Research Communications Specialist

Position Summary

Applications are welcome from all qualified candidates. In line with UAE regulations, Emirati candidates are encouraged to apply.

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Research Communications Specialist reporting to the Assistant Director, Digital Engagement and Marketing.

The Research Communications Specialist supports NYU Abu Dhabi’s External Relations and Communications team by producing clear, engaging, and high-quality written content for the university’s internal and external channels. This includes writing news stories, features, op-eds, social media copy, and scripts for video and voiceover projects. The role involves working closely with colleagues across the department to help communicate NYUAD’s mission, research, events, and academic achievements. The Research Communications Specialist ensures a high level of science literacy and consistency in tone and messaging across platforms, and is expected to meet regular deadlines, contribute to editorial planning discussions, and respond to evolving content needs. The position reports to the Assistant Director of Digital Engagement and Marketing.

Key Responsibilities:

Content Creation

• Translate complex research findings and scientific concepts into clear, engaging, and accessible content for audiences without specialist knowledge, while preserving their meaning and nuance
• Verify research claims, data, terminology, and context with researchers and relevant source materials before publication. Communicate findings without overstating their significance or potential applications
• Write accurate news stories, features, social media captions, video scripts, web copy, and newsletters that highlight NYU Abu Dhabi’s academic mission and research impact
• Identify opportunities to showcase faculty, student, staff, and alumni research achievements
• Work closely with faculty, researchers, and students to identify story opportunities, conduct interviews, understand findings, and develop content that reflects their work accurately
• Brainstorm potential multimedia angles to elevate the research story
• Adapt tone, voice, and level of detail to suit each audience and channel, and suggest new story angles that increase engagement and reach
• Manage multiple content assignments and meet tight editorial deadlines while maintaining accuracy and quality
• Identify timely story angles that connect NYU Abu Dhabi research to relevant current affairs and global issues

Editorial Support

• Assist with editing, proofreading, and formatting materials produced by others on the team
• Help ensure consistency in voice, adherence to brand standards, and overall quality control
• Support photography and video production for editorial and social media content, including coordinating shoots and videos as needed
• Support communications colleagues in data analysis and reporting

Collaboration and Coordination

• Work closely with communications colleagues, academic departments, and administrative units to gather content and align messaging
• Support campaign and project-based writing needs across the department

Administrative Tasks

• Maintain editorial calendars, draft briefing materials, and support other communications initiatives as needed

Qualifications

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, English or related field

Required Experience:

• More than 3 years of professional writing experience, ideally in an agency, newsroom, nonprofit, or university setting
• Excellent command of written English, with strong grammar, storytelling, and copy-editing skills
• Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible and engaging language
• Familiarity with digital publishing platforms (e.g., CMS, social media schedulers) is an advantage
• A proactive mindset, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines
• An understanding of or interest in the higher education and research environment is a plus
• Strong awareness of current affairs and emerging global issues, with the ability to connect relevant research to broader conversations and develop timely, compelling stories

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working in dynamic and multicultural environments
• Experience writing accessible, accurate research content in one or more of the following areas: space science, health, life sciences, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and heritage and culture
• Fluency in additional languages, especially Arabic
• Ability to work with multimedia teams to craft video and voiceover scripts
• Familiar with the use of Shorthand for interactive storytelling
• Familiarity with SEO and digital content optimization
• Collaborative working style
• Curiosity, initiative, and a desire to grow within the field of strategic communications

Additional Information

About NYUAD

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.