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Cover letters for faculty job applications
The cover letter serves as an introduction to your application package and answers the following questions: Who are you? When will you defend your dissertation (if you’re currently ABD)? Why are you interested in applying for this assistant professor position? Why are you interested in this institution? What is your dissertation research about? What are your research plans? What kind of teaching experience do you have? How will you contribute to our department and institution? Why is the school a good fit for you and vice versa? A strong cover letter will be tailored to the institution to which you’re applying. For the humanities and social sciences, it is typically two to three pages long, and for STEM fields, it is typically one to two pages but will vary depending on the specific discipline.
The purpose of a cover letter
Sometimes called a “ letter of intent ” or “ letter of interest “, a cover letter is an introduction to the rest of your job application materials. The purpose of a cover letter is to quickly summarize why you are applying to an organization or for a particular position, and what skills and knowledge you bring that make you the most suitable candidate for that position. The cover letter is often the first impression that a prospective employer will have of you, especially if they do not know you, or have not heard about you from their network of contacts. First impressions count, and so getting your cover letter right is a critical step in your job application process. Like all your job application materials, it may take time and focus to write your cover letters well. You will likely have several drafts before you come up with a final version that clearly articulates your skills and your understanding of the employer and the job requirements.
While your CV briefly states your skills, knowledge, experience, and (most importantly) what you have achieved using your abilities, the cover letter gives you an opportunity to create a narrative that shows the path you have taken in your career or education, emphasizing the skills you’ve used along the way, and explaining why the position you are applying to is the next desirable step on this path.
Timeline: Getting Started with your Cover Letter
Step 1: The first step to writing a good cover letter is to first have a good CV. Your cover letter expands upon some of the information you include within these documents, and describes the role you have played in achieving your academic goals (i.e., showing how your experiences have made you the best candidate for the position).
Step 2: The next step is to find an open position that interests you. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all cover letter, as each should be tailored to each job you apply to, but there will certainly be parts of the letter that will stay much the same, and be appropriate for multiple jobs. A 1-3 page cover letter might be the norm when applying for a tenure-track, faculty position, but you need to check with your own department to find out what the norms are in your field.
Step 3: Go through the job ad and carefully note all of the requirements and skills the employer is looking for. Based on your background research of the employer and the people you have spoken to who know about this employer (whether a business or a university department), try to identify the two or three most important skills that the employer is looking for. You should then try to create a cover letter that illustrates that you have these skills and have used them effectively.
When applying for faculty positions, especially those that involve both teaching and research, you will be expected to spend some time in your cover letter talking about your research and goals, as well as your teaching – even though you may have covered these in more detail in your research statement and teaching philosophy documents. How much time you need to spend talking about teaching and research will depend on the nature of the position and your field of study. For some humanities and social sciences applications, you will not be asked for a separate research statement, and this information will need to be integrated into the cover letter. Cover letters for scientific positions will generally be shorter as more (but not all) of the information about research will be covered in the research statement. Academic letters also need to cover everything that non-academic cover letters address, however, because you need to show that you are not only a good academic, but that you are a good person to work with who is committed to working at that particular institution. Make sure that you address the requirements of the position as stated in the job ad. Speak to faculty in your department to get a sense of what is expected in cover letters used in faculty job applications for your discipline. See if any faculty you know have been involved in search committees, and find out what they looked for in cover letters.
Explore other application documents:

Purdue Online Writing Lab College of Liberal Arts

Academic Cover Letter Sample

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When you're applying for a faculty position with a college or university, the cover letter is your first chance to make a strong impression as a promising researcher and teacher. Below you'll find some strategies for presenting your qualifications effectively in an academic context.
November 2, 1998
Dr. Naomi Sellers Chair, English Search Committee Box 58 Baxter College Arcadia, WV 24803
Dear Dr. Sellers:
I am writing to apply for the position as assistant professor of English with an emphasis in rhetoric and composition that you advertised in the October MLA Job Information List. I am a graduate student at Prestigious University working on a dissertation under the direction of Professor Prominent Figure. Currently revising the third of five chapters, I expect to complete all work for the Ph.D. by May of 1999. I believe that my teaching and tutoring experience combined with my course work and research background in rhetoric and composition theory make me a strong candidate for the position outlined in your notice.
As my curriculum vitae shows, I have had excellent opportunities to teach a variety of writing courses during my graduate studies, including developmental writing, first-year writing for both native speakers and second language students, advanced writing, and business writing. I have also worked as a teaching mentor for new graduate students, a position that involved instruction in methods of composition teaching, development of course materials, and evaluation of new graduate instructors. Among the most satisfying experiences for me as a teacher has been instructing students on an individual basis as a tutor in our university Writing Lab. Even as a classroom instructor, I find that I always look forward to the individual conferences that I hold with my students several times during the semester because I believe this kind of one-on-one interaction to be essential to their development as writers.
My work in the composition classroom has provided me with the inspiration as well as a kind of laboratory for my dissertation research. My project, The I Has It: Applications of Recent Models of Subjectivity in Composition Theory, examines the shift since the 1960s from expressive models of writing toward now-dominant postmodern conceptions of decentered subjectivity and self-construction through writing. I argue that these more recent theoretical models, while promising, cannot have the liberating effects that are claimed for them without a concomitant reconception of writing pedagogy and the dynamics of the writing classroom. I relate critical readings of theoretical texts to my own pedagogical experiments as a writing teacher, using narratives of classroom successes and failures as the bases for critical reflection on postmodern composition theory. After developing my dissertation into a book manuscript, I plan to continue my work in current composition theory through a critical examination of the rhetoric of technological advancement in the computer-mediated writing classroom.
My interest in the computer classroom has grown out of recent experience teaching composition in that environment. In these courses my students have used computers for writing and turning in notes and essays, communicating with one another and with me, conducting library catalogue research and web research, and creating websites. I have encouraged my students to think and write critically about their experiences with technology, both in my class and elsewhere, even as we have used technology to facilitate our work in the course. Syllabi and other materials for my writing courses can be viewed at my website: http://machine.prestigious.edu/~name. In all of my writing courses I encourage students to become critical readers, thinkers, and writers; my goal is always not only to promote their intellectual engagement with cultural texts of all kinds but also to help them become more discerning readers of and forceful writers about the world around them.
I have included my curriculum vitae and would be happy to send you additional materials such as a dossier of letters of reference, writing samples, teaching evaluations, and past and proposed course syllabi. I will be available to meet with you for an interview at either the MLA or the CCCC convention, or elsewhere at your convenience. I can be reached at my home phone number before December 19; between then and the start of the MLA convention, you can reach me at (123) 456-7890. I thank you for your consideration and look forward to hearing from you.
First Lastname
Points to Remember
- Use the form of address and title of the contact person as they appear in the job notice.
- Refer to the job title as it appears in the notice, and state where you learned of the position.
- Mention your major professor by name, especially if he or she is well known in your field. Also, mention your expected completion date.
- Make a claim for your candidacy that you will support in the body of the letter.
- For a position at a small undergraduate college, emphasize teaching experience and philosophy early in the letter.
- Describe your dissertation and plans for future research. Emphasize links between your teaching and research interests.
- Mention specific teaching experience that is relevant to the job notice or is otherwise noteworthy.
- Refer to relevant materials available on the web.
- State your willingness to forward additional materials and to meet for an interview.
- Mention any temporary changes in contact information.

Cover letter for a faculty position
Criteria for success.
- Demonstrate scientific accomplishments and scholastic achievement.
- Clearly define the vision and impact of your future research program.
- Differentiate yourself from colleagues, e.g. your advisors and other faculty candidates.
- Establish what your niche will be in the department.
- Clearly display excitement and passion.
- Keep the cover letter to 1 to 2 pages . The optional second page may contain a list of publications/presentations or a list of references.
The faculty cover letter, as with cover letters for other positions , is the first part of your application to be read by the Faculty Search Committee. Therefore, the primary purpose of a faculty cover letter is to summarize your application by connecting your Research and Teaching Statements, CV, and references.
Analyze your audience
Knowing what the Faculty Search Committee is looking for will help you tailor your application.
Searches for new hires may focus on specific research areas ( e.g. nanomaterials, systems engineering, therapeutic science, renewable energy). In this case, you should customize your application to highlight your work in the specified research area.
Alternatively, departments may concentrate solely on the best candidates regardless of pre-selected scientific disciplines, in which case you have more flexibility in how you present yourself.
In addition, academic employment opportunities differ based on whether positions are tenure-tracked or require teaching, and the type of institution (university, medical school, research institute). Research the responsibilities associated with each of these positions, and include only information relevant to the specific position – don’t waste valuable space on irrelevant experiences.
Structure of a Cover Letter
- Critical contact information: name, degree, current position, email, and phone number
- Your professional profile or webpage ( e.g. LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Academia.edu)
- Date, department, and university name and address .
- Salutation – “Dear [Faculty Search Committee / Department Head],”
- Brief introduction – Display excitement. State specific terms related to the faculty position, department and university. For example, if you are applying to a “cluster” hire that includes faculty across multiple departments, such as Systems and Synthetic Biology , then state this directly. State the position for which you are applying ( i.e. tenure-track appointment, assistant faculty position).
- Strong opening statement – Declare your targeted research areas. Establish the foundation on which you will base your research. Emphasize novel interfaces and applications within your proposed research.
- Scientific achievements – Summarize successes highlighted in your CV that demonstrate the breadth and depth of scientific expertise. Demonstrate your productivity, as well as key scientific or technical strengths, with supporting details.
- Motivation & impact – State areas of expertise and indicate specific aims of your future research program. Clearly describe how these aims align with current research initiatives in the department or university.
- Teaching & mentorship – Highlight your experience in the classroom and as a research mentor, and service in the profession or community.
- Wrap-up – “Additional documents are enclosed. Please feel free to contact me if supplemental information is required.”
- Follow-up & thank you – Be clear that you expect to hear back (e.g. “I look forward to your reply”). Thank the committee for their time and consideration.
- Closure – Maintain professionalism. “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” and “Kindest regards” are appropriate closing phrases. Include your electronic signature.
Advocate for yourself
The faculty cover letter emphasizes your past and present academic career, while promoting your future potential. For many of us, exuding confidence in an open letter of introduction is challenging, but you have to believe in yourself before you can convince others to believe in you.
State your pedigree
In academia, the institutions and departments you have attended and the advisors for whom you have worked do matter. State this information in Scientific Achievements . Inform your audience if you have co-taught classes with distinguished professors in Teaching & Mentorship or emphasize existing collaborations in the Motivation & Impact section.
Quantify your productivity
Academia identifies scientific contributions by the following conventions: number of publications, quality, and impact. In addition to research articles, noteworthy contributions may also include opinion articles, book chapters, or your role as a journal reviewer. Emphasize alternative sources of scientific communication (and funding) such as distinguished merit-based fellowships.
Engineering students are likely to be co-authors of patents; state this information.
Describe your future potential
Beyond reiterating your past accomplishments, you must also show that you are prepared to handle the future challenges of being a Principal Investigator. By far, the most difficult paragraph to write in the faculty cover letter focuses on the Motivation & Impact of your future research program. Clearly articulate the vision of your future research program and describe how your leadership will facilitate an environment of scientific and teaching excellence. Demonstrate expert understanding of your field, and confidently state your qualifications as a leader in research, an educator, and a citizen of the university.
Define your niche
Your application will be one out of hundreds. You must differentiate yourself and your research program from other candidates, as well as previous or current advisor(s). Ask yourself what you will do that is unique compared to any of your past or future colleagues. How will you fit uniquely into the department — what is your niche?
The Motivation & impact section provides an opportunity to concisely define your niche. State specific aims of your proposed research that expand upon the department’s core strengths while simultaneously diversifying the university’s research portfolio ( e.g. emerging research fields, state-of-the art technologies, novel applications). Carefully consider research centers, core facilities, affiliated institutes or medical centers at the university. In many cases, campus- or state-wide research initiatives may complement your research program.
Finally, take advantage of any experiences you’ve had outside of academia. Have you previously worked in industry or consulted? Would these former and future relationships lead to additional funding for your lab? If so, suggest more unusual avenues of additional funding. It may no longer suffice to focus primarily on traditional grants sponsored by government agencies. Think of creative alternatives and diversify your future financial portfolio. This, in turn, differentiates your research program from colleagues.
Finally, you will more than likely apply to multiple departments and universities. Therefore, modify your niche for every application!
Make important information concise and identifiable
Again, your application is one out of hundreds. Helping the Faculty Search Committee easily identify important information in your cover letter will only improve your chances of moving forward in the hiring process. A faculty cover letter should not exceed 1 page , so you must present your qualifications to the Faculty Search Committee in a concise manner.
Maximize impact of words. Use verbs that illustrate impact (“led,” “developed,” “innovated”) over verbs that make you sound passive (“participated”). Aim for verbs that are more specific to the actual contribution you made.
Minimize redundancy and wordiness. For every sentence, challenge yourself to remove as many words as possible without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Use keywords. Keywords cited by grant-funding agencies, easily recognizable by any faculty member, should be included in relevant sections of your faculty cover letter. Using field-specific vocabulary may demonstrate your understanding of the field and the department’s needs, but be aware that Faculty Search Committees with mixed expertise may require simpler vocabulary and/or explanations accessible to a broader audience.
Maintain abundant white space. In terms of formatting, inclusion of white space is easy on the eye while providing a precise transition from one section to the next.
Devote time!
Crafting your faculty application is a process that will continue indefinitely.
- Devote time to your faculty application, working in consistent increments over the course of weeks not days.
- Take time to brainstorm, reflect, write, edit, critique, and revise accordingly.
- Seek guidance in terms of technical content, emphasis of soft skills, as well as grammatical improvements and aesthetics from colleagues and friends.
Above all else, remember that the faculty application is a creative process. Enjoy it!
This content was adapted from from an article originally created by the MIT Biological Engineering Communication Lab .
Resources and Annotated Examples
Annotated example 1.
Example Faculty Cover Letter 887 KB
Annotated Example 2
Example Faculty CV 85 KB
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Professor Cover Letter Examples
Professors teach at colleges and faculties certain specialist subject areas. Their duties vary from evaluating papers to writing grant proposals. A good deal of their work may fall in the administrative area. Examples of Professor work activities include: preparing course materials, recording student attendance, moderating classroom discussions, advising student organizations, publishing research work, and serving in academic and administrative committees.
Not exactly what you are looking for? Check our complete library of over 1000 cover letter examples .
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For help with your resume, check out our extensive Professor Resumes .
A good cover letter can make you stand out from the rest. Learn how to create one in our Cover Letter guide .
Include These Professor Skills
- A genuine interest for a particular research area
- Self-motivation and enthusiasm
- Research abilities
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Presentation abilities
- Critical thinking
- Writing skills
- Original thought and a flexible approach to work
- Computer competencies
Comparable Professor assets are described in the cover letter example displayed below.
Dear Dr. Crockett:
As a skilled and enthusiastic college-level instructor with key experience developing curriculum while maintaining a steadfast focus on incorporating various methodologies and new technologies into the classroom, it is my pleasure to submit the enclosed resume for your review. My background and passion for education positions me to significantly impact your school as your next Professor.
Classroom management, personalized learning programs, and innovative educational techniques are just a few of my areas of expertise. By teaching students from a wide range of backgrounds and learning styles, I have honed my communication, creativity, and motivational skills. My inherent passion for fostering collaborative and exciting educational environments has successfully encouraged and developed productive, thoughtful, and accomplished college students. Additionally, I have continually demonstrated a record of research and publishing excellence, including publication of numerous articles in top-tier academic journals.
Highlights of my qualifications include:
Creating individualized plans and programs to facilitate a targeted, personalized approach to education while stimulating students’enjoyment and appreciation for the subject.
Incorporating college philosophies, regulations, and learning assessments into lessons while ensuring allowance for creativity and flexibility.
Challenged and communicated with students to encourage their participation and learning progress, meeting with them during and after office hours to ensure optimal subject comprehension and real-world application.
Hiring, evaluating, and supervising three research assistants each semester.
Continually attending professional development seminars to remain abreast of new technologies and alternative delivery methods; integrating tools such as hand-outs, presentations, videos, online activities, and laboratory offerings into classes.
With my experience and credentials, I am well prepared to dedicate myself to the highest standards of learning at your college and exceed your expectations for this position. I look forward to discussing my qualifications in further detail. Thank you for your consideration.
Rebecca K. Holland, PhD
A professional cover letter is the first step toward your new job!

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Professor Cover Letter Examples
How to build an effective professor cover letter.
Professors are the backbone of any college or university, providing students at all academic levels with the education and foundation they need to thrive in their chosen careers. To earn a position as a professor, you need a cover letter that meets a high academic standard and will impress the faculty and department committee at the institution you are applying to.
In this guide, we will teach you how to perfect your cover letter and earn a coveted position as a professor. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Format your professor cover letter correctly
- Personalize & tailor your cover letter for the position
- Write a memorable professor cover letter introduction
- Provide in-depth details of your career in the body paragraphs
- Conclude your professor cover letter with a strong closing statement
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. Format your professor cover letter correctly
When writing a cover letter for a position within academia, there are certain formatting differences compared to a normal business cover letter.
First, it is generally acceptable for an academic cover letter to be longer than one page – though you should aim to keep it under two pages in length. A career in academia involves many qualifications, so employers expect to see more in-depth job applications.
The structure of an academic cover letter should be similar to the following outline:
- Your name, professional title, and contact information
- The name of the university and department you are applying to
Your professional information should come first, followed by the university information. The university information can be formatted similarly to a letter address.
Here is an example of an academic cover letter header
John Smith | Professor of Humanities (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/john-smith DD/MM/YYYY The University of Michigan Humanities Department
- Greeting: Following your header is the greeting of your cover letter. This should be brief and formal, addressing a specific person – ideally the Department Head – by name.
- Introduction: The introductory paragraph of your cover letter is where you will hook the employer’s attention with a strong opening statement. It should be kept between 1 to 3 sentences.
- Body paragraphs: The body paragraphs will take up the majority of your cover letter, detailing your academic achievements, motivations, teaching experience, and more. You should aim for between 3 to 6 body paragraphs for a professor’s cover letter.
- Closing statement: Your closing statement finishes off your cover letter. As such, it needs to include vital information such as how to contact you and when you expect to hear back.
2. Personalize & tailor your professor cover letter for the position
There are many ways you can personalize and tailor your cover letter for the exact professor position you are applying to – starting with the greeting.
A personalized greeting will address a specific person by name. In the case of a professor’s cover letter, this person should be the Department Head or the Head of HR.
Here are two examples of personalized greetings
- Dear Dr. Jane Doe,
- To Dr. Doe, the Humanities Department Head,
When using titles such as Dr., Mr., Mrs., etc., always make sure you are using the correct one for the person you are speaking to.
In terms of tailoring the rest of your cover letter, the key is to research the department beforehand .
University departments want to hire professors who align with their current goals, particularly when it comes to research and publications. As such, you should highlight as many relevant projects and accomplishments you have that match the department’s current priorities and objectives.
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3. Write a memorable professor cover letter introduction
The introductory paragraph of your cover letter can go a long way in attracting the attention of a university department head or hiring committee. This opening statement should immediately establish who you are as a professional and why you are a good match for the institution.
A strong introduction will often include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance – naming a mutual acquaintance immediately gives the employer a point of reference and helps you to build credibility right away.
Here is an example of an effective introduction from a professor’s cover letter
To Dr. Jane Doe & the Science Department Committee,
I am a Professor of Biology with over 10 years of experience teaching undergraduate courses and publishing peer-reviewed research in the field of biology. Recently, I co-authored a study in a major scientific journal with Dr. Joe King, one of your department’s tenured Professors. Dr. King recommended I apply for this opening, as my research and goals align with your department’s current objectives.
4. Provide in-depth details of your professor career in the body paragraphs
The body paragraphs of your cover letter are where you will provide the most in-depth details about your career, professional goals, accomplishments , and skills.
As you write these body paragraphs, make sure to include your:
- Academic pedigree: University employers want to know how qualified you are for the position. This means you need to include the full scope of your academic background, including not just your degrees but where you earned those degrees and any honors you have received.
- Relevant publications & projects: As mentioned, university departments will look for Professors who match their existing research goals and objectives. It is crucial to highlight at least 2 to 3 peer-reviewed publications or projects you played a major role in.
- Research niche: Along with describing relevant publications and projects, you should emphasize your own research niche. This will give the department you are applying to a better idea of where your area of expertise lies and what type of research you can contribute to their institution.
- Teaching experience: Teaching experience matters just as much as research ability. A department will want to see your proven track record of successfully teaching courses within a university setting. They will also want to see a good overview of your overall impact – such as student success rates and collaborations with distinguished Professors or other academic professionals.
- Professional associations: In the introduction, you will hopefully have included a mutual acquaintance. Take this a step further in the body paragraphs by listing your relevant professional associations – for example, if you are a member of an organization such as the American Association of University Professors, you should highlight this in your cover letter.
5. Conclude your professor cover letter with a strong closing statement
It is always important to include a thoughtful closing statement at the end of your professor cover letter. In this conclusion, you should aim to include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written and concise closing statement from a professor’s cover letter
I am highly optimistic about my future with your department and institution, and greatly look forward to hearing from you so we may further discuss this opportunity and my qualifications. If I do not hear back by next Monday, I will reach out to touch base about the status of my application. The best time to reach me is between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at my office phone number – (123) 456-7890.
Warm Regards,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two .

Milan Šaržík, CPRW
Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
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Professor Cover Letter Examples
The process of writing a cover letter can prove to be frustrating. What is the best way to showcase your skills in a polished piece? To ensure you’ve addressed the basics as well as additional skills you possess to prove you are the ideal candidate, review our professor cover letter example and writing do’s and don’ts to help you succeed in your job pursuit.
- Do explain your skills and why you would be an ideal candidate for the position. Have you strategized new pedagogies with faculty, or were you part of an organization within the department? Without going into too much detail, briefly include what you will bring to the table.
- Don’t stall on your lack of experience. If you aren’t totally qualified for the position, there is no need to apologize. Instead, steer clear of low self-confidence and keep the focus on the skills you do have as an instructor.
- Do give background information through a story. As an educator, have you always had a passion for spreading knowledge??
- Don’t focus on what the school can do for you. Instead, what can you add to the department?
Professor Advice
Becoming a professor requires discipline, dedication, knowledge and a desire to share your wisdom with eager young minds. You’ll also need a cover letter to convince educational institutions that you’re the right person for the job. The cover letter examples below are intended specifically for academic positions, and can be useful tools in creating your professor cover letter. If you’re ready to take the next step in your academic career, click on any of the professor cover letter examples shown below to get started.
Cover Letter Tips for Professor
Those in search of quality employment should have a good chance of finding a job as a Professor if they abide by the rules of job hunting. Enthusiasm, proactivity, and a good attitude are the basic building blocks for landing a job.
1. Show off your best side. When job hunting, it is critical to put aside shy tendencies or low self-confidence. Employers value a strong sense of self and outgoing attitudes in their employees.
2. Chart your course. Entering the job search world without a plan is a recipe for disaster, so make sure you have an idea of the steps you want to take on your job hunt, the destinations you might ask for help along your way, and the end goal in mind.
3. If your job-seeking skills are rusty or it’s your first time around, consider taking a workshop on job hunting practices in the digital age to get you up to speed on the new norms for would-be employees.
4. Think about your job search as a marathon rather than a sprint. Keeping this long-term mindset will help you to plan for the future, no matter what the speed of the market.
5. Take time for reflection and self-improvement during your time between jobs. Reassessing your work and personal life balance is always a good habit at times like these.
Professor Job Seeking Tips
Bettering yourself as a seeker of jobs as a Professor can only take your search so far, but improving and polishing your cover letter can be the ultimate catalyst for nailing your dream job. Professionals from myriad different industries and career paths rely on their cover letters to sell their story to future employers.
1. Divide your credentials and skills between those that you want to use in the future, and those you don’t. Only include the former on your cover letter.
2. If you find that your cover letter is getting too long, cut it down to one page and include any excess important in your cover letter, instead.
3. Format your cover letter so that it can be delivered in a number of different formats, such as PDF, HTML file, or Word document, depending on what’s required.
4. Employers are increasingly scanning cover letters for certain keywords that must necessarily be present. Make sure yours includes the keywords applicable to your career.
5. Eliminate references, irrelevant hobbies and activities, and work experience older than 15 years to free up cover letter room for more current achievements and accomplishments.
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- Application Materials for Faculty Positions

Get relevant resources, access to workshops, and answers to your questions for every step of the application process.
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It is to your advantage to create a document that stands out from your fellow applicants. To create an application package that highlights your unique skills and experiences, watch our short video series Applying For Faculty Positions , use the resources below and consider scheduling an appointment .
Developing Faculty Application Materials
Understand the application materials
You have identified the type of faculty position you'd like to apply to and you are ready to start applying to faculty positions.
What types of materials?
Faculty application packets typically include a Cover Letter, a Curriculum Vitae (CV), Letters of Reference, a Research Statement and/or a Teaching Statement or Diversity Statement.
Who will read the materials?
The materials will first be screened by a faculty members on the search committee. Depending on the institution, faculty members may come a wide range of backgrounds, so it's best to write the materials for educated non-experts. Once you are invited to interview, the materials may be shared with the rest of the faculty members in the department.
How will they read it?
Faculty members often need to review hundreds of applications, which means that you will need to demonstrate you are a promising candidate through your Cover Letter and your CV in just 3 to 10 minutes for the first selection.
Are your materials ready?
Use these checklists to make sure your application materials are ready to send out:
- UCSF OCPD Checklist for Faculty Materials
- UCSF OCPD Checklist for CV at R Institutions
- UCSF OCPD Checklist for CV at RT Institutions
Write your cover letter
The cover letter (1-1.5 pages) is meant to be a guide to your application package, so that the reader wants to continue reading your application and knows what to look for in your materials.
Your cover letter should highlight and summarize your strengths and it should help the reader quickly decide that you are a potential fit for the position. It also should be well written and edited to make sure you come across as thorough and professional.
Suggested layout for a cover letter:
- Paragraph 1 : What position you are applying for, where it was posted, what you currently do and where.
- Paragraph 2 : What your area of expertise is, what you have accomplished to this date (details in CV), who you’ve worked with (details in CV). Highlight your strengths as a candidate for this position, make them want to read your CV.
- For a research position: What is your research vision (details in RS), why is this relevant (details in RS), is it fundable (details in RS), does it fit with the position, the department, the institution?
- For a teaching position: What is your teaching experience (details in TS), what is your approach to teaching (details in TS), why I our interested in teaching at that particular institution (details in TS)?
- Paragraph 4 : In what other ways will you contribute to the department (service, outreach), what have you done that can demonstrate you will do any of this (details in CV)?
- Paragraph 5 : Express enthusiasm for the position, the colleagues, the department, the institution.
- Download our Tip Sheet for Cover Letters
- Additional Resources: Science Careers Article: Writing a Winning Cover Letter by John K. Borchardt.
Build your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
General format:
Academic CVs follow a fairly standard format, which can be anywhere from 2 to 15 pages long. A CV should list all experience relevant to an academic position. Keep fonts coherent.
Common sections in the CV:
Education, Research Experience, Teaching Experience, Mentoring Experience, Grants & Awards, Honors, Publications, Trainings, University Service/Professional Involvement, Memberships. (The titles to these sections can vary)
Different versions of your CV:
Because the first few pages of a CV are "prime real-estate," the order of these sections will vary depending on the research- and teaching-focus of the position:
- For a highly research-focused position: Research Experience, Grant & Fellowships, Publications sections may immediately follow the Education section.
- For a teaching position: Teaching Experience, Mentoring Experience, University Service/Professional Involvement sections may immediately follow the Education section.
Therefore, if you are considering applying to a range of positions (from teaching-focused to research-focused), you will need to keep several versions of your CV.
Additional resources:
- Browse our collection of Sample Application Materials for academic positions below.
- Read our handout on "General Tips for Formatting Your CV."
- Download Instructions for using Microsoft Word to Format your CV."
Develop your research, teaching, and diversity statements
Research Statements:
- Download the OCPD Tip Sheet and Checklist : "Developing a Winning Research Statement."
- Use this fairly comprehensive rubric that helps a candidate evaluate the content, style and form of their research statement.
- From Cornell University, this website contains a clear outline for writing a research statement and provides several example statements to help candidates when evaluating their own.
- Read “ Developing Your Research Statement ” a webpage that demystifies what a research statement is and offers some brief do’s and don’ts.
- From AAAS’s Science magazine, this article includes a “How To” section addressing elements of a successful research statement.
- For example research statements, view the sample faculty application materials below.
Teaching Statements or Statements of Teaching Philosophy
- Developing your teaching statement is part of our Evidence-Based Teaching Course !
- An in-depth rubric developed by Kearns & Sullivan; this rubric is very comprehensive and provides good information for crafting your teaching statement, but is probably more in-depth than most biomedical, or research-intensive positions require.
- A simpler Rubric for Statements of Teaching Philosophy (Kaplan, O'Neal, Meizlish, Carillo, and Kardia, 2005) can be used to develop your teaching statement.
- From the University of Minnesota’s Center for Educational Innovation , this website provides links to rubrics that are more general and can apply to a variety of applicants.
- From Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching , this website is not directed to biomedical students specifically, but does contain helpful information about writing a teaching statement, the Kaplan rubric, and provides links to other resources.
- From AAAS’s Science magazine , this article provides a more science-centered perspective on writing and evaluating a teaching statement.
- Browse the " Teaching Philosophy webpage " for sample teaching statements & how-to articles targeted to scientists, by the University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching.
- Download “Writing A Teaching Statement” by the University of Washington’s Center for Instructional Development and Research. Contains good writing prompts to help you get started writing your teaching statement.
- For example teaching statements, view the sample faculty application materials below.
Diversity Statements
How to write one:
- An essay from Inside Higher Ed that provides tips for writing an effective diversity statement
- Guidance from Carnegie Mellon on writing a diversity statement
- A collection of further resources on writing diversity statements curated by the Office of Postdoctoral Services at Duke
How universities assess them:
- University of Washington provides tips for assessing diversity statements , which can help you understand what faculty are looking for when they read your statement
- UC Berkeley's rubric for assessing diversity statements
- UC Office of the President guidelines for evaluating contributions to diversity for faculty appointment and promotion
Sample diversity statements:
- Excerpts from samples across different fields , provided by University of Pennsylvania Career Services (at the bottom of the page)
- Guidelines for both writing and assessing diversity statements from UC San Diego, including three sample statements in science and engineering fields
The samples below have been generously donated by UCSF students, postdocs, and alumni, in order to offer you ideas about how to present your own skills and experiences. We make no claims that they are perfect, but we offer them as useful examples.
Do not copy the text exactly. To do so is plagiarism.
Sample Faculty Application Materials
Annotated CVs and Cover Letters
The following annotated samples are based off of the Academic Career Readiness Assessment (ACRA) framework.
Applications to R institutions
- UCSF OCPD Sample Cover Letter Annotated.pdf
- UCSF OCPD Sample CV Annotated.pdf
Applications to RT institutions
- UCSF OCPD Sample Materials ACRA_RT_CL_Annotated.pdf
- UCSF OCPD Sample Materials ACRA_RT_CV_Annotated.pdf
Biomedical scientist applications - Research-focused institutions
- Sample I (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement)
- Sample II (Cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement)
- Sample III (Research statement)
- Sample IV (Cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement)
- Sample V (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement, estimated budget)
- Sample VI (CV)
Biomedical scientist applications - Research and teaching institutions
- Sample I (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement, research statement) - small liberal arts college
- Sample II (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement, research statement) - small liberal arts college
- Sample III (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement)
- Sample IV (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement, research statement)
Social and population scientist applications
Positions at R institutions:
- Psychology Public Health and Health Promotion (Cover letter, CV, teaching statement, research statement)
- Psychology (Cover letter, CV)
- Nursing (Cover letter, CV)
Positions at RT institutions:
- Clinical Psychology (Cover letter, CV)
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VIDEO
COMMENTS
Check with faculty in your department. ... The cover letter is a writing sample. ... I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor in
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