Professional
Development
Seminar
Powerful CV’s
for Future
Scientific
Leaders
Custom Seminar for Biology Grad Students
2015 Copyright by Robin G. Walker, PhD
Today’s Topics
1.
Evolution of the CV
2.
Documenting research experience
3.
Highlight common errors
4.
Moving toward a leadership CV
What’s a CV?
In Latin: Vita = life.
Thus, your vita is a record of your life’s work.
In the U.S., the vita is the standard document of record
used by academics & other professionals in higher
education.
Your vita, combined with other career-related documents,
is considered during hiring, annual review, award
nominations & promotions.
Terminology & Spelling
•
Vita
(vee-tah)
•
Curriculum Vitae
(vee-tay or vee-tie)
•
CV
(see-vee)
* Terms vary outside of the US.
Comparison - Contrast





Standard in higher education
Also common in research
positions beyond the academy
Complete record of academic
work
Pages build through career
Scholarly “feel”





Standard in business, industry,
government & non profit sectors
Summary of skills & experience
Usually last 10 years of work
Limit to 1-2 pages
Professional “feel”
Changing nature
of CV’s
Chronological
Résumé
Functional
Résumé
Basic CV
Combination
Résumé
Changing nature
of CV’s
“Annotated”
CV
Functional
Chronological
Faculty CV’s are
becoming more descriptive!
Narrative related
research, teaching,
and scope of duties.
Focus: Results
& Outcomes
Outcomes are quantified
• Reached this #
• Reduced by this %
Today’s most competitive
CV’s have these sections:


Narrative related
research, teaching,
and scope of duties.



Focus: Results
& Outcomes
Bulleted lists are
quantified as much as possible
•
•
Reached this #
Reduced by this %






Education
Summary
Research Interests
Skills (targeted to position)
Employment
3-5 line role description
- did this
- did that
Professional Societies
Honors
Publications
Presentations
Grants
Service
Rationale for
adopting these
emerging trends:
A.T.S.
If you are applying to a mid to large size
company your CV may be screened by
a computer before it goes to a human being.
Generically known as “applicant tracking systems,”
the computers “rank” your uploaded documents on
how well your keywords match the job description.
You MUST analyze each position description to identify
the essential skills that qualify you for those positions.
Add the skills to these sections of your CV.




Summary
Research Interests
Skills (targeted to position)
Employment
3-5 line role description
- did this
- did that
ATS =
Applicant
Tracking
System
The ATS’ logarithms will determine how well matched you
are to the position description. If your score
is within an acceptable range, it’s likely
that your application will be forwarded to
a human reviewer.
Professional
Development
Seminar
Any
questions?
Powerful CV’s
for Future
Scientific Leaders
Copyright 2015 Robin G. Walker, PhD
A CV by any other
name…..
Administrative
CV
The format of a CV may be rearranged and sections may be highlighted or
added based on how the CV will be used. Some examples are above.
What matters is that
a professional CV …

100% accurate (dates, titles, citations, etc.)

Properly credits mentors, PI’s & coauthors

Documents your % efforts on grants

Is aesthetically pleasing & error free

Model other CV’s in your discipline!
Vita
Q: Do you really need this label?
A: No, but follow the norms of your
discipline!
Graduate School
Education
Academic Preparation
Title of degree as appears on the official transcript
Doctoral Degree
Name of Institution Minor (if applicable):
Emphasis (or Focus or Concentration):*
conferral year
City, State
Dissertation Title:
Mentor:
Master’s Degree
Title of degree as appears on the official transcript
Name of Institution
Bachelor’s Degree
Name of Institution
•
•
•
•
•
•
conferral year
City, State
Title of degree as appears on the official transcript
conferral year
City, State
List most recent degree first. Add month if recent conferral. Drop month later in your career.
MUST have degree type, OFFICIAL transcript degree name, institution, city/state & year
Use “Expected” for a future (planned) graduation date.
Add thesis or dissertation title precisely. For doctoral degree, add adviser.
*Use “Emphasis” only if this area appears on your transcript.
*Use the term Focus or Concentration if your degree included a series of advanced courses in
a particular area.
Post-Graduate Education goes next (e.g., post-grad degree or certificate)
* Postdoctoral Appointment = post to Employment Section
Certifications and Licensure
• These sections can be discipline specific. Check!
• If you don’t need these sections, omit.
Powerful, but brief block of narrative that succinctly
summarizes your experience and accomplishments
A molecular biologist with six years of independent and team research
exploring the role DNA demethylation, via the enzyme DEMETER, in plant
vegetative and plant seed development. This included analysis of gene
expression, gene imprinting, and chromatin structure. My research is
contributing to the body of literature on the histone variant H2A.X and role
DNA damage has on DNA methylation patterns. Mentor and supervise
twelve undergraduate and graduate students. Three publication and
five scholarly presentations at international conferences.
Tip: Show that you are prepared to conduct independent and collaborative [team] research.
Possible Narrative Topics
• Years of undergrad/grad research experience
• Internships/research outside of the academy
• Leadership role on collaborative/interdisciplinary teams
• Teaching & mentoring experience (if applicable)
• High demand skills: equipment, procedures
• Scholarship in top tier journals
• Funding by NSF, NIH, DOE, DHS, etc.
• Research awards or fellowships
Too much to tell? Prioritize to topics of interest to prospective employers.
Powerful, but brief block of narrative that succinctly
summarizes your current research project or longerterm research agenda.
[My] current research is focused on increasing effectiveness
and capabilities of BioDirect technologies. A secondary
research strand focuses on the discovery of new herbicide
resistant mechanism in agronomically problematic weeds.
Tip: Show that you are prepared to conduct independent and collaborative [team] research.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Include disciplinary/technical skills – methods, procedures & equipment.
Focus skills where you demonstrate proficiency
Chemists, nurses & other disciplines use the term “Specialties” (check!)
When applying for jobs, re-prioritize according to job ad/description.
Skills
•
••
••
•
Proficient with [ABC], [DEF] and [GHI] techniques.
Conduct
assays
to determine
[XYZ].
Generation
of transgenic
Arabidopsis
Perform
[JKL] and
[MNO] analyses.
Laser capture
microscopy
Whole genome sequencing technologies: Bisulfite-seq, RNAseq.
Specialties:
[name]; [name]; [name]; [name]
What about:
Transferable or soft skills? Better suited for a résumé. If listed in the
job ad, you SHOULD include, as keywords are important. Consider
adding to Summary statement and under Employment as part of duties.
Employment section
Employment
Position Title
Name of Institution
Inclusive Dates
City, State
In this area write a powerful, 3-6 line narrative of your role and accomplishments. Use
fragments, not sentences. Start with verbs (“action verbs”) to describe duties. Use
keywords related to the industry and position you will be seeking. Quantify when
possible.
• Add 3-4 bullets of the duties you performed.
• Start with strong verbs (“action verbs”). Use phrases.
• Use keywords related to the industry and position you will be seeking.
• Quantify when possible.
• Model the CVs in your discipline.
Option 2 : Separate Teaching & Research Sections
Research Experience
Position Title..
Name of Institution
Research Emphases: [write a 2-3 line description]
Inclusive Dates
City, State
Findings (outcomes, discoveries, patents, etc.):
Teaching Experience.
Academic title
Name of Institution
Courses Taught:
Number Title
Number Title
Teaching Evaluations:
Inclusive Dates
City, State
# credits Semester/Quarter
# credits Semester/Quarter
• Place teaching or research first, based on institutional type or the % appointment or
the type of position you seek. [Bracket if online, hybrid, technology enhanced]
• In each section list most recent position first.
Position Title:
Duties:
Research Project Title:
Principal Investigator:
Grant-funded Laboratory Experience
Dates:
FTE:
Funding Agency:
Institution:
Independent Research (or Fieldwork) Experience
Project Title:
Inclusive Dates:
Faculty Mentor:
Institution/location:
Research aim:
Laboratory Equipment:
List here
Methods/Procedures:
List here
Data analysis/Interpretation: List here
Findings:
Tip: Show that you are prepared to conduct independent and collaborative [team] research.
Professional
Development
Seminar
Any
questions?
Powerful CV’s
for Future
Scientific Leaders
Copyright 2015 Robin G. Walker, PhD
Hierarchy of Journal Publications, Abstracts,
Conference Proceedings & Posters
Publications
Refereed Journal Articles.
Author(s) last name, initials
Title of Article
Journal Name, Volume number
Publication year
City, State
Non-Refereed Journal Articles
Author(s) last name, initials
Publication year
Title of Article
Journal Name, Volume number
City, State
• Common to include journal acceptance rate
• OK to use [submitted] [under review] [accepted, under revision] and [accepted]
Check if [under development] is allowable
• If you don’t need this section yet, omit it until you do.
• Follow the proper citation EXACTLY
Grants
Grant Awards
Proposal Title:
Funding Agency:
Amount:
Award Number:
Dates:
Principal Investigator:
[Institution]
Role:
FTE:
Contributions:
 Important! These are proposals that you wrote or helped to write AND you are
listed as personnel on the grant.






Document your % contribution. Be accurate and transparent
Normally FUNDED proposals only. Check discipline!
Include all pertinent information.
If you don’t need this section yet, omit it until you do.
Make sure Funder, Dates and Amounts are easy to find.
Students should add successfully-funded proposals for travel, fellowships, etc.
Hierarchy for Service (most common order)
Service
National .
Role
Committee, Organization Name
Inclusive dates
Role
Committee, Organization Name
Inclusive dates
University
Role
Committee, Organization Name
Inclusive dates
Committee, Organization Name
Inclusive dates
Regional (or State)
Local
Role
 This is volunteer service beyond scope of work duties - - NOT paid
 A donation of your time and skills to a benevolent cause
 Highest level of service goes first…local is last.
 Leadership in a community-based group is OK – but not just membership
 Follow what others in your discipline include/don’t include.
Regardless the CV format
Basic/Traditional
“Hybrid”
Musts:
• Consistent font & format
• Consistent alignment.
• Good white space – easy on the eye.
• Section titles are easy to identify.
Adding sections as your
academic career
progresses
Hierarchy for Keynotes and Invited Speeches
Invited Keynote Presentations
International Meetings
[Author(s) last name, initials]
[Presentation title]
[Name of Conference]
National Meetings
[Author(s) last name, initials]
[Presentation title]
[Name of Conference]
Regional and State Meetings
[Author(s) last name, initials]
[Presentation title]
[Name of Conference]
Year, Month]
[City, State]
Year, Month]
[City, State]
Year, Month]
[City, State]
 Order: International, national, state, regional, local
 If you don’t need this section yet, omit it until you do!
 Follow the proper citation format exactly.
Editorial Boards
Editorial Boards
Role
Role
Journal
Journal
Inclusive dates
Inclusive dates
 In some disciplines, editorial work is considered prestigious and is often listed toward
the front of the CV, just before refereed journal articles.
 Otherwise, editorial work is considered a service.
 Check CVs in your discipline for guidance on where to place this section.
Advisees Section (add later in career if applies)
Advisees
Doctoral
Student name
[ graduation year, month]
Title of Dissertation or Thesis Title
Institution Name
Master’s
Student name
[ graduation year, month]
Title of Dissertation or Thesis Title
Institution Name
 Section contains the names of thesis/dissertation advisees.
 Some faculty list thesis/dissertation committees
(i.e., when they are not the student’s primary adviser)
 Track placement and accomplishments of mentees!
Changing nature
of CV’s
Faculty CV’s
Administrative
CV’s
Bulleted lists
•
•
•
Did this
Did that
Did this too
Narrative related
research, teaching,
and scope of duties.
When might you
need an
administrative CV?
How might an
administrative CV
differ from a
faculty CV?
Changing nature
of CV’s
Faculty CV’s
Administrative CV’s
Leadership Focus






Bulleted lists
•
•
•
Did this
Did that
Did this too
Narrative related
research, teaching,
and scope of duties.
Accomplishments
ROI
Cost Savings
Org Change
Initiatives
Leadership training
LOTS of bulleted lists
•
•
•
Did this
Did that
Did this too
LOTS of narrative related to rank,
titles, size, type and prestige of
institution and scope of duties.
Advice:
Think like a leader NOW
Review faculty & administrative CV’s
1.



2.

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

3.
Within and across disciplines (search online)
Study with a critical eye; follow disciplinary trends
Mimic powerful techniques to document and demonstrate
scientific performance, leadership and RESULTS
Ask others to critique
Note: May not be familiar with administrative CV’s
Explain that you aspire to disciplinary leadership
At this stage, keep focus on research accomplishments
Start building your leadership skills & abilities - document
Proof for proper citation & typos
Conclusion
Basic/Traditional
“Annotated”
1. If you prefer to follow the “traditional” format,
you will not be wrong.
2. Talk over your choice with your mentor.
3. Decide what is the best format for
• the type of job you seek
• How to best showcase your knowledge,
skills & abilities.
Desired CV Effect:
The search committee
begins to see you as a
prospective colleague
rather than a just
graduate student.
Professional
Development
Seminar
Any last questions?
Thank you.
Powerful CV’s
for Future
Scientific Leaders
Copyright 2015 Robin G. Walker, PhD