Common sections in an academic CV
There is no single format for every discipline or institution. Follow the application instructions first, then organize the most relevant information so reviewers can find it quickly.
- Contact information and professional profile.
- Education, including degrees, institutions, dates and thesis titles when relevant.
- Research interests and research experience.
- Publications, presentations, posters or conference contributions, if applicable.
- Teaching, laboratory, fieldwork or academic service experience.
- Awards, grants, scholarships, professional memberships and relevant technical skills.
Example research experience entry
Use this as a formatting pattern, not as a claim about your own experience.
Investigated [research question] using [method, equipment or dataset]. Contributed to [specific task], analyzed [type of results] and presented findings to [class, laboratory group or conference], where applicable.
List publications and presentations accurately
Use the citation style expected in your field or by the institution. Clearly distinguish published work, accepted work, submitted manuscripts, conference abstracts and informal presentations. Never list a draft as a published paper.
Adapt the academic CV to the opportunity
A research assistant application may emphasize laboratory methods and project experience. A teaching-focused role may require more detail about courses, tutoring and teaching materials. A graduate application may ask for a résumé rather than a full academic CV, so check the requested document type and page limit.