Scientific CV examples

When you’re writing a CV, you need to focus on delivering reliable results just as well as any lab experiment. This can be difficult – but following this step-by-step guide will present your skills and experience in the best way possible, whether you’re applying for a lab-based position, a research role, or an industry-based scientific career.

As you know, scientific roles demand precision and clarity: and your CV should reflect that. A clear structure ensures recruiters can quickly see your technical skills, research experience, and impressive qualifications, without wasting any time finding them.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – These personal details sit at the top to provide easy access for prospective employers.
• Profile – Hook the reader by highlighting your research expertise, technical skills, and scientific background.
• Core skills – State your best qualities at a quick glance, like your laboratory techniques, data analysis skills, and technical proficiencies.
• Work experience – Give a structured breakdown of your lab work and scientific contributions.
• Education – Walk through your degrees, research focus, and any additional relevant certifications.
• Additional info – Awards, conferences, hobbies, publications – optionally add anything that could boost your application.

A well-formatted CV is like a well-documented research paper – it should be clear and concise, but most importantly, easy to navigate. Recruiters don’t have time to struggle through a messy first, so if it’s hard to read and full of mistakes, key details might get lost.

Follow these useful tips to ensure the best format:

• Bullet points – These let the recruiter pick out the key bits with ease.
• Divide sections – Making the information easy to navigate with clearly-defined sections is important.
• Use a clear and readable font – Along with an appropriate colour scheme, ensure your font is easy for the recruiter to read.
• No more than 2 pages – Too long would start to bore the recruiter, and this is plenty of length to list the important details

Now it’s time for your research abstract: your CV profile should quickly introduce you as a highly skilled scientific professional. It should summarise your expertise and key areas of focus within a few sentences. Your profile should immediately tell employers what kind of scientist you are and what expertise you’ll bring to the table.

Recent graduates would benefit from a longer personal statement, which allows more detail of your career aspirations, while a personalised cover letter is also recommended.

Here’s what to include:

• Scientific expertise – Highlight whether your work focuses on research, laboratory analysis, or industrial applications.
• Technical skills – Mention laboratory techniques, research methodologies, and equipment you’re proficient with.
• Analytical abilities – Employers value scientists who can interpret complex data and solve problems.
• Collaborative and independent research experience – Show how you work within teams or lead research projects.
• Industry or academic focus – Specify if you have experience in academia, pharmaceuticals, environmental science, or another field.

From lab procedures to data interpretation, your CV skills section is where you list the key competencies that make you the best candidate. You want to give recruiters a quick snapshot of your key abilities.

Tailor this section to the specific field you’re applying for – whether it’s biotechnology, environmental science, chemistry, or medical research.

You already know that scientific work isn’t just about knowledge – it’s about applying it. Your work experience section should highlight the research projects and laboratory tasks you’ve worked on, and showcase the problem-solving skills you’ve used in real-world settings.

Start with your most recent role and work backward, ensuring that each position details your key contributions. Instead of just listing duties, focus on how your work has advanced research, improved efficiency, or contributed to innovation.

If you’re new to the industry, highlight relevant university research projects, internships, or lab placements that showcase your practical skills.

• Outline – Provide a brief description of the research institute, company, or lab you worked in and your role within the team.
• Responsibilities – Go over your key tasks, such as conducting experiments, analysing data, or developing methodologies. Use action words like “researched”, “analysed”, and “developed.”
• Achievements – Highlight how your work made an impact, whether through published findings, improved efficiency, or contributions to a larger scientific discovery.

Scientific careers are built on a foundation of a strong education and academic qualifications. Ensure your degrees, research focus, and any specialised training are listed clearly. Newer candidates could spend some additional space on expanding upon specific modules that are especially relevant to the role.

If you have published papers, completed a research thesis, or contributed to significant projects, include them in this section or under an “Additional Information” section.