Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Academic Job Search Handbook
The Academic Job Search Handbook
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 1
Congratulations! If you are reading this you are either close to finishing your dissertation and
ready to start preparing for the academic job market or you are taking the smart step early in
your graduate school career of learning about how the academic job search process works and
what it’s all about. In either case, you’ve come to the right place.
This handbook is designed to offer you a brief overview of the process of academic hiring, from
the faculty search committee side as well as from the candidate side, as well as tips for best
preparing your materials and yourself for the process. Much of the information in this handbook
is taken from other, more comprehensive, sources, which are cited throughout the handbook
and which we highly recommend also looking at as you research the job search process. In
particular, these sources include:
• The Academic Job Search Handbook by Mary Morris Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick.
1996. University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Getting an Academic Job: Strategies for Success by Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld and Marcia
Lynn Whicker. 1997. Sage Publications.
• The Curriculum Vitae Handbook: Using Your CV to Present and Promote Your Academic
Career by Rebecca Anthony and Gerald Roe. 1994. Rudi Publishing.
Use this handbook as a supplement to other important resources for being best prepared for the
academic job search:
• Academic job search workshops and events, career advising, and CV/cover letter critiques
through the Career Services Center (http://career.ucsd.edu)
• Web resources (listed later in this handbook)
• Talking to your faculty advisors, peers, and alumni of your program about their job market
experiences and advice
What we hope is that this handbook gives you information that makes you feel more comfortable
and confident as you enter the academic job market, and offers you tips and resources to use
throughout your job search. For more individual help with your academic job search, contact the
Career Services Center for an appointment with the Graduate Student Career Advisor at (858)
534-3750.
Good luck!
1
WHERE TO LOOK FOR ACADEMIC JOBS
Depending on your discipline, some of these resources may be more used than others, but
perusing all of these options will help ensure that you find every job possibility out there.
Scholarly Associations
• Conferences
• Newsletters
• Job Listings
• Job Placement Services
• Guides and Articles
• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of application (cover letter)
• Description of future research plans/interests (research universities)
or Statement of teaching philosophy (teaching colleges)
• Letters of reference
• List of references
These five items are by far the most common application materials. Others – such as dissertation
abstract, writing samples, more teaching materials, and transcripts – may come up for some
institutions as well.
2
TYPICAL TIMELINE FOR FACULTY SEARCH COMMITTEES
Courtesy of Andrew Green, Ph.D. Advisor, UC Berkeley
As you can see, the timeline for a faculty search committee is a two-year (24-month) process,
from creating a job ad to soliciting materials to interviewing to eventually hiring a candidate.
Understanding the process from the administrative side can help you feel more comfortable with
what is happening, what might be taking so long, and where you are in the typical process.
Numbers indicate how many months before new faculty member starts in the position, or before
the target (T).
3
TIMELINE FOR FACULTY CANDIDATES
Courtesy of Julie Miller Vick and the late Mary Morris Heiberger,
Ph.D. Advisors, U. Penn., and authors of The Academic Job Search Handbook
From your end, the job search process is also a two-year (24-month) endeavor. Starting early
and staying organized are critical to a successful search. Peruse this brief outline, and check out
Vick and Heiberger’s The Academic Job Search Handbook for more important details.
4
Winter, Eight Months Before
• Continue practicing interviewing and think about long-term goals.
• Attend academic conferences.
• Prepare and practice job talks.
• Continue to watch job listings and apply.
• Go on campus interviews or have telephone interviews.
• Apply for non-academic positions, if interested.
• Be good to yourself – take some breaks!
5
CREATING A CURRICULUM VITAE
The curriculum vitae (also referred to as the vita or CV) is a summary of an individual’s educational
background and academic-related experiences. The CV is used when applying for teaching and
administrative positions in academia or for a fellowship or grant. In contrast to a CV, a resume
is used to summarize an individual’s education and experience related to a specific career objective in
the private or public sector. The CV is the key document in securing an interview with an academic
search committee.
While contents of a CV will vary from field to field, it is worth noting some of the major categories
and information typically included. Included in this handbook are sample CVs that reflect stylistic
differences and, to some degree, conventions of the fields represented.
Your CV should be long enough to thoroughly present all your qualifications in the categories
discussed below. That will probably take two, three, four or more pages. The order of categories
will differ if you are applying to a research university versus a teaching college (see samples in
this handbook for differences).
Identifying Information: Name, address, phone and back-up number. Leave off date
of birth, marital status, number of children or other information that is not job related or
does not add to your qualifications.
Education: Begin with your most recent or expected degree. List degrees, majors,
institutions and dates of completion (or expected date) in reverse chronological order.
Also list minors, subfields and honors.
6
Dissertation or Thesis: Provide the title and a brief description of your work, its
theoretical framework, your conclusions, your director (and readers, if their names and
departments add breadth or new perspective to your area of research). For engineering
and sciences, if you decide to describe your research more completely in the “Experience”
section, you may want to simply list the title of your dissertation in this section. For a
new candidate in humanities or social sciences, the dissertation should be featured
prominently in this section.
Professional Experience: This category is often divided into several possible categories
such as “Research Experience”, “Consulting”, “Fieldwork”, “Teaching Experience” or
“Postdoctoral Work” as well as many others, depending on your discipline and target
institutions. Reverse chronological order (within categories) is again the rule.
Publications, Invited Papers, Exhibits, etc.: This category may be modified to read
“Papers and Publications”, “Programs and Workshops” or other titles which accurately
reflect production of professional work in your discipline. These should be arranged
in reverse chronological order and may be divided into subsections. In sciences and
engineering disciplines, first authors, number of papers and quality of journals will all be
carefully assessed, so clarity of presentation is important.
Teaching, Research Interests: List the courses you are prepared to teach (including
basic undergraduate courses) and topics that indicate your present and future research
directions. If your background would allow you to teach in several fields, you may want
to include a list of graduate courses taken, as an appendix to your CV. These sections
will also vary depending on whether you are targeting a teaching college or research
institution.
Academic Service: List all departmental and university groups, committees, task forces
on which you served. Student groups are valid as well. You should demonstrate that
you have exhibited leadership qualities and you will assume certain departmental
administrative duties if hired.
Memberships or Professional Affiliations: List all professional groups and offices held.
Languages: List all languages you speak and/or read and note those in which you are
fluent.
Dossier or Reference Files: Many applicants state that their file is available from the
UCSD Career Services Center. It may be useful in some disciplines to list your references
as well so that they may be contacted by phone.
7
CATEGORIES APPROPRIATE FOR THE CV
Academic Preparation Academic Service
Academic Training Professional Service
Academic Background University Involvement
Education Service
Educational Background Faculty Leadership
Educational Overview Committee Leadership
Professional Studies Departmental Leadership
Degrees Professional Association Leadership and Activities
Principal Teachers
Scholarly Presentations
Thesis Workshop Presentations
Master’s Project Conference Presentation
Comprehensive Areas Convention Addresses
Dissertation Workshops and Conventions
Dissertation Title Programs and Workshops
Conference Leadership
Professional Competencies Conferences Attended
Educational Highlights Conference Participation
Course Highlights
Proficiencies Professional Memberships
Areas of Knowledge Memberships
Areas of Expertise Affiliations
Areas of Concentration in Graduate Study Professional Organizations
Memberships in Scholarly Societies
Professional Experience
Professional Overview Endorsements
Professional Background Professional Certification
Administrative Experience Certificates
Teaching Experience Licensure
Teaching Overview Special Training
Experience Summary
Experience Highlights Professional Interests
Research Experience Teaching Interests
Research Overview Academic Interests
Continuing Education Experience Research Interests
Consulting Experience Education Interests
Related Experience
Special Honors
Professional Achievements Scholarships
Internships Fellowships
Teaching/Research Assistantships Academic Awards
Graduate Fieldwork College Distinctions
Graduate Practica College Activities
Academic Accomplishments Honors
Awards
Career Highlights Prizes
Career Achievements
Background Foreign Study
Study Abroad
Professional Papers Travel Abroad
Publications Languages
Scholarly Works Language Competencies
Books
Articles/Monographs Dossier
Arrangement/Scores Credentials
Reviews Placement File
Exhibits/Exhibitions References
Recommendations
From Finding A Job In Your Field: A Handbook for Ph.D’s and M.A.’s. R. Anthony & G. Roe. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s Guides, 1984
8
WRITING COVER LETTERS OF APPLICATION
For your cover letters, use departmental letterhead, if appropriate. The most important aspect
of your letters is that they should be written individually to respond to each position. This means
that you must give some thought to how your background matches the qualifications of the position.
In addition, you must indicate a sincere interest in academic life in your letters.
FIRST PARAGRAPH
State the specific position for which you are applying and where you learned about it. If there
is not an advertised position, explain who suggested you write and why you are writing. Let the
reader know who you are, what your field is and where you are attending school. Indicate any
special interest or background you have that may be of interest to their department or institution.
If your research involves collaboration with a well-known person in your field, or if you come
recommended by someone in their department, be sure to highlight that relationship up front.
MIDDLE PARAGRAPHS
These paragraphs will vary according to your field and possibly the types of positions you will
be applying for (teaching emphasis vs. research emphasis). If you are applying to research
universities, discuss your dissertation or thesis (or most recent research), what it accomplishes,
your methodology, conclusions and the implications of your work. This may take more that one
paragraph, but you should write to a general audience as opposed to specialists in your field.
Discuss future plans for research or research interest as well. You should also point out supporting
fields in which you have expertise or enumerate the variety of classes you could teach. If the
position requires teaching, be enthusiastic about your experience and discuss the courses you
have developed or your teaching style. If it is a solely teaching position, your middle paragraphs
should focus on your teaching experiences, philosophy and interests, and how your research
informs your teaching.
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
Deal with logistics, namely, are you having a reference file sent and a writing sample or chapter
of your dissertation? Mention that you look forward to meeting with the committee and to their
inviting you to an interview.
9
PREPARING FOR CAMPUS INTERVIEWS
What To Bring:
Copies of:
• Your CV
• Your application materials & the job announcement
• Your teaching portfolio (sample syllabi, list of classes you can teach, etc.)
• Writing samples
• Dissertation abstract and research plan
• Your research/notes on your interviewers (who are they, what do they do)
• All logistics (names, phone numbers, itinerary, transportation, etc.)
Plus a briefcase to carry all this paper and any more paper given to you.
Emergency Supplies:
• Non-perishable snacks (protein bars, nuts, juice boxes, water bottle, etc.) – unfortunately,
there is often no time to get food!
• Alarm clock, ear plugs, stress relievers (running shoes, escapist novels, candles, meditation
tapes, etc.)
• Fixers (mini sewing kit, individual stain cloths (“Shout Wipes”), band-aids)
• Other supplies: extra contact lenses, glasses, tissues, allergy meds, eye drops, etc.
• Professional, comfortable, versatile attire.
10
TIPS FOR ACADEMIC INTERVIEWS
You are not required to provide any information about your marital or parental status, your ethnic
background, or any disabilities you may have. But, some people choose to reveal this information
voluntarily, so they can assess whether a department is family-friendly or ethnically diverse, for
instance, or will provide needed accommodations for a disability.
In short, you have three options. Say the question is “Do you have children?”:
• Answer directly, highlighting positives: “Actually, yes, and luckily my in-laws live here in
town and would be happy to take care of them while I work.”
• Avoid the question, highlighting qualifications: “If you are concerned about my commitment,
I can assure you that my research plan is already up and running given the generous five-
year grant I just received….”
• Challenge the question, knowing the risks involved: “Can you tell me how this is relevant to
my ability to perform as a faculty member?”
11
APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
• Sample CVs and Cover Letters for both research university faculty positions and
teaching-focused college faculty positions
12
SAMPLE ACADEMIC INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
RESEARCH
1. Tell me about your research. Explain its broader significance/value to an educated layperson.
2. How do you plan to revise your dissertation for publication?
3. If you were starting again, what changes would you make to your dissertation?
4. Why did you choose your dissertation topic?
5. What contribution does your dissertation make to our field?
6. Tell me about your current research program. What do you plan to do next?
7. What audiences does your research address? Who are the other hot scholars in your field
and how does your work compare with theirs?
8. This is a publish-or-perish institution with high standards for tenure review. What makes
you think you could earn tenure here?
9. How many papers do you think you will publish given the teaching load?
10. What are your plans for applying for funding over the next few years?
11. Do you intend to continue collaborating with people from UCSD? How?
12. What facilities do you need to carry out your research plans?
13. How well do you know the research of our department’s faculty?
14. How has your advisor/chair influenced your research?
15. Were you ever stuck in your research? How did you get through it?
TEACHING
1. What is good teaching? Are you a good teacher? Why?
2. How would you teach the basic survey course in our field? What texts would you use?
What three goals would the course achieve?
3. What is your basic teaching philosophy?
4. What courses would you like to teach? How would you teach them? What courses could
you teach?
5. Tell us about your teaching experience.
6. How do you motivate students?
7. How would you encourage a student to major in our field?
8. How has your research influenced your teaching?
9. How do you handle difficult teaching situations?
10. How have you used technology in your teaching? (Have you had experience with distance-
learning/online education?)
OTHER
1. What do you think is the optimal balance between teaching and research?
2. What could an undergrad learn from working in your lab?
3. What are some of your other special strengths/interests?
4. Why should we hire you?
5. Why do you want to work for our type of university (liberal arts, research)? What experiences
have you had with (our type of) students?
6. What kind of salary are you looking for?
7. What is the biggest challenge to higher education today?
8. How would moving to our university affect you (and your family) personally?
9. Are you willing to become involved in committee work?
10. If you have more than one job offer, how will you decide?
11. What do you do in your spare time?
12. What will it take to get you here (to persuade you to take this job)?
13
Research University Cover Letter
I am writing to apply for the Assistant Professor position in your department that was advertised
in the IEEE Spectrum of February 20xx. I am currently an Electrical Engineering candidate at the
University of California, San Diego and will complete my degree this summer 20xx. My field
of specialization is optoelectronics and the emphasis of my Ph.D. research has been high-speed light
modulators for fiber optics. I am interested in continuing academic research in high-speed optoelec-
tronic devices for communication, computing and switching. I believe that your department, with its
strong program in high-speed optoelectrics, spatial light modulators and optical computing, would be
an excellent environment to carry on this research. From my conversation with Jim Lawson and Steven
Seymour, it appears that my intended areas of research will complement the current work and direction of
your department.
I have a broad foundation in physics and electrical engineering as well as teaching experience
at both the undergraduate and graduate level. I would enjoy teaching classes in electronics, solid-state
physics, semiconductor technology or optics at any level and would be especially interested in developing
a senior or graduate level class on high-speed electronics and optical measurement techniques.
Letters of recommendation are available from the references listed in my curriculum vitae or they
can be contacted directly by phone. In addition, Professor Olav Nassenlauer of the University of
Washington Physics Department is also familiar with my work. I have discussed with him the applicability
of my research to the development of the detectors for the superconductor supercollider.
I will contact you shortly to answer any questions that you might have concerning my qualifications.
I hope to have the opportunity to present my research results and future plans to you and your depart-
ment.
14
Research University CV
Daniel Masato Hartmann
Current Address: 108 Lebon Drove, Apt. B, La Jolla, CA 92037, (858) 457-5036
E-mail: [email protected]
Education
• Ph.D. Electrical Engineering (Applied Physics) U.C. San Diego (20xx)
• M.S. Electrical Engineering (Photonics) U.C. San Diego (19xx)
• B.S. Electrical Engineering Cornell University (19xx)
Ph.D. Dissertation: “Self-assembled Pick and Place Methods for Heterogeneous Integration of
Micro and Nano-scale Structures”, advised by Sadik C. Esener.
Research was conducted on two novel pick and place schemes that rely on self-assembly as a means to
overcome limitations in existing heterogeneous integration procedures. The first pick and place procedure
utilized the hydrophobic force as a means of self-assembling liquid droplets and was used to generate
high-performance polymer microlens arrays both on stand-alone substrates and integrated in a self-aligned
fashion with optical fibers. The second pick and place scheme utilized the complementary bonding of
DNA molecules to allow the self-assembly of micro and nano-scale particles on substrates. Modeling,
characterization and optimization of both pick and place procedures was conducted.
Honors and Awards
• National Collegiate Inventor’s Competition Winner National Inventors Hall of Fame, 20xx
• Graduate Student Research Award, (Best Poster) U.C. San Diego, 19xx
• Summer Institute in Japan Fellowship National Science Foundation, 19xx
• Micro Fellowship U.C. San Diego, 19xx
• Graduated with distinction Cornell University, 19xx
• HKN Member Cornell University, 19xx-19xx
Research Experience
Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering Dept., UCSD, San Diego, CA
• Passive optical component fabrication, characterization, and optimization, including the fabrication
• of microlenses on stand-alone-substrates, and microlenses self-aligned to optical fibers.
• Fluid mechanics modeling of liquid flows.
• Design and fabrication of electrochemical circuits.
• Chemistry and biochemistry experience, including work with DNA molecules and DNA/solid-support
attachment chemistries.
• Familiarity with microfabrication and clean-room equipment, including mask aligner, plasma-
enhanced chemical vapor deposition machine (PECVD), wire, bonder, metal evaporator, plasma
etcher, profilometer, atomic force microscope, optical fiber fusion splicer.
• Familiarity and experience with wet-lab equipment and protocols, including vortexer, centrifuges,
pipetters, pH meters, spectrophotometer, epi-fluorescent microscope.
Relevant Work Experience
Research Assistant U.C. San Diego 10/xx-present
Visiting Researcher Hitachi Inc., Japan 06/xx-08/xx
Collaborative Researcher Nanogen, Inc./U.C. San Diego 01/xx-06/xx
Student Intern Motorola Inc. 06/xx-01/xx; 06/xx-08/xx
Student Researcher Michigan State University 06/xx-08/xx
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant Optical Properties of Materials U.C. San Diego Winter 19xx
HKN Tutor Introduction to Digital Systems Cornell University Fall 19xx
15
Research University CV
Daniel M. Hartmann page 2
Leadership Experience
Graduate Student Association U.C. San Diego 19xx-present (exec board, 19xx)
ECE Graduate Council U.C. San Diego 19xx-present (president, 12/19xx-3/20xx)
MST Co-op Honor Society Cornell University 19xx-present (exec board, 19xx-19xx)
Engineering Ambassadors Cornell University 19xx-19xx (co-chair, 19xx)
Bioengineering Society Cornell University 19xx-19xx (exec board, 19xx)
Publications
Journal Articles
• D.M. Hartmann, O. Kibar, and S.C. Esener, “Characterization of a Polymer Microlens Fabricated
Using the Hydrophobic Effect”, Optics Letters, Vol. 25, No.13, 1, July 20xx, p. 975-977.
• D.M. Hartmann, O. Kibar, and S.C. Esener, “Optimization and Theoretical Modeling of Polymer
Microlens Arrays Fabricated Using the Hydrophobic Effect” Applied Optics, to be published May
1, 20xx.
• D.M. Hartmann, D.J. Reiley, S.C. Esener, “Microlenses Fabricated Using the Hydrophobic Effect
Self-Aligned to Optical Fibers”, submitted to IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, April, 20xx.
• D.M. Hartmann, D. Schwartz, G. Tu, M. Heller, and S.C. Esener, “Selective DNA Attachment of
Particles to Substrates”, submitted to Advanced Materials, April, 20xx.
• R.A. Flynn, O. Kibar, D. Hartmann, and S. Esener, “Superresolution Using a Vertical-Cavity Sur-
face-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) with a High-Order Laguerre-Gaussian Mode,” Japanese Journal of
Applied Physics, Vol. 39, February, 20xx, pp. 902-905.
Conference Papers
• D.M. Hartmann, O. Kibar, and S.C. Esener, Polymer Microlens Arrays Fabricated Using the
Hydrophobic Effect, SPIE Vol. 4089, Optics in Computing 2000, R.A. Lessard, T. Galstian, Edi-
tors, 20xx, pp. 496-507.
• D. Hartmann, S. Günçer, C. Fan, and S. Esener, M. Heller and J. Cable, “DNA-Assisted Self-Assembly
of Photonic Devices and Crystals”, TOPS, 19xx.
• C. Fan, D.W. Shih, M.W. Hansen, D. Hartmann, D. Van Blerkom, S.C. Esener, M. Heller, “Hetero-
geneous Integration of Optoelectronic Components”, Proceedings of the SPIE - The International
Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 3290. (Optoelectronic Integrated Circuits II, San Jose, CA,
USA, 28-30 Jan. 19xx.) SPIE-Int. Soc. Opt. Eng, 19xx, pp. 2-7.
• S.C. Esener, D. Hartmann, M.J. Heller, and J.M. Cable, “DNA Assisted Micro-Assembly: A
Heterogeneous Integration Technology for Optoelectronics”, Proc. SPIE Critical Review of
Optical Sciences and Technology, Heterogeneous Integration, Ed. A. Hussain, CR70-7, Photonic
West ‘98, San Jose, January 19xx.
Patents (pending)
• D.M. Hartmann, O. Kibar, S.C. Esener, “Precision Fabrication of Diverse Polymer Microstructures
by Use of the Hydrophobic Effect”, Application # 601/184.605 (UCSD).
References
[6 references omitted here]
16
Research University Cover Letter
18 October 20xx
I am writing to apply for the position in Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego. I am currently a
doctoral candidate in the Department of History at Yale University and am completing my dissertation, “Confront-
ing the Veil: New Deal African American Intellectuals and the Evolution of a Radical Voice,” under the supervision
of David Montgomery and Adolph Reed, Jr. With this year devoted solely to dissertation work through the support
of a Ford Foundation predoctoral fellowship, I will finish in the summer of 20xx.
My dissertation is an examination of the lives and works of several young scholars who taught at Howard Univer-
sity on the 1930’s. These intellectuals, political scientist Ralph Bunche, sociologist E. Franklin Frazier and econo-
mist Abram Harris, became known during the New Deal Era for their often-trenchant critique of the white and
black political and intellectual establishments.
In a broad sense, this work represents an attempt to understand how African-American intellectuals viewed them-
selves, their work and their responsibilities to the larger public. In the course of the dissertation, however, other
significant issues are addressed. The way in which intellectual history has traditionally been written is questioned;
the role that race has played in hindering or helping critical historical interpretation is examined and suggestions of
new ways to regard contested terms such as “intellectual” and “community” are forwarded.
Revisiting the historical construction of “community” is particularly critical because of the racially concretized
world, in which the subjects of my study worked and lived. Despite the fact that they taught at the leading institu-
tion for the higher education of African-Americans, Bunche, Frazier and Harris were always conscious of the fact
that their personal and professional worlds were circumscribed by social and academic segregation. In fact, the
ways in which these three responded to their contrived community is a fundamental aspect of the dissertation.
During the previous academic semester, I was able to develop many of the ideas mentioned above when I created
and then led my own course, “In A Separate Sphere: African-American Intellectuals Since 1895.” In addition to
this seminar, I have held a range of other teaching positions while at Yale. I served as a Teaching Fellow for David
Montgomery’s “20th Century African-American Intellectual and Social History” and “Comparative Cultural Con-
tact in the Pacific Frontier.” Other areas of academic interest include “Race and Ethnicity in the American West”
and “Sports and United States Culture.” I am prepared to teach the 20th Century United States Survey as well. My
dossier can be forwarded to you after November 1, 20xx. It is available from the Yale University Graduate School
of the Arts and Sciences, Dossier Service, P.O. Box 1504A Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520-7425.
I will be available at the American Historical Association for an interview if you wish.
Sincerely,
Randy Jones
10301 Grosvenor Place, #8
Rockville, MD 20001
(410) 555-0123
17
Research University CV
CURRICULUM VITAE
Education
Ph.D., History, expected 20xx, Yale University
M. Phil., History, May 19xx, Yale University
M.A., History, November 19xx, Yale University
A.B., with Honors, American Studies, June 19xx, Stanford University
Dissertation
“Confronting the Veil: New Deal African-American Intellectuals and the Evolution of a
Radical Voice.”
An intellectual and social history of several young, politically radical intellectuals who taught at
Howard University in the 1930’s. An examination of what it meant to challenge the (white and
black) political and intellectual orthodoxies during the Interwar Era.
Advisors: David Montgomery and Adolph Reed, Jr.
Awards
• Predoctoral Fellow, Ford Foundation, 19xx-present
• Dorothy Danforth Compton Prize Fellow, Danforth Foundation, 19xx-present
• Fellow in Public Affairs, Coro Foundation, August 19xx-June 19xx
• Graduated with Honors, Stanford University, June 19xx. Thesis: “Defeating Desire
While Endeavoring to Be the Best: The Conflict between Professionalism and Pure Sport Ideology in
Modern Athletics.”
Publications
“E. Franklin Frazier Revisited: A Review,” The Journal for Progressive Human
Services, Fall 19xx.
“Abraham Lincoln Harris,” (entry with Roger Weiss) The Dictionary of American Negro
Biography, forthcoming 19xx.
“The Third Wave of Negro Intellectuals: Understanding the Role and Significance
of the Interwar Era African-American Inteligentsia,” Dorothy Danforth Copton Conference of
Fellows, April 19xx.
Teaching Experience
Part-time Instructor, Yale University
• “African-American Intellectuals and Activists Since 1895.” Spring 19xx.
Teaching Fellow, Yale University,
• “Sectionalism, the Civil War and the Reconstruction.” Fall 19xx.
• “20th Century U.S. Labor History.” Spring 19xx.
Teaching Interests
• 20th Century United States Intellectual History
• 20th Century African American History
• 19th Century United States History
• Race and Ethnicity in the American West
• Cultural Contact and Exchange in the Pacific Frontier
Relevant Experience
• Writing Instructor, Pre-Registration Orientation Program, Yale University. Summer 19xx.
• Visiting Student, National African-American Museum Project, Smithsonian Institution. Summer 19xx.
• Program Mentor, Minority Summer Research Exchange Program, Yale University. Summer 19xx.
• Intern, National African-American Museum Project, Smithsonian Institution. Summer 19xx.
Organizations
• Committee on Biography, National African-American Museum Project Task Force Member.
• Organization of American Historians Member.
• American Studies Association Member.
• American Historical Association Member.
References
• Professor David Montgomery, History, Yale University
• Professor Adolph Reed, Jr., Political Science and History, Northwestern University
• Professor David Brian Davis, History, Yale University
• Professor Robert Stepto, African-American Studies and English, Yale University
• Professor Howard Lamar, History, Yale University
• Associate Professor Melvin Ely, African-American Studies and History, Yale University
Credentials
Complete dossier available form Yale University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dossier Services,
P.O. Box 10B Yale Station, New Haven, CT 06520-7425.
19
Research University CV
Curriculum Vitae
THOMAS J. RAMIREZ
209 Fairview Way Home: (213) 625-1234
Los Angeles, CA 90316 Work: (858) 652-4321
EDUCATION
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
RESEARCH/FIELD EXPERIENCE
20
Research University CV
Thomas J. Smith
p. 2
TEACHING CREDENTIALS
LANGUAGE SKILLS
HONORS
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
PUBLICATIONS
Articles
“Dynamics of Latino Youth Gang Leadership,” Journal of Social Problems, Vol. 16, Number 1.
“Community-Based Anticrime Programs in Public Housing Programs,” The Organizer,
Vol. 10, Number 6.
Conference Papers
“Problems in Evaluating Community-Based Anticrime Programs,” The Organizer, Vol.
10, Number 6.
Research Reports
“Youth Gang Violence in Public Housing Projects: Causes and Cures,” submitted to
County Housing Authority, June 19xx, with John Q. Jones.
PLACEMENT FILE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
21
Teaching College Cover Letter
16 November 20xx
Professor XXXXXXXX
Neurobiology Search Committee
Teaching College
Anytown, CA 98765
I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor of Biology as advertised in the Chronicle of
Higher Education. I am currently a doctoral candidate in Biology at the University of California, San Diego,
and will finish in the spring of 20xx. During my years at UCSD, I have had the opportunity to work in
both the laboratory and the classroom and it was in the classroom that I found my true calling. I am
committed to pursuing a career that focuses on teaching and mentoring and am eager to join the faculty
of Teaching College because I am committed to the goals and values of Teaching College: to instill in
students a love of learning and a respect and appreciation for others that they will bring to our society
at large.
I am foremost an educator. I love to teach, encourage, and help others achieve and succeed. In fact,
I am the first student in the history of the UCSD Biology Division to receive three teaching assistant
awards: one for each class I assisted with. These awards were based on the highly complimentary
feedback and evaluations I received from students and colleagues, a sample of which I include as a
supplement to this application. I have extensive experience, through working closely with course
instructors as a teaching assistant, with the duties associated with teaching a course. In addition, I plan
to teach my own biology courses at a university or college in the San Diego area in the spring and/or
summer of 20xx.
I am eager and qualified to teach any course on biology from the molecular to the organismal level. I
have a particularly strong background in neuroscience for several reasons. Firstly, my research focuses
on subjects central to neuroscience such as calcium signaling and ion channels, which is reflected
by the presence of two prominent members of the Neuroscience community on my thesis committee:
XXXXX and XXXX. Having a keen interest in neuroscience, I have taken several courses on the subject,
including two graduate courses, and conducted two short research (rotation) projects in Neuroscience
labs. Furthermore, my wife is a graduate student in Neurosciences at UCSD and many of her colleagues
are my close friends and scientific collaborators: one is a coauthor on a manuscript I am currently
preparing for submission. I also have a strong understanding of fundamental subjects in biology such
as molecular biology, cell biology, genetics and biochemistry.
Carrying out the mission of Teaching College outside the classroom as an advisor to students and an
active member of the college community is also an opportunity I relish. Through these activities I believe I
can help students receive the most from their education. I have advised many high school and under-
graduate students on educational, career, and life decisions. I have served on planning committees
at UCSD and, as part of a team that included other graduate students, faculty, and staff, instituted
significant, lasting improvements into the recruitment process for new Biology graduate students. I am
committed to the cause of greater educational achievement for groups that are underrepresented in
higher education and have participated in several conferences with that focus, including the Annual
Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, the National Conference of the Society for the
Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, the UC Leadership Excellence Through
Advanced Degrees Research and Leadership Symposium, and the UCSD Faculty Mentor Program
Research Symposium. I have also served for the past two years as mentor to Tien Nguyen, an inner
city high school student, through the UCSD Upward Bound Mentor Program, and for the past five years
have been helping to teach a three-day, hands-on genetics course to middle school students in the San
Diego area with the Salk Institute Mobile Science Lab.
22
Teaching College Cover Letter
My research goal is to establish a program that will involve undergraduates in captivating, relevant,
multi-faceted, and contemporary research. My primary interest is signal transduction, and I propose to
conduct research on carbon dioxide signaling in stomatal guard cells of the model plant Arabidopsis
thaliana. I have already had the pleasure of mentoring several undergraduate students in this research
and have seen that it is ideal for young scientists. Arabidopsis is an easy organism to work with, has
well developed cellular, molecular, and genetic techniques, and simple assays in guard cell signaling
can yield significant and exciting results. Students are particularly drawn to the human interest of the
research, as it studies the effect that the rapidly escalating carbon dioxide levels in our atmosphere
caused by human activity will have on our natural and agricultural ecosystems. I have extensive research
experience in many areas and can easily modify my research program to suit the needs of the Biology
Department.
Finally, I look forward to settling down with my wife and baby in Anytown, which has been a dream of
ours ever since we attended Anytown University together as undergraduates. During our time at Anytown
University I came to appreciate the high quality of the education and students at Teaching College and
I look forward to teaching at a women’s liberal arts college with focused and motivated students. I hope
to begin a wonderful career at Teaching College. I have included all requested application materials in this
package and also include student evaluations. In addition, my references are sending letters in support of
my application. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jacob I. Teach
23
Teaching College CV
JACOB I. TEACH
Division of Biological Sciences, UCSD 1234 Regents Rd. Apt. E
9500 Gilman Drive La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla, CA 92093-0116 (858) xxx-xxxx
(858) xxx-xxxx [email protected]
EDUCATION
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
TEACHING INTERESTS
24
Teaching College CV
JACOB I. TEACH
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
PUBLICATIONS
XXXXX, Teach J. and XXXXXX. The nitrate transporter AtNRT1.1 (CHL1) functions in stomatal
opening and contributes to drought susceptibility in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 15:107-117 (20xx).
www.plantcell.org
XXXXXX*, Teach J.I.*, XXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX. Convergence of calcium
signaling pathways of pathogenic elicitors and abscisic acid in Arabidopsis guard cells. Plant
Physiology 130:2152-2163 (20xx). www.plantphysiol.org
*These authors contributed equally to the paper.
XXXXX, XXXXX, Teach J.I., XXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX. Localization, ion channel regulation
and genetic interactions during abscisic acid signaling of the nuclear mRNA cap binding protein
ABH1. Plant Physiology 130(3):1276-1287 (20xx). www.plantphysiol.org
XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, Teach J.I., XXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX. Phosphatidylinositol
3- and 4-Phosphate are required for normal stomatal movements. Plant Cell 14:2399-2412
(20xx). www.plantcell.org
XXXXX, XXXXX, Teach J., XXXXX, and XXXXX. Separation of Alveloar Surfactant into Subtypes.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 162:617-622 (20xx). http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org
XXXXX, Teach J., XXXXX, XXXXX, and XXXXX. Influence of Phospholipid Composition on the
Properties of Reconstituted Surfactants. Lung 177:127-138 (19xx).
26
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