenomena into a clearer explanatory model.

They are commissioning both news-driven pieces (for near-term publication in summer and early fall) and longer feature narratives and profiles later in the year. Profile pitches should focus on researchers whose ideas, leadership, or discoveries have materially shifted understanding in biological science.

Writers must first email Hannah Waters to request full pitching guidelines and join the biology pitches mailing list before submitting formal ideas. Successful assignments are compensated at $2 per word.