The C.V. Doctor: C.V. For the Sciences

This vita is excellent and does a good job of presenting a candidate with a strong research background who is interested in positions, as stated in an accompanying note, “at a liberal-arts college where undergraduate research is an integral part of the curriculum.”

One of its fine qualities is the way material is divided according to how relevant it is to an academic audience. For example, the “Awards and Fellowships” are all based on academic accomplishment, while impressive but not scholarly activities are grouped under “Other activities and honors.” Similarly, formal teaching responsibilities are separated from informal teaching activities. It’s clear that the candidate understands what hiring committees want to see.

We notice that the candidate, whose prior formal teaching experience was light, has taken the initiative to be an adjunct instructor at the same time as she does her postdoc. This extra experience will serve her well.

-- Mary Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick

Examples:

• C.V. for the social sciences
• C.V. for education, or other professional school
• C.V. for the humanities
• C.V. for the fine or creative arts
• C.V. for the sciences

1.) It might be easier to find the dissertation supervisor, if that person’s name appeared with the doctoral work as well as in “Research Experience.”

2.) Professional memberships are not as important as other information, and should go nearer the end.

3.) Given the candidate’s goal, she might add information about how she’s supervised others in the lab. If, during her postdoc, she’s supervised graduate students, undergraduate assistants, or even lab technicians, she might give additional detail about that as part of her discussion of research.

4.) We tend to prefer dates on the right, so that important content gets more visual interest.