How to optimize your CV

in a proposal Future Faculty, 20 January 2016

ELLEN RYDBERG

GRANTS AND INNOVATION OFFICE

Curriculum Vitae – present the story of your life?

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• No!

- CV is more like a marketing tool where you sell your skills,

qualities, expertise and potential.

• Key purpose: to present yourself in the best way – convincing the

evaluators that you are the best researcher for the project – in such a

way, that they will recommend your proposal for funding!

In a research proposal you explain…

• Your overall goal with your project

• The state-of-the-art in relation to your project

- what knowledge gaps your project fill? (– Note that all these gaps should be

addressed by your specific aims).

• Why is this important?

• Why now?

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Why you?

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Convince the evaluator that you:

• have the appropriate experience and expertise for the project

– Do you have any unique knowledge and the appropriate background/training?

- PhD

- Postdoctoral experience

- Previous studies/publications

– Did you recently develop a new method/ new theory?

– Do you have access to unique material?

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Convince the evaluator that you:

• have access to the appropriate infrastructure

– Why did you choose your institution?

– Would it be better for the project if it was carried out somewhere else?

• have picked appropriate partners/team members

– What is unique about them?

– How do they complement you?

– Do you have access to a network?

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Convince the evaluator that you:

• have preliminary results to support your hypothesis

• are independent – continue to convince through the CV

– Do you have enough publications to suggest that you have a distinct and

independent line of research (or the potential for one) without your

supervisor? Emphasize should lie on quality rather than quantity

– If you are not 100% independent, convince the evaluator that your CV is

great given your position and academic age (years after PhD).

– Can you attract funding?

• are the best scientist for the funding agency

– What will this do for the funding agency?

– What will this do for your career?

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General advice about writing a CV

• Follow the templates!

• A photo might be OK

– However, avoid vacation photos;

rather have a photo with you in your lab

• Start with personal information

– name, birthdate, contact information etc

• Provide a link to your web page

– However, make sure that it is updated!

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• When listing your information - list the most recent data first, followed by

older data

• Do you have "time gaps" in your CV - make sure to explain these gaps

• The length: most proposal CV is 2 pages

Examples of what to add

• EDUCATION: 199? PhD

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution, Country

Name of PhD Supervisor

Add the title of your thesis; date – not only the year; a short descriptive text – what were the main conclusions of your thesis. If applicable, add any distinctions or honours to your title, such as “Best Thesis”

199? Master

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution, Country

• CURRENT POSITION(S): 201? – Current Position

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Current Position

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

If you work with a world-wide known research leader, you can add this persons name – this may demonstrate that you work with the best researchers in the world.

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More…

• SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS:

200? – 200? Scholarship, Name of Faculty/ Department/Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

199? – 199? Scholarship, Name of Faculty/ Department/Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

For each fellowship, add a short descriptive text of what you achieved – especially if it is relevant for your current research project.

Note; A postdoc is considered to be a proof that you have acquired independence - especially if you can demonstrate international (country to country) mobility – A hidden criteria! If you have not done a postdoc, highlight something else that suggests that you are independent – can add a section called “INDEPENDENCE”.

• PREVIOUS POSITIONS:

200? – 200? Position held

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – 200? Position held

Name of Faculty/ Department, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

You could add a short descriptive text describing what you got out of the different

positions – especially if it is relevant for your current research project.

Highlight any country to country mobility – this is a hidden evaluation criteria for many funding agencies.

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More...

• TEACHING ACTIVITIES:

200? – Teaching position – Topic, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – 200? Teaching position – Topic, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

(If you are applying for ERC – only provide the best examples of teaching activities - so you can toned

down this part in the CV, since “the research part” is more important in ERC)

• SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS, GRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS:

200? – 200? Name of PhD student/Postdoc/ Master Students

Name of Faculty/ Department/ Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

Add how many graduated and how many ongoing. Highlight your leadership- and mentoring skills, by adding information about what they are currently working – a measure of your capacity to inspire young researchers to pursue an academic career (list where these students are currently working as postdocs or permanent staffs)

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• ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS:

201? Name of the meeting/ Please specify your role and the name of event / Country

200? Name of the meeting/Please specify type of event / number of participants / Country

Organising workshops or conferences is a proof of international recognition. Provide what

type of conference it was, what your role has been (initiating a Workshop, being member of the

scientific committee for a conference, chairing a session) and the number of participants.

• INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 201? – Faculty member, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

201? – 201? Graduate Student Advisor, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – 200? Member of the Faculty Committee, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – 200? Organiser of the Internal Seminar, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – 200? Member of a Committee; role, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

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• COMMISSION/POSITIONS OF TRUST: 201? – Scientific Advisory Board, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

201? – Review Board, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

201? – Review panel member, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

201? – Editorial Board, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Scientific Advisory Board, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Reviewer, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Scientific Evaluation, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Evaluator, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

Add name of the journal and funding agencies in case of reviewing and editorial activities and the frequency (how often you are doing this)

• MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES: 201? – Member, Research Network “Name of Research Network”

200? – Associated Member, Name of Faculty/ Department/Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

200? – Funding Member, Name of Faculty/ Department/Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

Add if you were “invited”, “elected” or “nominated”

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• MAJOR COLLABORATIONS:

Name of collaborators, Topic, Name of Faculty/ Department/Centre, Name of University/ Institution/ Country

List the institutes with whom you are collaborating; describe the collaboration.

You could also add “joint publications”, number of papers and the titles of the journal.

• CAREER BREAKS:

Exact dates Indicate the reason and the duration in months.

For some funding agencies, you are allowed to deduct the time you spent on parental leave, military

services, sick leaves etc. Check the rules of the funding agency.

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More…

• HONOURS/ RECOGNITIONS/ PRIZES

AND AWARDS:

Here is a section where you can allow yourself to shine!

Add how many who recieved this award.

• INVITED PRESENTATIONS

TO PEER-REVIEWES, INTERNATIONALLY ESTABLISHED CONFERENCES AND/OR ADVANCED SCHOOLS:

• GRANTED PATENTS: Also add patent applications.

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More…

• PUBLICATIONS

Include Published, In press, Accepted, Under revision, Submitted (need to be able to provide manuscript).

More than one-two ongoing manuscript can indicate that you cannot complete anything…

For your most important publications: add a short descriptive text about what the main findings were, your

contribution (did you participate in the design of the project? Performed any experiments? Wrote the

manuscript?) and what impact the article/book made.

Add analysis of your publications and citations per year and the impact factor for the journals.

• AWARDED GRANT APPLICATIONS

Add information about the funding agency, amount awarded, title of the project and indicate whether you

are the main PI or a co-PI. You can also add the success rate for the different calls.

To be able to attracht funding can be a proof of independence.

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Other topics to add…

• INTEREST AND/OR EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE

Provide information on your main interests to demonstrate that you are the right person for the project and

describe your expertice and knowledge and /or contribution and role in the past or current research.

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• INDEPENDANCE – this part can be added to you CV, if you

have problem showing independance

If you cannot show indepandance through publications withot your PhD supervisor, or have not done a

international postdoc;

Clarify your independance by describing your role and contribution to past achivements.

If the PhD supervisor or current ”boss” is co-publishing on your papers, you have to clarify the reason or

policy for it. Clarify your personal responsibility for the research and outcomes.

Independance can also be indicated by showing that you are able to attract funding, and that you have a

growing national and international research network and research collaborations.

Finally…. ……..keep your CV updated – this will save time when applying for funding!

GRANTS AND INNOVATION OFFICE

Ellen Rydberg Research advisor (EU-coordinator)

Grants and Innovation Office

University of Gothenburg

Phone: 031-786 6470

Mobile: 0766-186470

E-mail: ellen.rydberg@gu.se

Questions?

Ellen Rydberg; www.gu.se/forskninginnovation

GRANTS AND INNOVATION OFFICE