The Science Marketer

Joachim Eeckhout

The Science Marketer brings you inside the world of science marketing and communication. Every two weeks, I sit down with industry-leading marketers, communicators, and founders to unpack the strategies behind their biggest wins—and lessons from their hardest challenges. Expect actionable advice and exclusive insights to sharpen your own approach in every episode. Hit subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode!

  1. How to build a scientific community that actually matters

    11/20/2025

    How to build a scientific community that actually matters

    In this episode of the Science Marketer podcast, Susanna Harris discusses the importance of building communities within the scientific field, sharing her journey with PhD Balance and how it evolved into a supportive network for scientists. She emphasizes the need for authentic engagement, understanding the motivations of scientists, and the role of metrics in maintaining community engagement. Susanna also provides insights on choosing the right platforms for community building and offers advice for marketers looking to connect with scientists effectively. Chapters: 00:00 How Susanna Harris became interested in communities03:18 How PhD Balance turned into a real community09:11 How PhD Balance turned into a real community12:51 What community building looks like at Breakout Ventures16:18 How to attract the right people to your community18:58 Keeping a community engaged over time21:57 The best channels for reaching scientists29:22 One piece of advice for marketers engaging scientists32:20 Recommended reading for community builders 🤝 To connect with Susanna: Breakout Ventures' website (https://breakout.vc)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannalharris/)🎤 To connect with Joachim Eeckhout, host of the podcast: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachimeeckhout/)Contact form (https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/contact/)✅ Subscribe to The Science Marketer newsletter: https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/

    34 min
  2. What makes a killer life sciences website (and what most companies get wrong)

    10/21/2025

    What makes a killer life sciences website (and what most companies get wrong)

    In this conversation, Maurice Van Rotterdam discusses the unique challenges and strategies involved in designing websites for life sciences companies. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the target audience, avoiding common mistakes, and balancing scientific detail with appealing design. The discussion also covers case studies of successful projects, technical aspects of website development, and future trends in the industry, including the impact of AI. Chapters: 00:00 Maurice van Rotterdam’s background and the story behind Sciential03:07 What makes life sciences websites unique05:26 The biggest mistakes companies make with their websites08:26 How Sciential starts a website project: analysis and onboarding process11:40 Understanding the user journey and common UX challenges14:59 Balancing scientific detail with accessibility17:13 Striking the right design balance: credibility vs creativity22:13 Case studies: Success stories in UX and design26:07 Technical foundations: what matters most behind the scenes28:37 Advice for early-stage biotech companies with limited budgets31:43 The future of life sciences websites: AI and personalization 🤝 To connect with Maurice: Sciential's website (https://scientialmarketing.com)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricevanrotterdam/)🎤 To connect with Joachim Eeckhout, host of the podcast: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachimeeckhout/)Contact form (https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/contact/)✅ Subscribe to The Science Marketer newsletter: https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/

    37 min
  3. How to communicate your way out of the biotech “Valley of Death”

    04/01/2025

    How to communicate your way out of the biotech “Valley of Death”

    In this episode, Thomas Averre, Managing Director of Tarleton Communications, discusses the critical communication strategies biotech startups must adopt to successfully navigate the fundraising landscape, particularly in overcoming the 'valley of death' between early-stage funding and Series A. He emphasizes the importance of early engagement with investors, crafting compelling narratives, and maintaining a balance between ambitious goals and realistic expectations. The conversation also covers common mistakes startups make in their presentations, the significance of a well-structured communication plan during due diligence, and the role of media in attracting investor interest. 📌 Here's what we cover in this episode: 00:00 Introduction to Tarleton Communications02:25 Understanding the Valley of Death in Biotech06:31 Crafting effective messaging for startups10:10 Creating a compelling narrative for investors13:32 Common mistakes in early-stage biotech communication19:07 Choosing the right communication channels22:43 Long-term strategies for building investor relationships27:48 Key advice for biotech founders29:37 Recommended resources for effective communication 📖 Books recommended by Thomas: The Choice Factory: How 25 Behavioural Biases Influence the Products We Decide to Buy, by Richard ShottonOgilvy on Advertising, by David OgilvyMedia in Focus: Marketing Effectiveness in the Digital Era, by Les Binet and Peter Field🤝 To connect with Thomas: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-averre/)Tarleton's website (https://www.tarletoncomms.com/)🎤 To connect with Joachim Eeckhout, host of the podcast: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachimeeckhout/)Contact form (https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/contact/)✅ Subscribe to The Science Marketer newsletter: https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/

    33 min
  4. How a PhD student turned a side hustle into a thriving medical writing agency

    03/18/2025

    How a PhD student turned a side hustle into a thriving medical writing agency

    In this conversation, Dan Sheridan shares his journey from a PhD student to a successful freelance medical writer and agency owner. He discusses the importance of expertise over marketing, strategies for pricing, and the organic growth of his agency. Dan emphasizes the significance of building long-term client relationships and managing expectations effectively. He also explores the role of AI in medical writing, highlighting the value of human expertise in a field that requires deep scientific understanding.  📌 Here's what we cover in this episode: 00:00 Starting out as a freelancer during a PhD09:42 Transitioning from freelancer to agency owner16:36 Avoiding the race to the bottom when it comes to pricing18:58 Scaling an agency while staying lean23:39 Finding clients and building reputation as an agency28:06 Navigating difficult client situations30:42 The need for high-value content in life sciences32:38 The role of AI in medical writing35:31 Recommended resources for agency success 🧰 AI tool mentioned: Causaly (https://www.causaly.com) 📖 Book recommended: The Seven Figure Agency Roadmap by Josh Nelson 🤝 To connect with Dan: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansheridan01/)Co-Labb (https://www.co-labb.co.uk/)🎤 To connect with Joachim Eeckhout, host of the podcast: LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/joachimeeckhout/)Contact form (https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/contact/)✅ Subscribe to The Science Marketer newsletter: https://www.thesciencemarketer.com/

    37 min

About

The Science Marketer brings you inside the world of science marketing and communication. Every two weeks, I sit down with industry-leading marketers, communicators, and founders to unpack the strategies behind their biggest wins—and lessons from their hardest challenges. Expect actionable advice and exclusive insights to sharpen your own approach in every episode. Hit subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode!