organizing your cv - university of washington

Organizing your CV

Thomas HawnJuly 25, 2016

Surviving & Thriving During the Research Years

BAD NEWS … GOOD NEWS …

James Joyce

Toni Morrison

Nicole Krauss

David Foster Wallace

1. FORMAT

•Simple

•Succinct

•Readable

•Error-Proof

•Sections easy to find

•Chronologic vs Reverse Chronologic

2. Know your audience

NIH Study SectionInternal A&P CommitteeAward CommitteeClinical vs Research Position

3. The Sections

AVOID MYSTERIES

3. THE SECTIONS

Personal data: Bold nameAvoid SS#, marital statusInclude contact information

Education & TrainingLeave out high schoolUse word “candidate” if part way on degreeExplain gaps

3. THE SECTIONS

Honors: Explain awards brieflyBe selective about non-academic awards

Local, Regional, National ResponsibilitiesHighlight participation & leadershipStart local in junior stages and shift to national

3. THE SECTIONS

Teaching/Mentoring: Distinguish courses vs ad-hoc lecturesAvoid “mega list fatigue in reader”

3. THE SECTIONS

BibliographyDivide into designated sections

Manuscripts in Refereed Journals Original ResearchEditorials, Reviews, etc.

Book chaptersPublished books, videos, softwareOther publicationsManuscripts submitted (avoid“in preparation”)Abstracts: trim as career matures

3. THE SECTIONS

Bibliography

Number each work within each sectionUse consistent format throughoutBold your nameNote/explain shared 1st-authorshipConsider highlighting your top 4-5 publications

3. THE SECTIONS

Research FundingBe comprehensive and use consistent format:

Title; project number; your role (PI, co-investigator); source; dates; annual direct costs; %effort

Include ALL funding, internal and externalActiveInactivePending

4. NIH BiosketchGeneral Information

Sections:A. Personal StatementB. Positions & HonorsC. Contributions to ScienceComplete List of Published Work in MyBibliography

D. Research Support

Summary: What do Avoid

“Old” informationUnexplained gapsNon-academic information

Summary: What do Include

Clarity & SimplicityKnow your audienceBibliography correctly annotated