curriculum vitae phd student example

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• How to write an Academic CV for a PhD Application
• Applying to a PhD
• The purpose of an academic CV for a PhD application is to provide a summary of your educational background and demonstrate the research skills and relevant experience you have that make you capable of undertaking a PhD.
• It should be divided into nine sections : (1) contact information, (2) research interests, (3) education, (4) research and work experience, (5) teaching experience, (6) relevant skills and experience, (7) publications and conferences, (8) professional memberships, (9) referees.
• It should ideally be up to two pages for a new research student, but can extend up to four pages if required.
• The smaller details matter more than you think – write concisely, use consistent formatting, avoid jargons and general statements, check spelling and grammar, and have at least one academic to proofread it for you, ideally in the same area you are applying to.

Introduction

So you are nearing the end of your current degree or making a return to education, and you’ve decided to make your next step a PhD. While the road ahead will be filled with much excitement, you’ll need to secure your position first. This will all begin with a strong PhD application and an equally impressive academic CV and personal statement or cover letter.

Together with your personal statement or cover letter, your CV will show who you are as an individual and what you have to offer. It needs to be concise, correctly formatted and well written to convince your preferred university and supervisor that you are the right student for the project.

This step-by-step guide will get you on your way to creating an outstanding academic CV for your next PhD application. We’ll discuss the sections your CV should be structured into, what each of these sections should include, and how it should be written. We’ll also give you valuable tips that are sure to get your readers’ attention.

What Is an Academic CV?

When applying for a PhD position, it’s common for the university to request a curriculum vitae (CV) from you to accompany your application.

An academic CV may appear similar to a standard CV used for job applications, but they are two relatively unique documents.

Where a standard CV focuses mostly on what your previous responsibilities have been and what you have accomplished to date, an academic CV concentrates on your academic background, achievements and experiences . Your academic CV will be used by a PhD supervisor to determine whether you can meet the challenges associated with undertaking a demanding PhD research project, as not everyone can.

How to Write an Academic CV for A PhD Application

A good academic CV should be broken into nine section headings:

• Contact Information
• Research Interests / Personal Profile
• Research and Work Experience
• Teaching Experience
• Relevant Skills and Experience
• Publications and Conferences
• Professional Memberships
• Referees / References

Below, we discuss what each of these sections should contain and how they should be written.

1. Contact Information

Start your CV by providing your contact details. All of the following should be included:

• Full name  – Your name should be your document title, formatted in bold and centralised text.
• Email address and contact number
• Location  – Your town/city and country, e.g. ‘Birmingham, UK’, will be sufficient; it’s not necessary to provide your full home address.
• Profiles  – Include a link to any professional profiles you may have, such as LinkedIn or ResearchGate.

NOTE:  Some individuals include a profile photo but be careful before doing so. While this would be expected in some countries such as those in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, this would not be the case in other countries such as the UK and US. This is because it can lead to complications with labour and anti-discrimination laws and potentially cost you your application. We therefore strongly advise you to look into the norms and regulations of the host country before deciding to do so.

2. Research Interests / Personal Profile

For an academic CV written for a PhD position, your ‘research interests’ section will double as you ‘personal profile’. As a brief introduction to yourself, this will be an important section as it sets the first impression of you for the reader.

Use bullet points or a brief paragraph to summarise who you are, your relevant qualifications, your research interests and your relevant skills and experience. When writing this section, your focus should be on two aspects: demonstrating your  ability to conduct a PhD  and your  enthusiasm for the project .

To create an impactful research interests’ section, adhere to the following:

• Tailor to each research project you apply for:  One of the easiest ways to do this is to read the project description attached to the PhD advert, identify two to three of the most prominent keywords, and incorporate them into your writeup.
• Keep it short:  This section is only an introduction, so keep it concise and punchy over long and detailed; 50 – 60 words is a good target.
• Make every word count:  As 50 – 60 words isn’t much, be as specific as you can. Avoid clichés such as “I am committed to research and have a high attention to detail” at all costs; not only are they generic and overused, they also don’t provide the reader with any useful insights into you.

3. Education

A PhD CV is all about academic achievements and qualifications, so your education section should be given high importance and form the bulk of your CV, especially as it will be used to determine if have the core skills required for the position.

Working in reverse chronological order, provide a breakdown of your current academic qualifications. For most of you, this will be an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate Master’s degree.

When listing your qualifications, provide the full name of the degree, the degree type, and the duration in terms of its start and end year. You do not need to limit this to your past qualifications; if you’re currently studying or taking an external course, include them as well, but state that they are ongoing and provide an expected grade if you have one.

If your degree is relevant to the PhD project you are applying to, include a list of the modules you completed and your corresponding marks; the same applies to your final year dissertation project.

Note:  If you list your relevant modules, streamline their names by removing any course codes. For example, “FN01 Fluid Dynamics” should become “Fluid Dynamics”. Course codes are only used for internal purposes, and each university will have its own system, so remove them to avoid any possible confusion.

Feel free to also list your GCSEs, A-Levels or other relevant academic qualifications if applicable to the field you are applying to, however, this isn’t necessary, and most supervisors will not ask for them. The exception to this is if your university degree is not directly related to the project you are applying for, but your previous qualifications are. In these cases, include them to help demonstrate the suitability of your academic background.

Finally, list any honours, awards and prizes that you have won or any other notable academic achievements that will help to strengthen your application.

4. Research and Work Experience

Your research and relevant work experience is just as, if not more, important than your educational background. This is because most applicants applying for the position will have similar qualifications, so your research experience can often be the deciding factor when all other things are considered equal.

Your research experience may include both paid and voluntary, full-time and part-time work, as well as university project work. However, in all cases, the experience you mention should be relevant to the project you are applying for or have helped you develop skills that make you a more capable researcher. For example, it’s not necessary to mention your time in retail, but any previous time as a laboratory or teaching assistant or teaching support absolutely will be.

If you any discuss research that you have done as part of your studies, present them as individual project listed in reverse chronological order, as before. You can also include research projects you are currently working on, regardless of how developed they are.

When discussing any projects, include the following:

• What the project was about,
• What research methods you used,
• The skills you gained,
• Any notable achievements or outcomes.

5. Teaching Experience

Since one of the main career paths after a PhD is an academic career, teaching experience can significantly strengthen your academic CV. However, it is generally accepted that not all applicants will have teaching experience, but if you do, include it here.

When discussing your teaching experience, state what level it was at, e.g. undergraduate or postgraduate, and what it involved, i.e. marking, teaching, supervising or organising.

6. Relevant Skills and Experience

This section should describe all other skills and experiences that will help strengthen your application.

They should be specific to the PhD project or demonstrate your potential to become a competent researcher. This includes:

• Technical skills and experience, e.g. the use of computer software packages or research equipment common to the project you’re applying for.
• Non-project specific courses you’ve sat, e.g. an academic writing and communication course.
• Languages you know with their proficiencies noted.

7. Publications and Conferences

Most students won’t have academic publications, but if you do, list them here. Formal publications can include anything from journal articles, which is most likely to an adaptation of your final year dissertation project if you do have one, and published reports. If you have these, list them in reverse chronological order using the reference system adopted by the university you are applying to, as this is what the PhD supervisor will most likely be used to.

If you aren’t a published author or co-author, you can still include other text publications that you may have been involved in, such as online articles, magazines, newsletters and blogs. The topics of these publications should relate to your field or academia in general and be written in a formal tone that showcases your critical thinking and writing skills.

If you’ve ever given a conference presentation, include it here with details of the name, date and location of the conference, the title of your presentation and a summary of what it was about.

Even if you haven’t presented in conferences, you should still list any you have attended, including any seminars or talks. This is a useful way to illustrate your interest in the subject and your commitment to gaining new knowledge within your field.

TIP:  If you haven’t attended many conferences or seminars, consider attending several upcoming ones relevant to the research area you’re interested in. Not only is this a great way to learn more about the field in terms of its latest developments and gaps, but it can also be an effective way to make your academic CV more relevant if it’s currently light on research experience.

8. Professional Memberships

Being affiliated with an academic group, society or professional body demonstrates your enthusiasm for your field and for connecting with other like-minded individuals within the community.

When listing these, include the name of the group, the associated membership dates and the position you have held within it.

9. Referees / References

Your references will form the last section of your academic CV.

Your PhD application should specify the number of referees you should include, but if it does not, try to include at least two, but ideally three.

Two of the referees should be academic, with most students choosing their personal tutor and their final year’s dissertation project supervisor. It can be other staff members, but the essential requirement is that it is someone who knows you well enough to be able to substantiate your abilities and character.

If you don’t have two academic referees, you can use a professional referee as long as they are still relevant to the project you are applying for. This will most likely be the case for those who have worked in industry for some time before deciding to return to education.

When creating your reference list, list your referees in order of relevance and how well they know you, not in alphabetical order. This is so if only the first referee is called upon, it will be the individual who can provide you the most useful reference. The following information should be provided:

• Professional title,
• Name of current university,
• Phone number and email address.

It’s imperative that you first seek permission from the individuals before listing them as a referee. It would also be beneficial to send them a copy of your CV, cover letter and application form so they can familiarise themselves with the broader details in case they are called upon.

Tips for Creating a Standout Academic CV

No matter how impressive your academic achievements are or how much experience you have accumulated in your field, the PhD supervisor may never find out if your CV is too difficult to read. With this in mind, here are a few tips for achieving a high degree of clarity:

Formatting for Clarity

• Highlight key information through the use of bolding, italics and underlining, but be careful not to overdo it so that it loses its purpose.
• Keep your formatting consistent throughout, such as indentations, font type and font size, vertical spacing and margins.
• Insert page numbers on each page.
• Avoid jargon and abbreviations to maximise clarity.
• Avoid splitting sections across two pages.

Keep It Concise

• Try to limit your CV to two pages and not more than four. If you need to go over two pages, make sure the most important information is on the first two pages.
• Avoid dense paragraphs, overly long sentences and generic statements. The aim is to pass on essential information in a way that doesn’t require the reader to have to extract it themselves. This leads to the next tip,
• Use bullet points whenever possible, they’re easier to digest than paragraphs.

NOTE:  Remember that you will also submit a cover letter or personal statement alongside your CV, so don’t feel the need to cover everything to a high level of detail here as you will have the opportunity to do so elsewhere.

Check and Revise

• As a rule of thumb, the academic CV you submit as part of your PhD application should be the third or fourth version you produce. Try to keep a day or two between each version so that you always approach it with a fresh perspective.
• Proofread for any spelling and grammar mistakes. Although this will seem like we’re stating the obvious, a small mistake can be enough to jeopardise your chances considering that there will be many other high-profile candidates for the supervisor to choose from.
• Have your document checked, first by an academic such as your tutor, and second by a professional proofreader or by an advisor from your university’s careers team. The former will check for technical issues, the latter for common curriculum vitae formatting, spelling and grammar mistakes.

Save in PDF Format

If the submission method allows for it, convert your CV to PDF format. This significantly reduces the likelihood of compatibility and reformatting issues when opened by the supervisor.

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Resumes and cvs.

Depending on the type of job, you will need to create a curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume. Both documents put your qualification in writing, but they are used for different audiences and use a different format.

When to use a Resume

In the United States, most employers use resumes for non-academic positions, which are one or two page summaries of your experience, education, and skills.  Employers rarely spend more than a few minutes reviewing a resume, and successful resumes are concise with enough white space on the page to make it easy to scan. 

For more information on developing your resume, please visit Cornell Career Services’ Career Development Toolkit . Students often find it helpful to review resumes from graduate students who got their first job outside of academe.

When to use a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV is a longer synopsis of your educational and academic background as well as teaching and research experience, publications, awards, presentations, honors, and additional details. CVs are used when applying for academic, scientific, or research positions. International employers often use CVs as well.

A CV is a comprehensive statement emphasizing:

• professional qualifications
• accomplishments
• special qualifications

A CV can vary from two pages to several pages. Professionals seeking academic positions and non-academic positions in science, higher education, research, and health care typically use a CV. It is also used to seek a fellowship or grant and is expected for some positions overseas. Consult with faculty members in your field to determine what is expected and appropriate for your field.

Guidelines for Preparing a CV

• The order of topics in a CV format is flexible.
• Arrange sections to highlight strengths for the position you are seeking.
• Elaborate on accomplishments and skills within categories.
• List items within each category chronologically, the most recent appearing first.
• Include additional headings when appropriate to reflect certifications/licensures, workshops/training, languages, book reviews, etc.
• Present information in an easily accessible and attractive style.
• Faculty advisors are the most knowledgeable resource for determining what constitutes effective content in your discipline.
• For formatting assistance and to see more examples of  CVs, visit the Cornell Career Services Library in 103 Barnes Hall. The following books also may help:  How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae  and  The Curriculum Vitae Handbook .
• Non-academic samples from the University of California, San Francisco
• Academic samples from the University of California, San Francisco
• Samples from Columbia University
• Samples from University of Pennsylvania
• Chronicle of Higher Education’s CV Doctor

Electronic Version of CV

When sending electronic versions, attach a file or cut and paste the CV into the text of the email message. State your objectives and career interests in the first few lines since they may be the only items seen on a screen. Other tips:

• Use language and acronyms recognized in your field.
• Avoid using bold, italics, underlining, lines, or graphics. Use all caps for emphasis.
• Put your name at the top followed by address and each phone number on a separate line.

Many employers use websites for applicants to apply for positions. Although each form may be different, some elements may be similar. Save parts of your CV in a format that can be cut and pasted for each individual web-based form, such as saving a bulleted list of work experience.

Transforming Your CV into a Resume

You may need both a CV and a resume for your job search. Sending the appropriate document (CV or resume) tells employers that you can distinguish the differences between the academic and non-academic environments and that you can adapt your skills to either environment. Most employers in industry prefer a resume. When rearranging your CV to make it a resume:

• Do not exceed two pages.
• Re-evaluate your experience. Think creatively about how your academic experience can be translated into the necessary skills for a non-academic environment. Consider skills of project management, leadership, teamwork, effective communication, and meeting deadlines. 
• Choose action verbs to describe your experience.
• Put your strengths first. List your professional experience or your degree first, depending on which is most important for a specific position.  
• Include a well-written job objective; state the type of position and work setting you are seeking, skills or abilities you possess, and long-term goals. Be sure that your resume supports your job objective.
• Emphasize skills and accomplishments.
• List relevant presentations, publications, and papers, but not all. 
• Have someone proofread it.

• Schools & departments

Write an academic CV

This section outlines key points to remember when preparing a CV and covering letter and highlights how to present your education and experience for academic jobs in teaching and research.

When you write your CV and cover letter you will face lots of choices about what material to include and how to present it. You need to use your judgement to make decisions which will demonstrate your experience most effectively. 

Academic CVs

An academic CV can be longer than the two pages which is standard in other sectors but it should still contain the most important information at the start. 

If the application is for a research only position then you should emphasise your research experience, publications, contributions at conferences, research funding you have won and any relevant technical skills. 

If it is for a research and teaching position (lectureship) then you should also give details of any teaching and tutoring experience. 

Example CV for academic role (CAHSS) (UoE login required)

Example CV for academic role (CSE) (UoE login required)

The headings below describe the typical content of an academic CV.  

Education  

your PhD, first degree and Masters, if you have one  

probably no need to list school qualifications, but if you do, put those that counted for entry to higher education only 

for your PhD you should summarise your research to date, include the names of your supervisor(s) and details of any funding obtained. If you have a viva date or target submission date note that

title, grade achieved, and dissertation title is usually enough for Masters and first degrees

give more detail about courses you have taken if they demonstrate a wider subject knowledge that could be of use if applying for a teaching post

Experience (Research)  

if you are including this section you can choose to give full details of your PhD research here, and only dates, title and supervisors under the education section

include any research experience in addition to your PhD, such as research assistant or technician roles 

give details of the subject area if relevant, and your methodology and technical skills  

mention any funding obtained, and your supervisor or research leader

Experience (Teaching) 

provide details of any tutoring, demonstrating or lecturing

mention courses taught and level, e.g. Sociology 1 or Cell Biology 2

show involvement with developing courses, marking and assessment  

for a teaching application, you could include your teaching methods and philosophy, and any feedback received   

invited or guest lectures could be included  

Additional experience  

The focus should be on your research and / or teaching experience but you can also include briefly other work that can: 

demonstrate the skills being sought for the job

show you can successfully manage work and study 

fill any chronological gaps in your history

Experience (administration)  

demonstrate that you will be a supportive colleague, willing to make a contribution to the administrative work of the department

list any administrative experience you have such as helping to organise a seminar programme or conference or committee membership

Publications and presentations 

Published, peer-reviewed publications or monographs will often hold the most weight but early on in your career you will mention other things to illustrate your research activity and impact.  

peer-reviewed publications

contributions to books

book reviews

can include those accepted for publication but not yet published

if this section is a bit slim you could include submitted articles to show your intention to publish

inclusion in conference proceedings

presentations or posters at conferences -mention if these have been invited presentations

Interests / other activities  

This section is not essential in an academic CV but could be used to include: 

positions of responsibility that demonstrate some of the skills the employer is looking for that have not been covered elsewhere 

hobbies and interests that say a bit about you, but only very brief details

References  

when applying for advertised jobs, you will usually be expected to provide full contact details (name, relationship to you, address, e-mail and telephone) for 2 - 3 referees at least one of whom will be your PhD supervisor

think carefully about who you ask to act as a referee. It can be useful to have someone who is well-known in your academic field but only if they know you well and can comment positively on your abilities

make sure you brief your referees well on what you are applying for and give them an up-to-date copy of your CV to ensure they are aware of all the contributions you have made to your department / research area

Watch our Quick Guide to academic CVs which covers the basics of what to include in an academic CV: 

Narrative CVs

In recent years, some research-funding applications have required submission of a CV in the narrative format. Read more in the Narrative CVs for research and innovation blog from our Research Office, which includes a link to the Resume for Researchers template developed by the Royal Society. Also, the Institute for Academic Development offers helpful information on narrative CVs and what steps to take to create your own.

Narrative CVs for research and innovation 

Narrative CVs - Institute of Academic Development

The covering or supporting letter

This is your opportunity to show your motivation for the position and demonstrate that you meet the person specification for the job. For academic jobs a covering letter may be longer than one page and should if at all possible be addressed to a named person rather than ‘Dear sir or madam’. You should use your covering letter to address:  

why you are interested in this institution and department or research group - they want to know that you are genuinely interested in working for them and are knowledgeable about the teaching (if relevant) and research interests of staff within the department 

why you are interested in this position and how it fits in with your career plans 

what you have to offer in terms of research and / or teaching experience, qualifications and skills - use good examples to back this up

your ideas for the future in terms of research direction, and your potential to attract funding and publish - particularly important for research-only jobs or teaching jobs at research-intensive universities

You don’t need to repeat your CV, but you should draw attention to key points to encourage the employer to read it. 

Using generative AI to create your CV or cover letter

Technologies such as ChatGPT can provide a reasonable basic structure for you to build upon, but what they give you is unlikely to be tailored convincingly and will be bland and generic, and unlikely to impress employers. Use them as a support and starting point if you like - but edit their product to make the end result your own.  

Remember these points:

• adapt the content generated, to make it more closely related to you -otherwise it will lack impact
• be cautious about submitting any personal data, as whatever you put in could be in the public domain 
• you may be risking plagiarism, as these systems incorporate, in their output, content produced by other people without acknowledging or referencing them 

The Bayes Centre at the University has produced general guidance on the use of AI .

AI guidance for staff and students - Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh 

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Academic CV (Curriculum Vitae) for Research: CV Examples

What is an academic CV (or research CV)?

An academic CV or “curriculum vitae” is a full synopsis (usually around two to three pages) of your educational and academic background. In addition to college and university transcripts, the personal statement or statement of purpose , and the cover letter, postgraduate candidates need to submit an academic CV when applying for research, teaching, and other faculty positions at universities and research institutions. 

Writing an academic CV (also referred to as a “research CV” or “academic resume”) is a bit different than writing a professional resume. It focuses on your academic experience and qualifications for the position—although relevant work experience can still be included if the position calls for it. 

What’s the difference between a CV and a resume?

While both CVs and resumes summarize your major activities and achievements, a resume is more heavily focused on professional achievements and work history. An academic CV, on the other hand, highlights academic accomplishments and summarizes your educational experience, academic background and related information.

Think of a CV as basically a longer and more academic version of a resume. It details your academic history, research interests, relevant work experience, publications, honors/awards, accomplishments, etc. For grad schools, the CV is a quick indicator of how extensive your background is in the field and how much academic potential you have. Ultimately, grad schools use your academic resume to gauge how successful you’re likely to be as a grad student.

Do I need an academic CV for graduate school?

Like personal statements, CVs are a common grad school application document (though not all programs require them). An academic CV serves the same basic purpose as a regular CV: to secure you the job you want—in this case, the position of “grad student.” Essentially, the CV is a sales pitch to grad schools, and you’re selling yourself !

In addition to your college transcripts, GRE scores, and personal statement or statement of purpose , graduate schools often require applicants submit an academic CV. The rules for composing a CV for a Master’s or doctoral application are slightly different than those for a standard job application. Let’s take a closer look.

Academic CV Format Guidelines

No matter how compelling the content of your CV might be, it must still be clear and easy for graduate admissions committee members to understand. Keep these formatting and organization tips in mind when composing and revising your CV:

• Whatever formatting choices you make (e.g., indentation, font and text size, spacing, grammar), keep it consistent throughout the document.
• Use bolding, italics, underlining, and capitalized words to highlight key information.
• Use reverse chronological order to list your experiences within the sections.
• Include the most important information to the top and left of each entry and place associated dates to the right.
• Include page numbers on each page followed by your last name as a header or footer.
• Use academic verbs and terms in bulleted lists; vary your language and do not repeat the same terms. (See our list of best verbs for CVs and resumes )

How long should a CV be?

While resumes should be concise and are usually limited to one or two pages, an academic CV isn’t restricted by word count or number of pages. Because academic CVs are submitted for careers in research and academia, they have all of the sections and content of a professional CV, but they also require additional information about publications, grants, teaching positions, research, conferences, etc. 

It is difficult to shorten the length without shortening the number of CV sections you include. Because the scope and depth of candidates’ academic careers vary greatly, academic CVs that are as short as two pages or as long as five pages will likely not surprise graduate admissions faculty.

How to Write an Academic CV

Before we look at academic CV examples, let’s discuss the main sections of the CV and how you can go about writing your CV from scratch. Take a look at the sections of the academic CV and read about which information to include and where to put each CV section. For academic CV examples, see the section that follows this one.

Academic CV Sections to Include (with Examples)

A strong academic CV should include the following sections, starting from the top of the list and moving through the bottom. This is the basic Academic CV structure, but some of the subsections (such as research publications and academic awards) can be rearranged to highlight your specific strengths and achievements. 

• Contact Information
• Research Objective or Personal Profile
• Education Section
• Professional Appointments
• Research Publications
• Awards and Honors
• Grants and Fellowships
• Conferences Attended
• Teaching Experience
• Research Experience
• Additional Activities
• Languages and Skills

Now let’s go through each section of your academic CV to see what information to include in detail. 

1. Contact Information

Your academic curriculum vitae must include your full contact information, including the following: 

• Professional title and affiliation (if applicable)
• Institutional address (if you are currently registered as a student)
• Your home address
• Your email address
• Your telephone number
• LinkedIn profile or other professional profile links (if applicable)

In more business-related fields or industries, adding your LinkedIn profile in your contact information section is recommended to give reviewers a more holistic understanding of your academic and professional profile.

Check out our article on how to use your LinkedIn profile to attract employers .

2. Research Objective or Personal Profile

A research objective for an academic CV is a concise paragraph (or long sentence) detailing your specific research plans and goals.

A personal profile gives summarizes your academic background and crowning achievements.

Should you choose a research objective or a personal profile?

If you are writing a research CV, include a research objective. For example, indicate that you are applying to graduate research programs or seeking research grants for your project or study

A research objective will catch the graduate admission committee’s attention and make them want to take a closer look at you as a candidate.

Academic CV research objective example for PhD application  

MA student in Sociology and Gender Studies at North American University who made the President’s List for for six consecutive semesters seeking to use a semester-long research internship to enter into postgraduate research on the Impetus for Religious In-groups in Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century.

Note that the candidate includes details about their academic field, their specific scholastic achievements (including an internship), and a specific topic of study. This level of detail shows graduate committees that you are a candidate who is fully prepared for the rigors of grad school life. 

While an academic CV research objective encapsulates your research objective, a CV personal profile should summarize your personal statement or grad school statement of purpose . 

Academic CV personal profile example for a post-doctoral university position

Proven excellence in the development of a strong rapport with undergraduate students, colleagues, and administrators as a lecturer at a major research university. Exhibits expertise in the creation and implementation of lifelong learning programs and the personalized development of strategies and activities to propel learning in Higher Education, specifically in the field of Education. Experienced lecturer, inspirational tutor, and focused researcher with a knack for recognizing and encouraging growth in individuals. Has completed a Master’s and PhD in Sociology and Education with a BA in Educational Administration.

What makes this CV personal profile example so compelling? Again, the details included about the applicant’s academic history and achievements make the reader take note and provide concrete examples of success, proving the candidate’s academic acumen and verifiable achievements.

3. Education Section

If you are applying to an academic position, the Education section is the most essential part of your academic CV.

List your postsecondary degrees in reverse chronological order . Begin with your most recent education (whether or not you have received a degree at the time of application), follow it with your previous education/degree, and then list the ones before these.

Include the following educational details:

• Year of completion or expected completion (do not include starting dates)
• Type of Degree
• Any minor degrees (if applicable)
• Your department and institution
• Your honors and awards
• Dissertation/Thesis Title and Advisor (if applicable)

Because this is arguably the most important academic CV section, make sure that all of the information is completely accurate and that you have not left out any details that highlight your skills as a student. 

4. Professional Appointments

Following the education section, list your employment/professional positions on your academic CV. These should be positions related to academia rather than previous jobs or positions you held in the private section (whether it be a chef or a CEO). These appointments are typically tenure-track positions, not ad hoc and adjunct professor gigs, nor TA (teacher assistant) experience. You should instead label this kind of experience under “Teaching Experience,” which we discuss further down the list.

List the following information for each entry in your “Professional Appointments” section:

• Institution (university/college name)
• Department 
• Your professional title
• Dates employed (include beginning and end dates)
• Duties in this position

5. Research Publications

Divide your publications into two distinct sections: peer-reviewed publications and other publications. List peer-reviewed publications first, as these tend to carry more weight in academia. Use a subheading to distinguish these sections for the reader and make your CV details easier to understand.

Within each subsection, further divide your publications in the following order:

• Book chapters
• Peer-reviewed journal articles
• Contributions to edited volumes equivalent to peer-reviewed journals

All of your other research publications should be put into a subcategory titled “Other Publications.” This includes all documents published by a third party that did not receive peer review, whether it is an academic journal, a science magazine, a website, or any other publishing platform. 

Tip: When listing your publications, choose one academic formatting style ( MLA style , Chicago style , APA style , etc.) and apply it throughout your academic CV. Unsure which formatting style to use? Check the website of the school you are applying to and see what citation style they use.

6. Awards and Honors

This section allows you to show off how your skills and achievements were officially acknowledged. List all academic honors and awards you have received in reverse chronological order, just like the education and professional appointments sections. Include the name of the award, which year you received it, and the institution that awarded it to you.

Should you include how much money you were awarded? While this is not recommended for most academic fields (including humanities and social sciences), it is more common for business or STEM fields.

7. Fellowships and Grants

It is important to include fellowships and grants you received because it evidences that your research has been novel and valuable enough to attract funding from institutions or third parties.

Just like with awards and honors, list your grants and fellowships in reverse chronological order. Enter the years your fellowship or grant spanned and the name of the institution or entity providing the funding. Whether you disclose the specific dollar amount of funding you received depends on your field of study, just as with awards and honors.

8. Conferences Attended

Involvement in academic conferences shows admissions committees that you are already an active member of the research community. List the academic conferences in which you took part and divide this section into three subsections:

• Invited talks —conferences you presented at other institutions to which you received an invitation
• Campus talks —lectures you gave on your own institution’s campus
• Conference participation —conferences you participated in (attended) but gave no lecture

9. Teaching Experience

The “Teaching Experience” section is distinct from the “Professional Appointments” section discussed above.  In the Teaching Experience CV section, list any courses you taught as a TA (teacher’s assistant) you have taught. If you taught fewer than ten courses, list all of them out. Included the name of the institution, your department, your specific teaching role, and the dates you taught in this position. 

If you have a long tenure as an academic scholar and your academic CV Appointments section strongly highlights your strengths and achievements, in the Teaching Experience sections you could list only the institutions at which you were a TA. Since it is likely that you will be teaching, lecturing, or mentoring undergraduates and other research students in your postgraduate role, this section is helpful in making you stand out from other graduate, doctoral, or postdoctoral candidates.

10. Research Experience

In the “Research Experience” section of your CV, list all of the academic research posts at which you served. As with the other CV sections, enter these positions in reverse chronological order.

If you have significant experience (and your academic CV is filling up), you might want to limit research and lab positions to only the most pertinent to the research position to which you are applying. Include the following research positions:

• Full-time Researcher
• Research Associate
• Research Assistant

For an academic or research CV, if you do not have much research experience, include all research projects in which you participated–even the research projects with the smallest roles, budget, length, or scope. 

11. Additional Activities

If you have any other activities, distinctions, positions, etc. that do not fit into the above academic CV sections, include them here.

The following items might fit in the “Additional Activities” section:

• Extracurriculars (clubs, societies, sports teams, etc.)
• Jobs unrelated to your academic career
• Service to profession
• Media coverage
• Volunteer work

12. Languages and Skills

Many non-academic professional job positions require unique skillsets to succeed. The same can be true with academic and research positions at universities, especially when you speak a language that might come in handy with the specific area of study or with the other researchers you are likely to be working alongside.

Include all the languages in which you are proficient enough to read and understand academic texts. Qualify your proficiency level with the following terms and phrases:

• IntermediateNative/bilingual in Language
• Can read Language with a dictionary
• Advanced use of Language
• Fully proficient in Language
• Native fluency in Language
• Native/Bilingual Language speaker

If you only have a basic comprehension of a language (or if you simply minored in it a decade ago but never really used it), omit these from this section. 

Including skills on an academic CV is optional and MIGHT appear somewhat amateur if it is not a skill that is difficult and would likely contribute to your competency in your research position. In general, include a skill only if you are in a scientific or technical field (STEM fields) and if they realistically make you a better candidate.

13. References 

The final section of your academic CV is the “References” section. Only include references from individuals who know you well and have first-hand experience working with you, either in the capacity of a manager, instructor, or professor, or as a colleague who can attest to your character and how well you worked in that position. Avoid using personal references and never use family members or acquaintances–unless they can somehow attest to your strength as an academic.

List your references in the order of their importance or ability to back up your candidacy. In other words, list the referrers you would want the admissions faculty to contact first and who would give you a shining review. 

Include the following in this order:

• Full name and academic title
• Physical mailing address
• Telephone number
• Email address

Academic CV Examples by Section 

Now that you have a template for what to include in your academic CV sections, let’s look at some examples of academic CV sections with actual applicant information included. Remember that the best CVs are those that clearly state the applicant’s qualifications, skills, and achievements. Let’s go through the CV section-by-section to see how best to highlight these elements of your academic profile. Note that although this example CV does not include EVERY section detailed above, this doesn’t mean that YOU shouldn’t include any of those sections if you have the experiences to fill them in.

CV Example: Personal Details (Basic)

Write your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. Include this information at the top of the first page, either in the center of the page or aligned left.

• Tip: Use a larger font size and put the text in bold to make this info stand out.

CV Example: Profile Summary (Optional)

This applicant uses an academic research profile summary that outlines their personal details and describes core qualifications and interests in a specific research topic. Remember that the aim of this section is to entice admissions officials into reading through your entire CV.

• Tip: Include only skills, experience, and what most drives you in your academic and career goals.

CV Example: Education Section (Basic)

This applicant’s academic degrees are listed in reverse chronological order, starting with those that are currently in progress and recently completed and moving backward in time to their undergraduate degrees and institutions.

• Include the name of the institution; city, state, and country (if different from the institution to which you are applying); degree type and major; and month/year the degree was or will be awarded.
• Provide details such as the title of your thesis/dissertation and your advisor, if applicable.
• Tip: Provide more details about more recent degrees and fewer details for older degrees.

CV Example: Relevant Experience (Basic)

List professional positions that highlight your skills and qualifications. When including details about non-academic jobs you have held, be sure that they relate to your academic career in some way. Group experiences into relevant categories if you have multiple elements to include in one category (e.g., “Research,” “Teaching,” and “Managerial”). For each position, be sure to:

• Include position title; the name of organization or company; city, state, and country (if different from the institution to which you are applying); and dates you held the position
• Use bullet points for each relevant duty/activity and accomplishment
• Tip: For bulleted content, use strong CV words , vary your vocabulary, and write in the active voice; lead with the verbs and write in phrases rather than in complete sentences.

CV Example: Special Qualifications or Skills (Optional)

Summarize skills and strengths relevant to the position and/or area of study if they are relevant and important to your academic discipline. Remember that you should not include any skills that are not central to the competencies of the position, as these can make you appear unprofessional.

CV Example: Publications (Basic)

Include a chronological (not alphabetical) list of any books, journal articles, chapters, research reports, pamphlets, or any other publication you have authored or co-authored. This sample CV does not segment the publications by “peer-reviewed” and “non-peer-reviewed,” but this could simply be because they do not have many publications to list. Keep in mind that your CV format and overall design and readability are also important factors in creating a strong curriculum vitae, so you might opt for a more streamlined layout if needed.

• Use bibliographic citations for each work in the format appropriate for your particular field of study.
• Tip: If you have not officially authored or co-authored any text publications, include studies you assisted in or any online articles you have written or contributed to that are related to your discipline or that are academic in nature. Including any relevant work in this section shows the faculty members that you are interested in your field of study, even if you haven’t had an opportunity to publish work yet.

CV Example: Conferences Attended (Basic)

Include any presentations you have been involved in, whether you were the presenter or contributed to the visual work (such as posters and slides), or simply attended as an invitee. See the CV template guide in the first section of this article for how to list conference participation for more seasoned researchers.

• Give the title of the presentation, the name of the conference or event, and the location and date.
• Briefly describe the content of your presentation.
• Tip: Use style formatting appropriate to your field of study to cite the conference (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)

CV Example: Honors and Awards (Basic)

Honors and awards can include anything from university scholarships and grants, to teaching assistantships and fellowships, to inclusion on the Dean’s list for having a stellar GPA. As with other sections, use your discretion and choose the achievements that best highlight you as a candidate for the academic position.

• Include the names of the honors and official recognition and the date that you received them.
• Tip: Place these in order of importance, not necessarily in chronological order.

CV Example: Professional/Institutional Service (Optional)

List the professional and institutional offices you have held, student groups you have led or managed, committees you have been involved with, or extra academic projects you have participated in.

• Tip: Showing your involvement in campus life, however minor, can greatly strengthen your CV. It shows the graduate faculty that you not only contribute to the academic integrity of the institution but that you also enrich the life of the campus and community.

CV Example: Certifications and Professional Associations (Optional)

Include any membership in professional organizations (national, state, or local). This can include nominal participation as a student, not only as a professional member.

CV Example: Community Involvement and Volunteer Work (Optional)

Include any volunteer work or outreach to community organizations, including work with churches, schools, shelters, non-profits, and other service organizations. As with institutional service, showing community involvement demonstrates your integrity and willingness to go the extra mile—a very important quality in a postgraduate student or faculty member. 

While the CV template guide above suggests including these activities in a section titled “Additional Activities,” if you have several instances of volunteer work or other community involvement, creating a separate heading will help catch the eye of the admissions reviewer.

CV Example: References Section (Basic)

References are usually listed in the final section of an academic CV. Include 3-5 professional or academic references who can vouch for your ability and qualifications and provide evidence of these characteristics.

• Write the name of the reference, professional title, affiliation, and contact information (phone and email are sufficient). You do not need to write these in alphabetical order. Consider listing your references in order of relevance and impact.

CV Editing for Research Positions

After you finish drafting and revising your academic CV, you still need to ensure that your language is clear, compelling, and accurate and that it doesn’t have any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. 

A good academic CV typically goes through at least three or four rounds of revision before it is ready to send out to university department faculty. Be sure to have a peer or CV editing service check your CV or academic resume, and get cover letter editing and application essay editing for your longer admissions documents to ensure that there are no glaring errors or major room for improvement.

For professional editing services that are among the highest quality in the industry, send your CV and other application documents to Wordvice’s admissions editing services . Our professional proofreaders and editors will ensure that your hard work is reflected in your CV and help make your postgrad goals a reality.

Check out our full suite of professional proofreading and English editing services on the Wordvice homepage.

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IMA EXAMPLE (Chemistry) 21 College Street, City, State, Zip 123-456-7890 | [email protected]  

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Michigan State University, Department of Chemistry PhD Candidate in Chemistry, September 20XX - present

Michigan State University, Department of Chemistry Bachelors of Science, (Honors) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, May 20XX

CERTIFICATES AWARDED Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, MSU, 20XX International Communication Skills Certificate, MSU 20XX Intel Certificate of Project-based Technology, Ann Arbor, 20XX

RESEARCH ACTIVITES Enzyme Kinetics Kinetic Isotope Effects Protein Expression and Purification Organic and Enzymatic Synthesis (mirco scale)

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS HPLC; FPLC; Cell Culture; LSC (Liquid Scintillation Counting); UV-Vis spectrometer; NMR; IR; Mass spectrometry; Multivariate analysis (PCA, PLS, and NAS); MATLAB; Mini'Tab; Sigma Plot; RefWorks; Mathematica

FELLOWSHIPS Graduate School Summer Fellowship (MSU), June - July 20XX

GRADUATE TEACHING APPOINTMENTS Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry, MSU, Fall 20XX - Present Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, MSU, January 20XX - May 20XX

HONORS AND AWARDS Distinction in Sciences Scholarship, (MSU), 2 years Outstanding Teaching Award (Dept. of Chemistry, MSU), 1 year Travel Award, Graduate Student Senate, (MSU), 1 year Future Scientist Scholarship, American Scientists Society, 4 years

SCHOLARSHIP Publications Sample, I., Mousee, N. N., Example, I.  The Inhibition of Oxidase Activity of Flavin-Dependent Thymidylate Synthase . [Journal of Physical Chemistry], 59(14), 687-871, 20XX.

Recent Presentations Ima Example and Mouse, N. N.  Kinetic Isotope Effects on H-Transfers Catalyzed by Thymidlyate Synthase , 20XX Gordon Research Conference:  Isotopic Probes for Mechanisms In the Chemical and LIfe Sciences, Galveston, TX, February 20XX.

Posters Kinetic Isotope Effects on H-transfers Catalyzed by Thymidylate Synthas e.  Poster Session, 69th National Conference, Boston, MA (March 20XX)

Contributed Talks Ima Example,  Exploring the Role of Dynamics in Enzymatic Catalysis:  Kinetic Isotope Effect Studies of E. coli Thymidylate Synthase , 44th ACS Midwest Regional Meeting, Chicago, IL (October 20XX)

SERVICE At-Large-Member, Council of Graduate Schools, 20XX - Present Volunteer, Red Cross Disaster Team, East Lansing area, 20XX - Present Tutor, America Reads, Lansing School District, 20XX - 20XX

AFFILIATIONS American Chemical Society Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing

For more examples of CVs visit our friends at UC Davis .

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Graduate CV examples

If you’re looking to bag yourself a top graduate job, you’re going to need a strong graduate CV.

Competition for the best jobs can be tough, so you need a CV that holds employers attention and shows them why you are the best candidate for the job.

This post contains 9 real-life graduate CV examples that have been used to land interviews and secure job offers for graduates.

And there is also a step-by-step guide on how to write your own winning graduate CV.

CV templates 

Graduate CV Example – Accounting

Engineering graduate CV

    Top tips for writing a graduate CV

• Research your target jobs thoroughly before you write your CV and identify the most important skills and knowledge required – then highlight them across your CV
• Write a persuasive personal statement at the top of your CV that gives an overview of your talents and explains the benefits an employer will get from hiring you
• Avoid CV clichés like “ I am hard-working team player ” and instead focus on skills and knowledge that are specific to your industry or degree subject
• If you have completed work placements whist at university, make them prominent in your CV to show recruiters how you can apply your skills in the workplace

Finance graduate CV

Law student CV

Marketing graduate CV

    Graduate CV mistakes to avoid

• Don’t overcomplicate the design and layout of your CV. Crowded layouts, big photos and crazy colour schemes will make it difficult for busy hiring managers to navigate your CV
• Don’t leave work experience out. Even part-time shop jobs or voluntary roles give you a chance to display your workplace skills, so don’t discount them
• Don’t use a silly email address on your CV – it will not look professional. If you have an old email address with a nickname – create a new one for your job hunting
• Don’t forget to triple check for spelling and grammar mistakes – spellcheck does not always catch everything.

Masters student CV

PhD graduate CV

Postgraduate CV

Psychology graduate CV

How to write a graduate CV

The graduate CV examples above give you a good idea of how your CV should look, and how the information should be laid out .

Now, I will walk you through the writing of your own unique CV, detailing what to include in each section and how to adapt the content to the sector you’re applying for.

What is a CV?

Who reads your cv, graduate cv structure & format.

• CV profile / personal statement
• Work experience
• Hobbies & interests

A CV (which stands for curriculum vitae ) is a written document which summarises your education, experience, skills and knowledge.

It acts as your introduction to a potential employer, and aims to show them why you are the perfect candidate for their vacancy.

A good CV will get you plenty of responses and interviews , and take you one step closer to landing a graduate job with a good salary .

When you apply for a job via email or a job website, a recruiter or hiring manager will receive it and review it.

A recruiter could work for an external recruitment agency, or directly for the employer and they’re responsible for finding the right applicants for that organisation’s roles, acting as a middle-man between you and the hiring manager.

A hiring manager is a team leader or manager who is looking to fill a role within their team, they will most likely be your supervisor if you’re successful in securing the position.

Quick tip: Hiring managers and recruiters are normally very busy people, and they see lots of CVs on a daily basis. Bear this in mind when writing your CV and always try to make it concise and easy to read.

You can also check out my video guide to writing a CV when you have no experience.

Your CV structure and format are crucial to ensuring that a recruiter can read your CV with ease and quickly navigate to the parts that interest them most.

The infographic below gives an overview of how to layout your graduate CV and what sections should be included.

CV formatting tips

• A graduate CV or undergraduate CV should ideally be no longer than 2 sides of A4 to cater for modern attention spans and keep readers interested – of you have little or no work experience, this could be squeezed down to 1 page.
• Stick to a basic clean font and colour scheme – simple styling makes the document a pleasant read and keeps it looking professional
• Break up text using bullet points and headers to aid the flow of information and make it less tedious to read.
• Pictures and logos deflect from the substance and waste valuable space on your CV – so avoid using them.

Structuring your Graduate CV

When writing your CV, divide it up into the following sections:

• Contact details  – Should be at the top of the page to ensure they aren’t missed.
• Profile/personal statement – This is an intro/overview of your talents, forming a good first impression and allowing the recruiter to gain a quick insight into your suitability for roles. Tailor this profile to match the skills and knowledge your target employers are looking for.
• Education – List your qualifications in detail here, with a focus on your degree, as that is what most graduate recruiters will be interested in
• Relevant Projects – As your work experience may be limited, look to document projects you have been part of that relate to your target roles, or perhaps some core skills you learnt at University.
• Work experience / career history – Add any previous work experience in reverse chronological order – it’s best to start with Uni work placements as they will be most relevant
• Interest and hobbies  – An optional section to highlight hobbies that can demonstrate your skills that can transition into the working world.

CV Contact Details

When you trying to get responses from recruiters, it’s essential that they can easily find your contact information, so make sure it stays at the top of the 1st page.

Only relevant and basic details are required so keep to the below:

• Phone Number – This will ideally be your mobile number so that you can respond to calls quickly.
• Email address –  Use a professional email address, preferably one that consists of your first name and last name – no nicknames!
• Location – If you’re currently between your university residence and your home location, add the city in which you’re searching for work.
• If you have a LinkedIn account then you could also add a link to your profile, although this is not essential.

Quick tip: You can save space and add some design flair to your CV by adding some icons to symbolise the contact details in your header.

Graduate CV Profile/ Personal Statement

Your personal statement  or profile , is an introductory paragraph which sits at the top of your CV, and it’s aim is to draw recruiters in by showcasing your most relevant qualifications, skills and experience.

Quick tip: Do some research to find out what skills your desired employers are looking for by browsing through relevant job adverts.

Below is an example of a strong graduate CV profile.

This is the type of content you should be including in your CV personal statement:

Educational history – The degree field you studied and what specialist knowledge or practical abilities you took away from your education.

Workplace skills – Include hard skills like languages, IT system knowledge, writing skills, sales, marketing etc. Avoid using too many soft skills ( team work , communication, organisation etc . ) as these are needed for most jobs and won’t make you stand out.

Work experience – If you’ve secured any internship placements or had any prior work experience you should mention it, especially if the work relates to your target roles.

Interest in your desired field – As a junior candidate, there may not be much to differentiate you from other graduates , so describing your passion for the career you are pursuing can show employers you will be a serious committed hire. (You should also include this in your cover letter )

Quick tip: Start your profile with a punchy headline to reel employers in and get more attention to your CV.

Core skills and achievements section

A bullet pointed list of impressive skills and  achievements is a great way to catch recruiters’ eyes and give them a snapshot of your talents within seconds of them opening the CV.

You can include relevant workplace skills, or any academic achievements or positions of responsibility such as being a prefect or leading a student club.

Relevant Projects

This is an optional extra section to evidence any projects you were involved in during your degree, whilst at work, or even as part of your extra curricular activities – think of projects that would be beneficial to the industry you’re applying to for best results.

Be specific, documenting your exact responsibilities and consider any relevant facts or figures that will add more credibility to your examples, such as timelines of the projects and outputs.

Break up projects using bullet points and giving a bold header to each one, allowing ease of reading.

See also: CV for PhD application

Your educational experience will be detailed throughout your CV, but this section is reserved for recording all qualifications you have achieved for completeness.

It’s important to include all of your qualifications from GCSEs upwards as some companies have strict educational entrance policies for grad roles (e.g. must have 5 GCSEs A-C )

Basic CV template

Add depth to your education , including the level of each qualification completed, dates of achievement and institute in which you studied, as well as any important modules covered.

Begin with your most recent qualification (probably your degree) and work in a backwards chronological order.

You will need to include lots of detail on your degree because that is the area recruiters are likely to be most interested in.

Work Experience

You may not have any direct paid work experience, or you may have some part-time retail or restaurant waiting experience.

You may have undertaken a work placement with school or university.

Or, you may have voluntary work experience.

Whatever experience you have, it’s important to use it to show how you apply your skills in the workplace.

Generally speaking you should list your work experience in reverse chronological order – however, if you have work placements that relate to the roles you are applying for, you need to prioritise them and place them at the top of your work experience to ensure they get seen.

If you are struggling with a lack of work experience , check out the infographic below which shows some actionable points for improving your CV when you have little or no experience .

Structuring your Roles

Break up the information in your roles by using clearly divided sections and bullet points – below is the structure you should be working towards.

For each role, briefly describing the goal of the role and the organisation you were employed within.

“Assisting a team of senior designers to produce a range of clothing items for luxury womens brand”

Key Responsibilities

List your activities in short sharp bullet points and try to show your impact on the business.

• Handling customer complaints to resolve issues and protect the reputation of the business
• Attending briefing meetings and taking notes to provide a record of outputs

Key Achievements

To really prove your value, try to include some impressive achievements you have made that have had a positive effect on your employer.

Try to back your claims up with facts and figures where possible

• Formatted 10 presentation slides which supported sales team in closing 5 sales in 1 month
• Resolved 98% of complaints within recommended 10 day time frame

Quick tip: A poorly written CV will fail to impress recruiters and employers. Use our quick-and-easy CV Builder to create a winning CV in minutes with professional templates and pre-written content for every industry.

Hobbies and Interests

The hobbies segment of your CV is optional, but if you have limited work experience this is an opportunity to showcase any relevant  talents you have gained through extra-curricular activities.

Some good hobbies to include as a graduate are:

Sports clubs – If you play in (or lead) a sports club, this can be a great way to demonstrate your teamwork, leadership, communication and organisation abilities.

Personal projects – E.g. If you are applying for writing jobs and you run your own personal blog, there will be lots of relevant skills you can draw from your experience there.

Impressive feats – If you’ve run a marathon or climbed a mountain, this can prove that you are a driven individual and make you stand out from the crowd.

Writing your Graduate CV – Conclusion

Writing a graduate CV can be tough, especially when you have little or no work experience.

But, if you follow the guidelines above and draw on your education and extra-curricular activities to showcase plenty of skills, you should be able to create a winning CV.

Keep the format simple and focus on creating a pleasant reading experience to ensure that your CV gets the attention it deserves.

Landing that first job will be a challenge, so be prepared to put plenty of work in and apply for as many jobs as you can whilst networking on LinkedIn and seeking out companies speculatively.

You can also check out our school leaver CV or some of our best CV templates here  for more support

Good luck with the job search!

See also: Graduate cover letter – Psychology graduate CV – Marketing graduate – Finance graduate – Accounting graduate

PhD Student Resume Examples & Samples for 2022

This page provides you with PhD student resume examples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder .

Also, check out our collection of 500+ resume examples .

Tips for writing your resume

To land the perfect job, you need the perfect resume. In today’s crowded job market, it is more important than ever to stand out among the competition. When you write your resume, it is vital that you get everything right, from the organization of the template to the details of your work experience. To make sure your resume is flawless, here are some tips for writing the best resume possible.

Let them know where to contact you

Your resume should begin with your contact information. It is very important that potential employers, having read your resume, know how to contact you! At the top of your resume, include your name, phone number, email address, and city.

Introduce yourself

A personal summary, though optional, is a great way to introduce yourself to an employer with your resume. This section is comprised of one or two paragraphs where you can feature your notable accomplishments and highlight your most valuable skills. Your summary should give employers a brief outline of your experience and capabilities and intrigue them to keep reading.

What do you do best?

Shorter than a work history section, in a skills section you can efficiently list your core competencies in a way that is direct and easy to read. Showcase the skills and abilities that you bring to the job, focussing on those which distinguish you from the competition. The more useful and unique your skills are, the more you will stand out to an employer.

Showcase your achievements

Display your work experience in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your most recent position at the top of the section. Describe for each job your title, responsibilities, and accomplishments, with a focus on performance and results rather than duties. Use action words like ‘developed, ‘produced’, and ‘delivered’ when describing your work history to create compelling and impactful descriptions of your experience. Highlighting quantifiable information, like performance metrics and revenue, is a great way to demonstrate your abilities.

What did you learn, and where did you learn it?

Your education section should include the name of any post-secondary schools you attended, the degrees you earned, and any academic distinctions you achieved that you deem worth featuring. If they are particularly relevant, you can also include major areas of study and important projects that you participated in. Like the work experience section, your education should be displayed in reverse-chronological order.

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“We’ve specifically designed our curriculum to provide both cutting-edge technical skills and an understanding of the impact this technology will have on people’s lives. Students will not only learn about the algorithms and models underpinning AI applications, they will also be equipped with the latest knowledge on the data center infrastructures that are powering the AI revolution, namely distributed systems, networking and GPU programming”

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2023-2024 alumni award recipients, monica samples, bsn, rn - outstanding young alumni award.

Currently a nurse in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Monica Samples (20BSN) is the recipient of the 2023-24 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. No stranger to nursing awards, as a student, she was recognized by her peers with the 2020 DAISY in Training Award.

Since graduating, Samples has provided the highest level of care as a nurse in the PICU. She pursued further training and is now qualified to care for children receiving the most advanced level of medical interventions.

“The early success of Monica’s career is not a surprise to anybody who knows her,” her nominator writes. “She is gifted in her capabilities to manage complex medical interventions while meeting the multifaceted needs of her patients and their family members with an extraordinary depth of compassion, integrity and respect.”

Karen Bjøro, PhD, RN - Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Karen Bjøro (08PhD) is the 2023-2024 College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

 Throughout her 40-year nursing career, Bjøro has worked locally, nationally, and internationally to strengthen the profession and improve global health.

Dr. Bjøro’s passion for nursing is evident through her activity with many Norwegian and international nursing groups. During her eight-year term as vice president of the Norwegian Nurses Organisation, she was heavily involved in fostering collaboration and exchange between the NNO and nurse organizations in Rwanda and Malawi. Bjøro currently serves as the second vice president of the International Council of Nurses

“Dr. Bjøro has been a leader in global health and nursing internationally,” writes her nominator. “She represents the important impact graduates of the college have made not only in our country but around the world.”

Read more from our spring 2024 alumni newsletter .

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Medical Student Receives Academic Integrity Award

Medical student Claire Wilcox, right, accepts her 2024 Student Distinction in Academic Integrity Award from Kelly Ahuna, PhD, director of UB’s Office of Academic Integrity.

By Dirk Hoffman

Published May 6, 2024

Claire Wilcox, a fourth-year Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences medical student , was the recipient of a 2024 Student Distinction in Academic Integrity Award during an April 29 ceremony on UB’s North Campus.

The awards are in recognition that academic integrity is the foundational value of all teaching, learning, and research efforts, notes Kelly Ahuna, PhD, director of UB’s Office of Academic Integrity (OAI), adding that UB seeks to recognize those individuals “who help to elevate this important value at our institution.”

At the conclusion of each spring semester, in conjunction with National Honesty Day on April 30, OAI recognizes individuals or groups who have gone above and beyond their duty to promote and enhance the culture of integrity at UB during the past academic year. Winners receive a crystal pillar award.

Leads By Example, Willing to Go the Extra Mile

Wilcox was nominated for the award by Samantha Bordonaro, MD , assistant dean for student and academic affairs at the Jacobs School, who worked closely with Wilcox on the school’s Professional Conduct Committee (PCC).

“Claire has been an outstanding and extremely thoughtful member of the PCC.  She is a team player who has always gone above and beyond to uphold our Code of Professional Conduct ,” Bordonaro says. “We have been lucky to work with Claire and will continue to recognize and appreciate her leadership.”

Bordonaro says Wilcox played an instrumental role in the development of a medical school specific academic integrity course.

“Claire took the time to complete the original course and identify cases that could be modified or created to reflect some of the unique circumstances that medical students may encounter,” she says.

Ahuna concurs, noting that when she met with representatives of the PCC to get feedback on the academic integrity course her office was developing, she noted she was willing to customize the course for medical students, but did not have the insider knowledge needed to write relevant scenarios.

“Without missing a beat, Claire offered to write some,” Ahuna says. “With no prompting or reminding, Claire sent along five beautiful scenarios.”

Academic Honesty Integral to MD Training

Wilcox, who will be undergoing pathology residency training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, says she is honored to receive the award.

“I feel so touched to have been nominated by Dr. Bordonaro, with whom I worked closely on the Professional Conduct Committee,” she says. “I was also pleased to have the award presented by Dr. Kelly Ahuna; we met only briefly in the process of developing an academic integrity course for the medical school, but it was a pleasure to work with her and to be recognized by her department.”

Wilcox says she felt it important to serve as a representative on the PCC “because professional conduct, academic honesty, and ethical pursuit of knowledge are integral to the training of future physicians.”

She says all students deserve to learn in an environment that promotes these values, and that environment must be maintained by students as well. 

“Placing the responsibility of investigation in the hands of peers ensures that concerns brought to the committee are considered in a productive and open-minded manner, since we are all invested in our learning community,” Wilcox says. 

“I found a very collaborative learning community when I began my education here, and acting as a PCC representative allowed me to help maintain that community for future students.”

Do you have questions or comments for the Office of the Provost? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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Where Protesters on U.S. Campuses Have Been Arrested or Detained

By The New York Times

Police officers and university administrators have clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters on a growing number of college campuses in recent weeks, arresting students, removing encampments and threatening academic consequences. More than 2,700 people have been arrested or detained on campuses across the country.

Campus protests where arrests and detainments have taken place since April 18

The fresh wave of student activism against the war in Gaza was sparked by the arrests of at least 108 protesters at Columbia University on April 18, after administrators appeared before Congress and promised a crackdown. Since then, tensions between protesters, universities and the police have risen, prompting law enforcement to take action in some of America’s largest cities.

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of arrests at Princeton University. There have been 15 arrests, not 14.

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Our Coverage of the U.S. Campus Protests

News and Analysis

G.W.U. : Hours before the mayor of Washington, D.C., was scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill about the city’s handling of a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University, police moved to break up the encampment .

U.C.L.A. : A police consulting firm will review a violent confrontation  at the University of California, Los Angeles, in which a group of counterprotesters attacked demonstrators  at a pro-Palestinian encampment while security guards and police officers failed to intervene.

UChicago : Police officers removed the pro-Palestinian encampment  at the University of Chicago, a move that was sure to be closely watched because the school has long considered itself a model for free expression on campus .

Remembering the 1968 Protests:  As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention , it wants to shed memories of chaos from half a century ago even as the campus protests are growing.

Protests in Europe:  In countries across Europe, students have staged their own pro-Palestinian sit-ins and protests  on the lawns of their universities. And in several instances, the authorities are taking a similar approach to their U.S. counterparts: shutting them down.

Outside Agitators:  Officials in New York City have blamed “external actors” for escalating demonstrations at Columbia, but student protesters reject the claim .

A Spotlight on Student Journalists:  Columbia’s radio station and other student-led news outlets have provided some of the most detailed coverage  of the turmoil engulfing campuses.