An academic CV for a postdoc should demonstrate your doctoral training, research contributions, relevant methods and scholarly outputs. Unlike a short industry résumé, it presents an evidence-based academic record. Use the step-by-step guide, two editable Word templates and annotated example below to prepare a CV for a specific research opportunity.
Suitable for first-time postdoc applicants and experienced researchers. Always follow the requirements of the host institution and funding scheme.
Download a postdoc CV template or example
Ready to edit? The free resources below use ordinary Word formatting, and the annotated PDF is an instructional example. Read the guide before submitting, and replace all placeholder or fictional information.
Which postdoc CV template should you choose? Use the first-postdoc Word template if your strongest evidence comes from doctoral research, a thesis and early publications or presentations. Choose the research-intensive Word template if you have several research appointments, grants, publications or mentoring activities to document. Read the annotated fictional example before adapting either layout. These resources are free and do not require programme enrolment.
What should an academic CV for a postdoc include?
A postdoctoral academic CV normally includes your contact details, degrees and doctoral research, research appointments or projects, publications or other scholarly outputs, relevant technical or analytical skills, presentations, awards and referees where requested. Depending on the role, it may also include teaching, mentoring, funding, datasets, software, patents and professional service. The order is not fixed: place the strongest evidence of fit for the vacancy where a reader can find it quickly.
Keep a comprehensive master academic CV, then tailor a copy to each research group or fellowship. MIT recommends this two-version approach; Cornell advises organising sections to make the most relevant strengths visible. The purpose is not to make your record seem more impressive than it is, but to let the reader evaluate it efficiently. [1] [2]
Academic CV versus résumé: which should you send?
| Academic CV | Professional résumé |
|---|---|
| Scholarly and research record; usually used for academic posts, research fellowships and postdoctoral appointments. | Concise, role-specific summary used for many industry and nonacademic roles. |
| Length is flexible; detail grows with genuine research experience. | Often one or two pages in US practice, subject to employer instructions. |
| Research projects, publications, grants, teaching, scholarly service and specialised methods can be important. | Selected achievements, responsibilities and transferable skills usually receive more emphasis. |
International terminology is not always consistent. Some employers call a document a CV even when they expect a concise résumé. The vacancy instructions should settle the choice. Cornell and Harvard distinguish the two documents in US academic and nonacademic recruitment. [2]
How long should a postdoctoral CV be?
There is no universal two-page limit for an academic CV. A new PhD graduate may need relatively few pages, while someone with several appointments and substantial publications may reasonably need more. MIT and Cornell treat the academic CV as a comprehensive record rather than an artificially shortened résumé. However, when a fellowship portal specifies a page cap or an approved template, that instruction takes precedence. [1] [2]
Use consistent headings, readable typography and ordinary document structure. Avoid multi-column layouts, tiny text, decorative skill charts and crowded margins that make scholarly evidence difficult to scan or extract.
Academic CV format: recommended sections and ordering
A strong academic CV format lets reviewers identify your qualifications without searching through unrelated information. This table provides a practical starting structure, not a compulsory sequence.
| CV section | Information to present |
|---|---|
| Contact and research identity | Name, professional email, current institution or location, relevant ORCID or professional profile. |
| Research profile (optional) | Two or three factual sentences identifying the area, methods and connection to the target role. |
| Education | Degree, institution, award or expected date, thesis topic and supervisor when useful. |
| Research experience | Appointments, projects, your specific role, methods and documented outcomes. |
| Scholarly outputs | Published and accepted papers, preprints, datasets, code or other field-appropriate outputs, with accurate status. |
| Funding and recognition | Scholarships, fellowships, grants, awards and your actual role in funded work. |
| Skills, teaching and service | Research methods, software, teaching, mentoring, presentations and professional contribution as relevant. |
| Referees | Academic referees or another reference format specified by the vacancy; obtain permission before sharing details. |
Research-intensive experimental roles often benefit from earlier placement of research methods and publications. Teaching-focused roles may require more detail about curriculum, supervision and student contact. Humanities applications can place more weight on book projects, archival work, languages and teaching. Cambridge explicitly distinguishes guidance for STEM and arts, humanities and social sciences applicants. [4]
Should you include a photograph, date of birth or personal information?
Do not assume that photographs, marital status, date of birth or unrelated identity information belong on an international academic CV. Expectations differ across jurisdictions and some employers have specific forms for eligibility information. Provide the details requested for the application without adding irrelevant sensitive personal information by default.
What about ORCID, Google Scholar and publication metrics?
A verified ORCID identifier or institutional research profile can help a committee locate your scholarly record. Include Google Scholar or other bibliometric information only when accurate, meaningful and appropriate to the institution. Do not imply that one citation metric or journal quartile is a universal measure of research merit.
How to write research experience in a postdoc CV
A job title alone does not show what you can contribute to a new research group. Describe the research problem, your personal contribution, the methods you used and a verifiable output. Distinguish work you led from work done by a larger team. For methods, say what you actually operated, developed, analysed or validated rather than claiming expertise based on a short introduction.
“Worked on an advanced materials project and performed multiple experiments.”
More informative entry — fictional illustration“Prepared supported catalyst samples using a documented synthesis protocol; analysed phase composition by X-ray diffraction and compared reaction-product profiles across repeated trials.”
Both examples are invented for teaching. A real applicant should only include activities supported by records, reports, publications or direct experience.
For a first postdoc application, the doctoral research may be the most important experience. Include the thesis topic, the question investigated and practical methods that match the vacancy. For an experienced postdoc, select research contributions that best demonstrate independent work, specialised techniques, mentoring or interdisciplinary collaboration. Technical detail is valuable when a target supervisor can understand why the method matters.
How to describe grants, software, patents and teaching
Identify a grant by its true funder, award title, dates and your role. Participation in a funded project does not automatically make you its principal investigator. For a patent, distinguish an application from a granted patent and use the correct identifier and inventor list. For research software or datasets, identify a stable repository when available and your contribution to it.
Teaching entries should specify actual responsibilities: lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, demonstrator duties, student supervision or assessment. Distinguish formal supervision from informal peer support. These details can matter even for a research-focused appointment when mentoring or teaching is mentioned in the advertisement.
Writing stronger CV entries in different disciplines
Strong entries identify what you did and the evidence behind it. These invented examples show how to revise vague descriptions. They are not real research claims, applicant records or data.
| Too general | Evidence-based illustration |
|---|---|
| Laboratory science: “Experienced with advanced characterisation techniques.” | “Prepared samples for X-ray diffraction, interpreted diffractograms using the laboratory protocol, and recorded phase-comparison results for three fictional sample groups.” Only use this wording when those tasks were performed. |
| Computing: “Strong Python and AI expertise.” | “Implemented data-cleaning scripts in Python, documented the model-evaluation procedure and compared results on a held-out dataset.” Specify the algorithm and dataset in a real CV when relevant. |
| Humanities: “Conducted extensive archival research.” | “Catalogued primary-source correspondence in two fictional archives and compared document chronology against a defined research question.” Include genuine collections and dates in an actual CV. |
Outcomes do not always need numbers. A reproducible protocol, documented data contribution, carefully attributed interpretation or peer-reviewed output may be credible evidence. Avoid inventing percentages or exaggerated impact to make an entry look measurable.
How to list publications in an academic CV
Publications are important to many postdoctoral searches, but they must be presented with accurate bibliographic information and statuses. Use the citation style normally expected in the discipline or requested by the institution. A published paper is not equivalent to an accepted manuscript, and a posted preprint is not evidence of peer review.
| Publication status | Correct treatment in the CV |
|---|---|
| Published peer-reviewed paper | Full citation with authors, journal or proceedings, year, volume/pages and DOI where assigned. |
| Accepted / in press | Label “accepted” or “in press” only when a formal acceptance exists. |
| Preprint | Identify the repository and persistent identifier; label it as a preprint, not peer-reviewed. |
| Submitted or under review | List separately, accurately labelled; do not imply acceptance or guarantee publication. |
| In preparation | Optional and usually separate; include only if relevant and sufficiently developed to describe honestly. |
Oxford’s academic application guidance explicitly advises separating and clearly labelling unpublished, submitted and in-progress work. [3] If you have few or no publications, do not invent a publication list. Present your thesis findings, methods, conference contributions, datasets, preprints where available and other documented scholarly work. Your cover letter can explain the stage of a project without implying that a paper already exists.
Should you list every publication?
A comprehensive master CV may contain all verified outputs. In a tailored version, highlight the most pertinent ones and retain a full list where expected. Do not omit inconvenient author information or edit publication titles to make a paper appear closer to the job. You can bold your own name consistently if useful, but do not imply a corresponding-author or first-author role unless that status is correct.
What changes by research discipline?
For laboratory science positions, publications may be accompanied by techniques, experimental platforms, datasets and laboratory responsibilities. Computing roles may value software, code repositories and reproducible benchmarks. Humanities CVs often need book projects, chapters, archival research, invited seminars and teaching. In clinical or applied research, relevant certifications and regulatory training may matter. Follow the norms of the discipline and the employer rather than copying a CV built for an unrelated field.
Postdoctoral CV examples: first postdoc and research-intensive applications
Use these completed fictional illustrations to understand academic CV structure at two career stages. Every person, institution, thesis, research project, journal, publication and achievement below is invented. These examples must never be submitted as personal qualifications or real bibliographic citations.
Example 1: First postdoc application — computational life sciences
Candidate: Amara Bose (fictional), PhD candidate in Computational Biology, Example Institute of Biological Research (fictional), expected 2027. Contact: amara.bose@example.org (illustrative address).
Research focus: Reproducible analysis of microbial time-series data; documented experience in sequence-quality checks, data processing and statistical comparisons. Seeking postdoctoral projects in computational microbiology and open research workflows.
Education: PhD, Computational Biology, Example Institute of Biological Research, expected 2027. Thesis: “Quality-Controlled Analysis of Illustrative Microbial Time Series” (fictional). MSc, Bioinformatics, Fictional Science College, 2022.
Doctoral research experience (2023–present):
- Prepared a reproducible Python-based workflow to clean and check simulated sequence datasets; documented quality thresholds and version history.
- Compared two illustrative statistical approaches, recording assumptions, model limitations and validation results.
- Collaborated with a fictional interdisciplinary team by preparing analysis summaries and clarifying methods used in joint discussions.
Scholarly outputs: “Microbial time-series processing: a fictional workflow demonstration” — unpublished doctoral technical report, 2026 (invented; not a peer-reviewed paper). Poster: “Documented analytical workflows” — Fictional Research Student Symposium, 2025 (invented event).
Research methods: Python, version control, data quality-control procedures and exploratory statistical analysis, limited to tasks personally performed.
References: Supplied separately in the real institution’s required format; never include an individual’s details without permission.
Why this example works: It establishes a research focus, distinguishes an expected degree from an awarded one, gives specific evidence for technical skills and does not manufacture a publication list. An applicant with no journal papers can still present a coherent thesis and project record. The actual vacancy may require different emphasis.
Example 2: Research-intensive postdoc — materials and environmental chemistry
Candidate: Dr Leena Patel (fictional), Postdoctoral Researcher, Example Institute for Environmental Materials (fictional), 2024–present. Research profile: catalysis, analytical chemistry and method reproducibility.
Education: PhD, Chemistry, Fictional Technical University, 2024. Thesis: “Method Evaluation for Model Catalyst Systems” (invented).
Research appointment: Postdoctoral Researcher, Example Institute for Environmental Materials, 2024–present.
- Planned comparative material-characterisation experiments within the fictional project protocol and maintained instrument calibration records.
- Analysed chromatographic results, documented uncertainty and contributed to writing a reproducibility-focused methods section.
- Mentored two fictional student trainees in sample documentation, with clear separation between guidance and formal degree supervision.
Selected publications (every citation fictional):
- Patel, L.; Example, R. “Protocol Consistency in Illustrative Catalyst Studies.” Journal of Imaginary Materials Research, 2024. Invented sample of a published-paper citation; not a real publication or journal.
- Patel, L. “Research Protocol Notes for Model Oxides.” Fictional preprint manuscript, 2026. Illustrative preprint entry; not peer-reviewed and no real repository identifier.
Funding: Contributor to a fictional institute-funded laboratory project; no principal-investigator title claimed. Methods: sample preparation, X-ray diffraction interpretation, chromatography, research documentation and data analysis to the extent actually performed by the fictional character.
Presentations and service: Contributed poster at Fictional Materials Symposium, 2025; laboratory training and research documentation support.
Why this example differs: It gives priority to research appointments, selected outputs, specialised techniques and collaborative contributions. It does not inflate authorship, mentoring or grant leadership. In a real CV, replace every fictional detail with complete, verifiable citations and dates.
How to adapt the examples to your discipline
For computing or engineering, make actual software artifacts, methods, reproducibility and documented technical roles easy to locate. In the social sciences, identify research design, fieldwork or statistical methods and distinguish collected evidence from interpretation. In the humanities, scholarly writing, archival research, languages, invited presentations and teaching may deserve greater prominence. Oxford publishes separate science and humanities academic CV examples; use your target field’s conventions rather than copying an unrelated discipline. [3]
The downloadable annotated PDF expands the fictional example with guidance on job-specific tailoring, publication statuses and final checks. It is an instructional resource, not a completed real CV.
When a fellowship requires an NIH biosketch or UKRI narrative CV
A general academic CV is not automatically the correct document for a research-funding application. Some funders prescribe distinct formats that must follow the specific application instructions. Check the exact opportunity, form version, supporting documents and eligibility rules before preparing any submission.
| Funding route | What applicants need to prepare |
|---|---|
| NIH research or fellowship submissions | For applicable NIH submissions, use the required Biographical Sketch Common Form and NIH Biographical Sketch Supplement through SciENcv. The postdoctoral CV templates on this page are not compliant NIH substitutes. Confirm the Notice of Funding Opportunity and current NIH instructions. |
| UKRI opportunities specifying R4RI | Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) structure specified by the funding call. Its narrative sections address research contributions, people and relationships, the research community and wider impact. Do not replace it with a conventional publication-list CV when R4RI is required. |
| Ordinary postdoctoral job vacancy | Normally submit the academic CV or other document requested by the employer, alongside any cover letter, research statement or referee information. Follow any mandatory page limit or institutional template. |
NIH explains that SciENcv prepares the Biosketch Common Form and supplement for applicable submissions; UKRI instructs applicants to use R4RI only where the specific funding opportunity specifies it. [5] [6]
International postdoctoral CV requirements at a glance
National conventions vary, but the employer or funding call determines the required format. A university postdoctoral CV must not be confused with a funder-prescribed biosketch or narrative CV.
| Application route | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| US university postdoctoral employment | Provide a research-focused academic CV with relevant education, appointments, methods and scholarly outputs. There is no universal national page limit; follow the specific posting and avoid irrelevant sensitive personal details. |
| UK university postdoctoral employment | Follow the institution’s CV and supporting-statement instructions, including any page limits. Research and teaching emphasis differs across disciplines. |
| Continental European postdoctoral employment | Check the host’s required language, format, supporting documents and application portal. Do not assume Europass is obligatory unless the employer specifies it. |
| NIH grant or fellowship requiring a biosketch | Use the Biographical Sketch Common Form and NIH supplement through SciENcv for applicable submissions; a standard academic CV is not an acceptable substitute. [5] |
| UKRI funding specifying R4RI | Use the four-module Résumé for Research and Innovation when the funding opportunity specifies it. UKRI may require one combined R4RI for an applicant team rather than separate CVs; follow the call’s stated word limit and assessment instructions. [6] |
Cambridge’s academic applications guidance distinguishes disciplinary CV approaches and narrative CVs. NIH and UKRI identify the relevant mandatory forms in their official guidance. [4] [5] [6]
Free postdoc CV Word templates and annotated CV example
These original CareerAidHub documents are available without enrolment. Select the template for your career stage and edit it in Word or a compatible word processor. Replace every bracketed placeholder, remove unused example sections, verify academic dates and author contributions, and follow the employer’s required format. The annotated PDF is a fictional teaching example, not a form to submit unchanged.
The Word files use standard editable paragraphs and headings, and the annotated PDF contains fictional examples. Before submitting an application, check the final exported file for selectable text, functioning links, readable formatting and any required filename or page limit. Never present fictional outputs or identities as real.
How to tailor an academic CV to a specific postdoc position
A comprehensive CV gives the full record; a tailored CV helps a selection committee locate the evidence that matters for its vacancy. Tailoring does not mean inventing keywords or changing facts. It means selecting, ordering and explaining relevant experience truthfully.
- Read the full advertisement. Separate mandatory qualifications from preferred methods, research aims and required documents.
- Identify the research problem. Review the host laboratory’s current work and identify methods or questions you can genuinely contribute to.
- Match evidence to each criterion. Use completed projects, publications, code, teaching or supervised research as proof. Identify gaps honestly.
- Move relevant material forward. Reorder research interests, selected publications, methods or projects when appropriate for the discipline.
- Keep different documents complementary. The CV establishes the record; a cover letter or research statement can explain fit and future research plans.
- Check submission details. Verify document length, filename, PDF versus DOCX requirements, research proposal format and reference arrangements.
Worked example: from a fictional postdoc advertisement to a tailored academic CV
All details in this exercise are fictional; this is not a real university advertisement or the record of a real applicant. The candidate, Dr Leena Patel, is the illustrative materials researcher introduced in the example above. The objective is to show how an applicant can match genuine evidence to the vacancy without manufacturing skills.
Project: Develop consistent analytical protocols for comparing model catalyst materials at the fictional Institute for Sustainable Chemistry.
Essential: PhD in chemistry or materials science; materials characterisation or product-analysis experience; careful experimental documentation and interpretation; written research communication and collaboration.
Preferred: Lab trainee mentoring and familiarity with electrochemical methods. Application: academic CV and one-page statement of research fit. This advertisement is invented for the exercise.
Step 1: Extract requirements and document evidence
| Fictional selection criterion | Evidence the fictional candidate can substantiate |
|---|---|
| PhD qualification | PhD in Chemistry, awarded 2024; correct education and degree status. |
| Materials characterisation | Work on catalyst samples and interpretation of X-ray diffraction results, not unverified instrument expertise. |
| Product analysis | Chromatographic analysis described in the existing fictional postdoctoral appointment. |
| Reproducibility and writing | Calibration records, uncertainty documentation and contribution to a methods section. |
| Mentoring (preferred) | Orientation of two fictional laboratory trainees; not claimed as formal PhD supervision. |
| Electrochemistry (preferred) | No verified experience. Do not list electrochemistry as a skill solely because it appears in the vacancy. |
Step 2: Replace vague CV wording with accurate research evidence
Generic fictional entry: “Worked on catalysts, carried out experiments and assisted a research group.”
Revised fictional entry: “Compared model catalyst samples using recorded preparation procedures, X-ray diffraction interpretation and chromatographic product analysis. Maintained calibration records, documented methodological limitations and contributed to the research group’s methods section.”
Generic skills list: “Materials science, electrochemistry, leadership, spectroscopy.”
Revised skills list: “Catalyst sample preparation; X-ray diffraction interpretation; chromatographic data analysis; calibration records; laboratory trainee orientation.”
The rewritten statements are credible only if the applicant actually performed those tasks. Do not copy them as facts about yourself.
Step 3: Reorder relevant sections
For this fictional research-intensive vacancy, place a concise research-fit profile near the top, then education, relevant postdoctoral projects and methods, selected publications with accurate status, collaboration and mentoring, followed by other scholarly activity. This makes the strongest evidence accessible without deleting the rest of the genuine academic record.
Step 4: Explain the gap without pretending it is a qualification
Since electrochemistry is only a preferred criterion and the applicant has no documented electrochemical experience, the CV should not add it. The separate statement can explain transferable analytical research experience and the training that would be needed. If the vacancy made electrochemical proficiency essential, the applicant would have to assess that eligibility gap rather than conceal it.
Step 5: Check the complete application package
Review degree status, author contributions, publication labels, dates, referee permissions, the required one-page statement, requested file type and submission instructions. The exercise demonstrates transparent job-specific tailoring; it does not predict interview success.
Put the process into practice: Browse current postdoctoral fellowships and research positions on CareerAidHub, select a vacancy with published selection criteria, then map each requirement to evidence in your own CV. Confirm the original institution’s application instructions before submitting anything.
Common CV mistakes to avoid
- Using an industry résumé format for an academic position that expects detailed publications and research experience.
- Leaving a broad generic research statement unchanged across different research groups.
- Claiming that a manuscript is accepted, a patent is granted or a grant is personally led when it is not.
- Listing analytical methods without a clear record of use.
- Hiding the relevant research contribution inside dense, repetitive paragraphs.
- Including irrelevant personal details or unapproved referee contact information.
- Using ambiguous dates, broken identifiers, unreadable formatting or a file type different from the application instructions.
Interactive academic CV review checklist
Check each item after verifying your own CV. This indicates the completion of a self-review, not the likelihood of being shortlisted. No CV data is uploaded by this checklist.
0 of 12 checks completed. Check the boxes as you review your CV.
Need individual help with your academic CV?
If you would benefit from feedback on your research profile or help revising application materials, the CareerAidHub Career Accelerator Program provides an optional paid pathway. Its published package describes strategic one-to-one mentorship, application document support and Premium Opportunities Database access. Review the programme page for current inclusions and pricing.
The free templates and checklist above do not require a purchase, and no mentoring service can guarantee an interview, fellowship or job offer.
Frequently asked questions about postdoctoral CV applications
Can I apply for a postdoc before my PhD has been awarded?
Some vacancies accept applicants nearing completion, but others require the degree before appointment. Give the correct expected award date and follow the eligibility wording rather than reporting an expected qualification as completed.
How should I label a co-first-author paper?
Only claim equal or shared first authorship when it appears in the publication or accepted manuscript’s contributor note. Give the real full citation and do not infer equal contribution merely from name order.
What if I have no peer-reviewed publications?
Describe verifiable doctoral projects, thesis findings, methods, posters, code, datasets or properly labelled preprints. Do not invent published papers or present a submission as an acceptance.
Should I provide referee contact details?
Follow the recruitment instructions. Ask each referee for permission first; some institutions request references in a separate form rather than within the CV.
Should I send my CV as Word or PDF?
Use the required format. Where no format is stated, a text-based PDF may help preserve appearance. Keep an editable Word master and check exported text, links and accessibility.
Can a normal academic CV replace an NIH biosketch or UKRI R4RI?
Not when a funding opportunity prescribes those forms. Follow the NIH SciENcv Common Form and supplement rules or UKRI’s R4RI instructions where applicable. [5] [6]
Can I adapt these templates for a faculty or industry role?
Yes, as a starting record. Tailor the sections and depth to the advertisement: faculty applications may require expanded teaching and funding information, while many industry roles call for a shorter résumé. For a research-oriented faculty application, see the separate faculty research statement writing guide to present contributions and an independent research agenda.
Editorial responsibility and review
Author: CareerAidHub Editorial Team, confirmed as the WordPress author of this article. The team publishes academic opportunities and career guides based on institutional and funding-agency sources. No individual expert reviewer, academic credential or independent endorsement is asserted here.
Substantive editorial review: 13 November 2026. This revision adds a completed fictional job-to-CV tailoring walkthrough, a country and funder-format comparison, streamlined applicant FAQs and transparent editorial attribution.
Sources and method: The academic CV guidance draws on university career resources from MIT, Cornell, Oxford and Cambridge, with NIH and UKRI documentation used for funder-specific requirements. The Word templates and annotated PDF were created for CareerAidHub; fictional CV examples are teaching illustrations, not actual people, publications or projects. A hiring institution’s instructions take precedence.
See CareerAidHub Editorial Standards and Ranking Methodology for the site’s published sourcing and correction principles.
Official Sources and Further Reading
These original institutional and funding-agency resources support the guidance on academic CV preparation, publication status and mandatory funding-application formats. They do not replace the specific instructions in a current job or funding call.
- MIT Career Advising & Professional Development — Curricula Vitae. Master CV and tailored-CV approach.
- Cornell Graduate School — Résumés and CVs. Purpose, section ordering and discipline-specific norms.
- University of Oxford — Academic Applications. Publications, research records, teaching and transparent manuscript status.
- University of Cambridge Careers Service — Academic Applications and Interviews. STEM and arts/humanities/social-sciences CV guidance.
- NIH — Biographical Sketch Common Form. Required Common Form and supplement workflow through SciENcv for applicable submissions.
- UK Research and Innovation — R4RI Guidance. Narrative CV modules and when funding opportunities require them.
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