Writing Her Way from Lab to Industry

Nancy Dudek was following a well-worn path in science, with degrees in biology and a position as a lab technician, when an unexpected assignment changed her trajectory: managing the grant that supported her lab’s research.

As she moved between institutions over the years, she became more involved with grants, eventually helping faculty write their proposals. Her natural writing ability made her particularly adept at making complex scientific concepts accessible to reviewers. “There are a lot of researchers who are great at experimental design and doing experiments,” she notes, “but when it comes to writing about it and writing in a way that’s accessible for other people, I think that can be a rarer skill.”

The University of Chicago’s Regulatory Writing certificate program proved transformative. After years of developing her grant writing skills on the job, Dudek saw the program as an opportunity to get formal training and modernize her approach. “A lot of areas are changing, especially when it comes to style,” she notes, pointing to evolving standards in research writing and documentation. As part of UChicago’s stackable healthcare writing credentials, the program trains professionals in the complete regulatory cycle, from editing biomedical packets to preparing protocol amendments and submissions.

In her role helping faculty with grants, Dudek had developed a keen eye for strengthening proposals—identifying gaps in logic and anticipating what reviewers needed to hear. The certificate program offered a chance to transform this practical experience into professional expertise. She gained expertise in contemporary standards, from updated terminology—like the shift from “human subjects” to “participants” in research writing—to the proper use of professional style guides for ensuring accuracy in technical documentation.

The program’s practical focus particularly resonated with Dudek. For her final assignment, she had the freedom to choose a topic that mattered to her personally: new regulatory policies in cosmetics. “As a consumer, it’s something I’m interested in,” she explains. “There’s very little regulation around cosmetics in the United States—you’re putting eyeliner or mascara in your eye every day, and it’s not regulated.” Through this real-world exploration, she developed a more systematic approach to technical writing, learning to build arguments based on thorough research and reliable sources.

Today, Dudek works as a technical writer at McMaster-Carr, where she applies these skills to industrial hardware documentation. The transition from academic grant writing to industrial technical writing might seem unexpected, but it showcases the versatility of well-honed technical writing abilities. The UChicago certificate program, she notes, “made me think bigger” about career possibilities beyond academic research.

For those considering the certificate program, Dudek emphasizes the importance of practical time management. She recommends blocking out specific times for coursework on both work and household calendars, treating study time as nonnegotiable appointments. “Don’t worry about being perfect,” she advises. “Focus more on exploring the assignments and how they relate to what you want to do.”

Looking to the future, Dudek remains optimistic about the field, even as AI tools become more prevalent. “There are a lot more jobs out there than we think about,” she observes, noting that, while AI can assist with research, it can’t replace the human ability to synthesize information, understand context, and communicate effectively across different audiences.

Her journey shows that technical writing isn’t just about following style guides and checking references—it’s about bridging the gap between complex ideas and the people who need to understand them.