Step-by-step approach to writing a scientific paper: from figures to title

Scientific authors often struggle to articulate their ideas into a coherent and cohesive narrative. However, they can overcome their difficulties in effectively communicating scientific findings by following the principles of scientific writing and by applying a set of writing techniques. These techniques include providing background information, highlighting the research impact, maintaining a clear focus on the study hypothesis, developing a narrative structure, guiding readers through the argument with logical connections between ideas, and communicating at the appropriate level of detail. To highlight the quality of their research and to publish in top-tier journals, authors should combine these techniques with a step-by-step approach to writing a scientific paper. This step-by-step approach entails creating a narrative through appealing figures (storyboarding), drafting a Materials and Methods section based on guidelines on language and sources, organizing the Results according to the storyline (managing topics and key findings), structuring and developing the Discussion from research question to the impact statement, outlining the Introduction around the study hypothesis, writing well-structured and effective abstracts and, ultimately, crafting catchy titles with active clauses and avoiding punctuation for search engine optimization. These strategies not only enhance communication but also boost citation counts, thereby bolstering research impact.

Carlos V. Melo, Ph.D.

Carlos is a PhD in Neuroscience, with a background in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Spanning over a decade and conducted at leading international institutions, such as Stanford University, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, among others, his research involved animal and cell models of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Ataxia, and Ischemia. As a result, he has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, in the fields of Protein Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Neurobiology, and co-authored a book chapter.

Currently, Carlos works as an Assistant Professor at Charles University, teaching scientific writing and presentation courses (graduate skills) and providing author editing consultations as an in-house editor at the Chemistry Section. In addition, Carlos is an associate at the Slanina Laboratory, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Science and the founder and director of Scientific Consulting Experts. Ultimately, his goal is to empower students and researchers alike by fostering their ability to effectively communicate scientific findings to peers and to the general public while adapting to different formats and audiences. For this purpose, he combines his professional experience as a freelance scientific consultant, field-specific translator, writer and editor, and subject-matter expert on content-review analysis, manuscript editing and journal selection reporting with his training in scriptwriting, directing and documentary filmmaking at the Sydney (SFS) and Prague (PFS) Film Schools.

Unsurprisingly, Carlos is a film buff, but as a former competitive triathlete for Stanford University, he is also an avid sportsman with a keen interest in alternative music. After having lived in some of the most beautiful cities in the world, namely Porto, Barcelona, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Sydney, and travelled to over 60 countries, in 5 continents, he now enjoys living in his favorite Prague neighborhood, Letna, particularly sharing rounds with friends while overlooking the city at the beer garden in the summer or indulging in long brunches in the winter. Whenever he misses homes, he revels in sipping an expresso at Nacafe or finds solace in his walks in Stromovka. Although he misses the ocean by the hour, seeing his students thrive makes it all worthwhile.

The lecture will be conducted in the English; if you are interested, please register HERE.