Looking Your Best On Paper: Resume Writing for Postdocs

Lauren Celano, MBA

March 24, 2016

Looking Your Best on Paper – Resume Writing for Postdocs

Making Connections that Fuel Innovation! Making Connections that Fuel Innovation!

Looking your Best on Paper – Building a Resume and Cover Letter for Industry

7

Confidential; Not for Distribution. March 25, 2016

Lauren Celano CEO, Propel Careers

[email protected]


Differences and similarities between a resume and CV

Content advice

Formatting advice

Resume examples for research and non-research roles

What happens to your resume, CV and cover letter after you apply

Outline

8 Confidential; Not for Distribution. March 25, 2016


A Resume is not a CV


Resume CV

And a Resume is not an NIH Biosketch!!!


Be succinct

Include “big-picture” summaries of research experience

Tell a story

Tailor to position (layout and keywords)

Don’t minimize accomplishments

Similarities Between CVs and Resumes



Differences Between CVs and Resumes


CV Resume

Address Work Home

Email Professional address Personal address

Education Education listed first Education can be listed a few different places

Research detail Include a lot of detail on research projects. Correct to assume reader has knowledge in your field

Research detail is tailored for each role / company

References Professional references listed

Typically not listed

Mentees Mentees names listed Mentees names not listed

Grants List grants with $$ on CV’s Grants funding agency name listed, typically not dollar amount


Picture

Personal information:

date of birth, family, relationship status

Be careful with listing hobbies

Interesting hobbies are ok

US Resumes: Do not include



When to Submit a Resume or CV


CV Resume

Academic PI Role X

Academic Research Role X

Academic Administrative Role X

Industry Research Role X (with papers and presentations)

Industry non-research role i.e. project management, clinical, regulatory, etc

X (papers and presentations optional)

All other Non-Academic Roles i.e. consulting, investment banking, venture capital, marketing, etc

X (papers and presentations optional)


Example of an academic CV



Resume Example


Making Connections that Fuel Innovation!

10 Seconds …


The average time an HR looks at your resume or CV


You choose what to

highlight among your experiences

Customize your Skills!



Skills for Academic Success can also apply to Industry

Publications and Presentations

Thought Leadership (e.g.) Peer Reviewing

Chairing conferences

Advisory Roles

Grants Navigation / external funding

Involvement in the University

IRB, IACUC, etc

Admissions committees Departmental initiatives

Collaborations

Teaching

Mentoring

Additional Skills Gained in Academic relevant to Industry

Writing / reviewing intellectual property

Developing Business plans; market research

Consulting clubs / case studies

Writing: blogs, technical / non-technical writing

Software: Illustrator, photoshop, indesign

Quantitative Skills: SAS, Matlab, STATA, R, SPSS, Matlab, etc

Courses: i.e. Drug discovery, entrepreneurship, finance, regulatory, etc

Leadership roles in organizations

Making Connections that Fuel Innovation! Making Connections that Fuel Innovation! 19 Confidential; Not for Distribution. March 25, 2016

Research and Development

Solid Technical Foundation

Translational research

Manage / Initiate research collaborations

Work cross functionally

Write patents Intern with startup Develop business

plans Write Grants

Highlighting Skills for Different Roles








plans Write Grants

Intellectual Property









plans Write Grants


Grant Writer / Reviewer /

Administrator









plans Write Grants



Administrator

Product/Project / Alliance

Management









plans Write Grants



Administrator


Management

Technology Transfer









plans Write Grants



Administrator


Management

Entrepreneurial Company

Set up a lab (with 1st time PI)

Develop a new research direction for the lab

Comfortable with very innovative research

Wear many hats Initiate

collaborations Write grants, annual

reporting Write Patents Intern with a startup

Technology Transfer



Business Development

Startup formed from your research

Tech Transfer Internship Collaborative Research Intern at Startup Develop a business plan Secured funding for

your research Business Course(s) Patents Networking Negotiation

Medical Affairs, Clinical Research

Translational disease research

Collaborate with Clinicians/ Medical Teams

Clinical research Clinical biomarkers IRB experience Regulatory

submissions Regulatory / clinical

courses Presenting a lot



Strategy Consulting

Consulting club Case competitions Business courses Leadership roles in

organizations Tech transfer

internships Working with cross

functional teams Presenting a lot Strong writing skills

Marketing Communications

Technical & non-technical writing

Lab Public Relations Give Tours / Present

Blog writing Design flyers or

marketing materials Social Media use programs i.e.

Illustrator, photoshop

Regulatory

Develop / improve processes

Develop SOP’s and protocols

Train people on techniques

QC data Contribute data to a

regulatory filing Work with cross

functional teams



Policy

Advocate for grad students / postdocs (i.e. head of grad student or postdoc association)

Member of a groups advocacy committee like AWIS or your “professional association, i.e. AACR”

Member of national postdoc association

Improve policies within university

Technical Sales / Application Specialist

Manage relationship with vendors

Manage the purchasing process

Develop budgets Install equipment Train people on

techniques Develop training

materials

Data Science Roles

Quantitative Skills i.e. SAS, STATA, R

Data visualization tools

Programming languages

“big data analytics”



Management

Manage people (interns, grad students, teams)

Manage a team/activity for your lab or outside of your lab, i.e. non profit

Manage a collaboration Manage a grant review Manage a activity

Teaching and Managing Skills – Always Valuable

Teaching

TA or TF at undergrad or graduate school

Adjunct teach a lecture or a course

Design courses / labs Volunteer with STEM

non-profits Teach at grade school


Resume Formatting



Resume Example



If you want to pursue research

Highlight research experiences, skills, techniques

Research Techniques Section in Resume

If you want to pursue non-research roles

Highlight teaching, presentation, organizational, volunteer, team work, mentorship experiences

2 pages can be okay

Put your name (first / last) in the file name

Formatting matters

A Few Points to Consider…



How do you Know What to Include in a Resume?

Use the job description to guide you


Experience and Required Skills:

This position requires a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the area of biology or life sciences.

The candidate must have a minimum of 5 years of post-graduate/industry research experience related to Molecular Genetics with a comprehensive understanding of genetically modified mouse model generation.

The individual should have extensive knowledge and technical proficiency in standard molecular biology techniques to work independently in the design and generation of complex targeting constructs

Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and accurately perform new procedures involving a range of technologies

Ability to motivate and/or supervise junior staff with a good understanding of project scheduling and timeline

Excellent written and oral communication skills in addition to a strong desire to excel in a multi-disciplinary environment and dedication to team work are essential


Company is looking for a Scientist, dedicated to the Molecular group to utilize high-throughput techniques to generate genetically modified mouse models for pharmaceutical development.

Hard Skills – Green. Soft Skills – Purple.


Hard Skills

High-throughput techniques to generate genetically modified mouse models

Experience with state-of-the-art molecular technologies

Familiarity with current advances in transgenic and genome engineering technologies

Ability to design and generation of complex targeting constructs

Publications

Patents

Soft Skills

Ability to trouble shoot under minimal supervision

Scientific and technical supervision to junior staff

Ability to maintain scientific curiosity

Communication and documentation skills

Ability to quickly learn

Experience with project scheduling and meeting timelines

Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment and team oriented

Points to Highlight in your Resume and Cover Letter



Your name, with credentials (e.g. Ph.D., MBA)

Contact Information


John Smith, Ph.D. XX Street, Cambridge Ma, 02139 [email protected]; 123-456-7890

Green Card Holder

Your HOME address, personal phone and email Have a professional email name… i.e. [email protected]

If you are international and have US citizenship or Green Card, list it, otherwise sponsorship is assumed

mailto:[email protected]


Objective vs. SOQ


Objective can be restrictive in a resume

Objective: to be a research chemist in an oncology biotech

What if your objective changes?


What top 3 things do you want people to know about your qualifications… Scientific skills Business skills/interest Leadership ability, analytical skills, teamwork

… and your fit with the

company and position

Summary of Qualifications



SOQ Example - Science

Adaptable neuroscientist specializing in the molecular mechanisms underlying chronic neurodegeneration

Disease experience includes Alzheimer’s, ALS, and rare neuromuscular diseases (NM, CFTD, HCM, MPD-1 &GSD-V).

Highly skilled in both in vitro (cellular and molecular biology, protein, histology and imaging) and in vivo (surgery, behavioral analysis) research techniques.

Established track record of successful collaborative research projects (4 external and 3 internal), strong ability to multi-task and work effectively within a group setting.


Current postdoctoral fellow with a research background in infectious disease and vaccine development.

Understanding of healthcare related IP and commercialization through tech transfer internship.

Successful collaboration experience (2 external and 3 internal), and strong communication skills (>10 international conference presentations)

SOQ Example - Business



EXPERIENCE

40

Confidential; Not for Distribution. March 25, 2016


Employment – salaried

Graduate and undergraduate research

Certain volunteer experience

What belongs in this section?



How you List Information Matters


Name

Address

Phone; email


Provide a one sentence description of the lab, or organization you work(ed) for.

Listing Organization Information


EXPERIENCE University, Boston MA Sept 2006-2012 One sentence desc of lab Postdoctoral researcher, Department of XX

X Lab focuses on novel neurobiology research in the area of X therapeutic area

X Lab is focused on cutting edge bioinformatics modeling for drug efficacy predictions

X Lab focuses on evaluating small molecule oncology therapeutics


When listing position title, include department

Graduate student researcher, Cell Biology Department

Graduate Researcher, Department of Radiology


Listing Job Title

EXPERIENCE University, Boston MA Sept 2006-2012 One sentence desc of lab Postdoctoral researcher, Department of XX


List what you were responsible for:

Research focused on XX

Identified a novel pathway related to XX

Responsible for setting up the lab and/or coordinating research of lab mates

Utilized the specific lab techniques of XXX

Were you responsible for managing any... People, budgets, collaborations, activities, relationships, etc

Did you present at public meetings or conferences on behalf of the lab or company?

Did you write grants?

Listing Scientific Experience



Lead a team of 4 graduate students and postdocs to perform a genetic screen leading to the identification of 12 novel genes that regulate synaptic morphology and development

Initiated and lead collaborations with Dr. James E. Rothman (Yale University), Dr. Daniel Kümmel (Universität Osnabrück, Germany), Dr. Maria Bykhovskaia (Universidad de Caribe, Puerto Rico)

Collaborated with clinical team in the design of a phase I trial for brain tumors (industry / academic collaboration).

Extensive experience writing successful grants (i.e. RO1, SBIR, AHA, NSF).

Trains fellows and graduate students (>20 people) in cellular and molecular biology techniques.

Highlighting Transferable Experience



Before:

Research studies the role of different cell types in VNH with emphasis on key proteins such as VEGF-A, miRNA-21 and IEX-1

What does this mean?


Resumes – Wording Matters…


After:

Research studies chronic kidney disease and the role of key proteins in an oxygen-deprived environment.

Drill your resume down to words that many people can understand

Resumes – Wording Matters…



Practice Saying your Research



Two+ Positions under one Organization



Subheadings Can be Useful


Highlight transferrable skills for certain roles


Strategy for Subheadings…


If you have gained several experiences in a position you can make a separate section to highlight the skills


University X, Boston MA 2011- Present

Graduate Student Researcher, Dept of _______

Project 1: Research focused on X (2014- present)

Project 2: Research focused on X (2013- present)

Project 3: Research focused on X (2011-2013)

Collaborated with XX

Techniques used include XX

etc

Listing Multiple Projects



Listing Multiple Projects



RESUME EXAMPLES



Research Resume



Project Management Role



Business Development Role



1 Page Consulting Resume Example


SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES



Skills and Techniques

Molecular Biology: Cloning, PCR, quantitative PCR, mutagenic PCR, DNA purification from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, DNA sequence analysis, plasmid design and construction, microarrays, Illumina-based sequencing

Protein: Protein expression, protein purification via affinity chromatography, protein separation by SDS/PAGE, ELISAs, Western blotting, protein quantification, enzymatic protein digestion

Microbiology: Construction and maintenance of mutant bacterial strains, characterization of mutant phenotypes (ie. growth curves, cell wall protein profile, biofilm assays, antibiotic and stress susceptibility, etc.), quantitative plating, bacterial staining, light and fluorescent microscopy, electronic microscopy sample preparation, transcriptional profiling

Virology: Manipulation of positive RNA virus (Dengue virus) including tissue culture infection, plaquing assays, and mouse model of infection

Immunology and Tissue Culture: Growth of bacteria in primary macrophages and tissue culture cells; maintenance of tissue culture lines; isolation and differentiation of primary cells; flow cytometry; cytokine analysis by ELISAs and Western blotting; immunofluorescence; transcriptional profiling by qPCR and microarray analysis; Tcell stimulation assays; quantitative and qualitative antibody assessment

Animal Infections: Intravenous, intraperitoneal, and pulmonary infection, nasopharyngeal colonization of mice, full dissections and determination of bacterial load in liver, spleen, intestines, lymph nodes, lungs, nasal lavage; cytokine and antibody assessment from serum and tissue samples

Computer: Microsoft Office, Swiss PDB, GraphPad Prism, Kaleidagraph, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Vector NTI, EndNote, Literature Search (PubMed, MEDLINE, GoogleScholar, Science Direct)


Scientific / Technical Skills


Imaging software

Statistics programs

Design software

Programming languages

Patent databases

Marketing software

Etc…

Non-Laboratory Scientific Skills



Education Section


List degree, thesis title, academic distinctions

List certificates, etc. under “Additional Training”


These sections vary from person to person.

Additional Sections



Additional Sections



RESUME FORMATTING



Formatting is off - Attention to detail lacking

Attention to Detail…



Full Use of Pages


If using 2 pages, use the full second page

Page 2

Page 1


This is hard to read.

Use Bullet Points



Writing a Cover Letter



Put job # or title in the cover letter

Include your contact details – email and phone number

Reiterate the job requirements

Tailor your cover letter

Don’t put in random irrelevant information

Keep to 1 page

Address to: Dear Hiring Manager (is fine)

Make sure the company knows that you have read the job description

Writing a Cover Letter



3-4 paragraphs

Intro Paragraph

Paragraph about your Hard Skills aligned for the role

Paragraph about your Soft skills aligned for the role

An additional paragraph, if needed to emphasize either hard or soft skills relevant for the role

Conclusion paragraph

Sign with Name, Email address, Phone

Building a Cover Letter



Sample CL Format


Experience and Required Skills:

This position requires a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the area of biology or life sciences.

The candidate must have a minimum of 5 years of post-graduate/industry research experience related to Molecular Genetics with a comprehensive understanding of genetically modified mouse model generation.

The individual should have extensive knowledge and technical proficiency in standard molecular biology techniques to work independently in the design and generation of complex targeting constructs

Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and accurately perform new procedures involving a range of technologies

Ability to motivate and/or supervise junior staff with a good understanding of project scheduling and timeline

Excellent written and oral communication skills in addition to a strong desire to excel in a multi-disciplinary environment and dedication to team work are essential


Company is looking for a Scientist, dedicated to the Molecular group to utilize high-throughput techniques to generate genetically modified mouse models for pharmaceutical development.

Hard Skills – Green. Soft Skills – Purple.


Hard Skills

High-throughput techniques to generate genetically modified mouse models

Experience with state-of-the-art molecular technologies

Familiarity with current advances in transgenic and genome engineering technologies

Ability to design and generation of complex targeting constructs

Publications

Patents

Soft Skills

Ability to trouble shoot under minimal supervision

Scientific and technical supervision to junior staff

Ability to maintain scientific curiosity

Communication and documentation skills

Ability to quickly learn

Experience with project scheduling and meeting timelines

Experience working in a multi-disciplinary environment and team oriented

Points to Highlight in your Resume and Cover Letter



I have over 15 years of research experience that relates to carcinogenesis, stem cell maintenance, developmental and skeletal biology regulated by Wnt signaling. As a graduate student, I used mouse genetics to characterize a dose dependent Wnt inhibitor high bone mass phenotype. During my postdoctoral work I have continued studying Wnt signaling. I have analyzed the intracellular phosphorylation sites of Wnt co-receptors, and the extracellular ligand-binding surface for Wnt and its inhibitors. I have also functionally characterized an interaction site important for R-spondins used to regulate Wnt receptor levels in stem cells. Most recently, I generated a series of Wnt mutants to examine disulfide bonds essential for Wnt biogenesis and receptor binding. As part of this research I became an expert in cell and molecular biology concepts and techniques and in cell signaling assays.

I am an accomplished scientist with 28 publications (13 first author), and have presented work at national meetings (3 oral and 10 poster). I have demonstrated a high level of self-motivation, organization, and ability to work collaboratively by initiating and/or managing multi-institute academic collaborations (Oxford, U. Michigan), and collaborations within industry (Millipore, Pfizer CTI).

Sample Cover Letter Paragraphs for a Scientific Role



I am a Ph.D. trained scientist with expertise in ophthalmology, specifically geographic atrophy (GA) in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), acute retinal necrosis (ARN), and other inherited retinal degenerations. For my research, I lead a research team on a preclinical study investigating the use of patient-specific iPSCs as a potential therapy for AMD. As part of this work, I manage collaborations with internal and external clinicians and basic scientists as well as non-profit foundations. This has provided me the opportunity to gain exposure to clinical applications of my research, develop relationships with KOL’s in the ophthalmology space, and communicate extensively with clinicians, researchers, and technical and non-technical audiences. I have a strong publication record and have presented at local and national ophthalmology meetings. I continually review leading journals for latest advances in this area of work.

Sample Cover Letter Paragraphs for a MSL role


Highlight engagement with clinical trials or clinicians, presentation, teamwork, disease area of expertise, KOL outreach, etc


You want to highlight

Disease expertise (if relevant to the company)

Teamwork skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership roles in organizations

Business / consulting experience Tech transfer internships

Courses

Business plan competitions

Etc


Sample Cover Letter Info for a Consulting Role


I have a research background that spans biology, microbiology, and pharmacology and over 10 years of translational research experience through my Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship. I worked on projects focused on cancer and CNS injury, and also gained exposure to other therapeutic areas, such as diabetes and aging from my colleagues. My training has taught me to review literature and quickly synthesize information in order to get up to speed in new areas. I have strong quantitative skills developed through extensive data gathering and analysis as well as excellent problem-solving skills.

I have a passion for the business side of science, and recently trained as an Intern at the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at University X. In this role, I worked on multiple projects covering diagnostics, drug discovery, medical devices and therapeutics to provide insights and recommendations on whether a particular technology has commercial potential. I performed primary and secondary market research, used information provided by inventors, and various proprietary databases such as MedTRACK, Pharma eTrack, and Thomson Innovation. I have a good publication record in peer-reviewed journals (20, 11 first author), experience communicating with leaders in the scientific community, and have presented research findings to colleagues at local and national meetings. I have also taken a leadership role at my university as the vice president of the postdoctoral association. My professional experience is a proven testimony of my leadership skills and strong communication skills.


Sample Cover Letter Paragraphs for a Consulting Role


If you know someone at the company, say it… I am writing to submit my application for the Associate Consultant position. I had the

pleasure of speaking with XX during a recent ___ meeting, and this confirmed my interest in Company X, as a place where I can have a stimulating and rewarding career in consulting. My credentials and skills are highly relevant for this position. I have listed a summary of my credentials and skills for this role below.

Sometimes it is helpful to provide an idea of when you can start I.e. May 2016

Sometimes it is helpful to provide your international status

A Cover Letter should be 1 page

A Few Other Points to Keep in Mind



What happens to your job application


HR Person Hiring

Manager Interviewers

Maybe


Recruitment Database

Used by many firms, both large and small

Key word searchable Details in resume = searchable

Searches for key words in job description

User created profile (typically)

Systems can track applications over time

Do not get too fancy with resume formatting!!!


Key Word Search Skills and Techniques Molecular Biology: Cloning, PCR, quantitative PCR, mutagenic PCR, DNA purification from Gram-

positive and Gram-negative bacteria, DNA sequence analysis, plasmid design and construction, microarrays, Illumina-based sequencing

Protein: Protein expression, protein purification via affinity chromatography, protein separation by SDS/PAGE, ELISAs, Western blotting, protein quantification, enzymatic protein digestion

Microbiology: Construction and maintenance of mutant bacterial strains, characterization of mutant phenotypes (ie. growth curves, cell wall protein profile, biofilm assays, antibiotic and stress susceptibility, etc.), quantitative plating, bacterial staining, light and fluorescent microscopy, electronic microscopy sample preparation, transcriptional profiling

Virology: Manipulation of positive RNA virus (Dengue virus) including tissue culture infection, plaquing assays, and mouse model of infection

Immunology and Tissue Culture: Growth of bacteria in primary macrophages and tissue culture cells; maintenance of tissue culture lines; isolation and differentiation of primary cells; flow cytometry; cytokine analysis by ELISAs and Western blotting; immunofluorescence; transcriptional profiling by qPCR and microarray analysis; Tcell stimulation assays; quantitative and qualitative antibody assessment

Animal Infections: Intravenous, intraperitoneal, and pulmonary infection, nasopharyngeal colonization of mice, full dissections and determination of bacterial load in liver, spleen, intestines, lymph nodes, lungs, nasal lavage; cytokine and antibody assessment from serum and tissue samples

Computer: Microsoft Office, Swiss PDB, GraphPad Prism, Kaleidagraph, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Vector NTI, EndNote, Literature Search (PubMed, MEDLINE, GoogleScholar, Science Direct)


HR want to see … Focus

Do not apply for many

different jobs at the same

time


2 years out: Self-awareness, Informational interviewing, networking

1-2 years out: Informational interviewing and networking

Academic Roles: 12 months out: actively apply

Industry Roles: 3-6 months out: actively apply

Be aware of certain application deadlines • Large Consulting / Investment Banks: apply Fall 2016; start ~ June 2017

• Boutique consulting firms / investment banks: Some fall application process, other rolling hiring

Time to decide upon an offer: as short as 48 hours

Industry start date: as short as 2-4 weeks after acceptance

Job Search Timeframes



Lauren Celano

Founder and CEO

Propel Careers

cell: 215-370-2285

email: [email protected]

Contact Details: Connect with Propel


Full time jobs and

Internships

Coaching:

Resume, LinkedIn, Job

Search, etc

Newsletter Networking

Events

Twitter: @Propel_Careers

Facebook: Propel Careers

LinkedIn: Propel Careers

Web: www.propelcareers.com

mailto:[email protected]

http://twitter.com/Propel_Careers

CFDD Website: cfdd.brighamandwomens.org

CFDD Mailing List:

cfdd.brighamandwomens.org/about/reports-and-publications/subscribe

CFDD Curriculum Guide: cfdd.brighamandwomens.org/about/reports-and-publications/curriculum-guide

BWH Health Events Calendar: www.brighamandwomens.org/calendar

Meet with us or ask questions: Email: [email protected] • Phone: 617.525.7646

Documents

Looking Your Best On Paper: Resume Writing for Postdocs