Dear Future Researcher,
Struggling to build a CV that actually gets noticed?
Whether you’re ready to apply for a lab position, a summer program, or your first research assistant role, crafting a strong CV can feel daunting, especially if you don’t have lab experience or publications.
This week, we’re answering your biggest CV questions on how to structure your research CV.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What to include (even if you’re new to research)
- How to organize your experiences for maximum impact
- Keywords and action verbs that make your CV scan-friendly
- Smart ways to show your research potential before your first lab role
Meet Our Guest Expert: Joy!
This week, we're bringing back our Co-Founder and Executive Director, Joy Zhao! Joy is a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto who successfully secured a research position in the Robarts Research Institute at Western University.
Q: How do I decide what experiences to include (e.g., volunteer work, leadership, unrelated jobs)?
A: I always try to keep in mind the target audience before starting to write anything, from application essays to class reports, and this holds true for the CV as well. Its main purpose, in my experience, is to serve as a quick summary of your past experiences for professors to read through. As such, it may be a good idea to keep it brief (~1 page).
I would include any research experience, and if you have extra space, experiences that show transferable skills to research, such as teamwork, communication, being a fast learner, project management, and work ethic.
When I first applied for research positions, I didn’t have any direct research experience. To strengthen my applications, I included experiences where I developed important foundational soft skills. For example, I highlighted independent projects in my science classes and an extended research essay I completed as part of my high school curriculum. I also mentioned extracurricular activities like robotics and music council, where I demonstrated initiative, teamwork, and the ability to learn independently.
Q: How can I make my CV stand out when I don’t have publications or lab experience yet?
A: Professors don’t expect undergraduate students to necessarily be super experienced in research. Everyone starts somewhere! In this case, focus on demonstrating soft skills that are important for any job or commitment. These can include communication, writing, teamwork, work ethic, self-starting behaviour, and time management skills. Try to use action verbs and quantify your impact from your previous experiences when possible.
Q: How should I order experiences: by relevance, recency, or category (research, leadership, etc.)?
A: Circling back to the purpose of this CV, I would start off with educational background (so high school and current undergraduate degree), previous/current research experiences, then any experiences (leadership, volunteering, awards) you feel like have transferable skills to research.
Q: What action verbs or keywords work well for research CVs?
I find it helpful to have a chart/list of keywords as I’m writing my CV! Try to show what you did instead of telling it, and quantitatively describe your impact as much as possible!
E.g.
- Self-taught Excel, Partek KEGG, and Partek GO enrichment analysis methods to lead a project investigating transcripts regulating neuron death in mice neurodegenerative disease models with microarray data (#x genes)
- Led a conference presentation at XX
- Identified #X genes of interest in ABC pathways
Q: Is it okay to include high school experiences if I’m still early in college?
A: Of course!
Q: Should I include my GPA, scholarships, or relevant coursework — and where?
A: Yes, you can include GPA/relevant coursework (e.g. biostatistics course) in the education section and scholarships/relevant awards in a separate award section.
The Bottom Line:
Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to start your CV. Getting your first draft down is how you
become ready. Each update, revision, and bullet point helps you see your growth more clearly. So take what you have now, polish it, and send it out—you might be more prepared than you think!