Research ScientistResume
Research Scientist Resume Examples And Tips
The average resume reviewer spends between 5 to 7 seconds looking at a single resume, which leaves the average job applicant with roughly six seconds to make a killer first impression. Thanks to this, a single typo or error on your resume can disqualify you right out of the gate.
At Zippia, we went through over 13,685 Research Scientist resumes and compiled some information about how best to optimize them. Here are some suggestions based on what we found, divided by the individual sections of the resume itself.
Five Key Resume Tips For Landing A Research Scientist Job:
1.
Relevant Experience
Make sure that the jobs, experience, and accolades that you do include are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
2.
The Right Skills
This is a great time to run wild with those keywords found in the job description. If they’re looking for someone with Analytical Methods, be sure to list it as a skill.
3.
Quantifiable Achievements
Achievements and awards relevant to the position speak louder than a high GPA, especially if you can quantify your achievement with a number.
4.
Your Unique Qualities
Recruiters and hiring managers are looking at hundreds of resumes. Let yours stand out, and try not to sound too boring.
5.
Strong Content
If you’ve had a lot of jobs, this shouldn’t necessarily be a list of all of them. This is a document designed to market you to a potential employer, so choose the strongest content.
How To Write A Research Scientist Resume
1
Contact Information
Do you wont to know more?
How To Write The Perfect Resume HeaderName
First things first — employers only spend about six seconds looking at resumes before they decide to keep them or throw them away, so you should definitely let them know whose it is.
Address
Commute and relocation are things that employers take into consideration when sifting through candidates, so provide your current address in your resume header so that employers have an idea of where you are in relation to their office.
LinkedIn Profile
If you feel that a link to your social media profile could further your standing as a candidate, go ahead and include it. This doesn’t mean you should throw in a link to your hilarious Twitter profile, but instead provide your LinkedIn profile.
2
Professional Summary (Objective)
Are you a recent grad?
Read our guide on how to write a resume summary statementCareer objective statements are one of the most overlooked pieces of otherwise stellar resumes. It’s not that every Research Scientist CV out there needs one — it’s just that the ones that really do need them typically never think to include them.
The goal of this section is simple: to summarize the resume in a few short sentences. Through your resume summary you enable employers to quickly learn whether you are a good match for the job. Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing a professional summary:
Keep it short: it should be 4 sentences max
Highlight your most impressive skills or achievements
3
Skills
Not sure which skills are really important?
3 Big Tips For Listing Skills On Your ResumeMake sure to only include your hard skills on your resume. In addition,
include the most in-demand research scientist skills. Below we have listed the top skills for a research scientist :
The more keywords your resume can “match,” the more likely it is that your resume will be selected for review by human eyes.
Top Skills for a Research Scientist
Source: Zippia.com
Analytical Methods, 10%
Cell Culture, 10%
Lab Equipment, 9%
Protein, 7%
Data Analysis, 4%
Other Skills, 56%
See All Research Scientist Skills
Here are a few key points of to keep in mind while writing your skills section:
Include between 6 to 12 skills
Make sure to only include hard skills
Highlight your most impressive skills or achievements
4
Experience
Don't have any experience?
How To Show Your Experience On a Resume... Even When You Don't Have AnyThe work experience section of a resume is all about highlighting the achievements that an employer
would want to see. Here are some examples from different Research Scientists:
Example # 1
Researcher
University of Illinois at Chicago
- Utilized SPSS software to correlate data
- Verified cytokine folding and functionality of TCR:cytokine fusions by ELISA and T-cell proliferation assays.
- Supervised, mentored graduate students to conduct cell biology experiments.
- Assisted in optimization of a quantum cascade laser for corneal tissue ablation
- Led a project aimed at improving DNA yields from various soil types in Dr. Connell's lab.
Example # 2
Visiting Researcher
Duke University
- Perform protein array assays to identify secreted factors from cancer stem cells.
- Conducted clinical interview of informants to determine post-mortem dementia status and progression of brain donors.
- Focused on the synthesis and characterization of upconverting nanoparticles
- Developed software to implement the algorithms in speech communication systems.
- Research performed independently under professor supervision using concepts from genetics and molecular biology.
Example # 3
Research Scientist
Abbott
- Utilized protein binding assays, PI hydrolysis, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, cell-based assays, and basic molecular biology techniques.
- Collaborated with in vivo animal group in evaluation of metabolic enzymes as potential drug targets.
- Initiated structural studies of HCV viral RNA (e.g.
- Optimized assay conditions to improve product design, process and procedures.
- Investigated and determined the oxidative degradation pathways for a recalled drug product by stable oxygen isotope labeling studies.
Example # 4
Research Fellow
Purdue University
- Proposed new methodology to refine NMR-derived protein structure by computer simulation.
- Conducted research on synthesis and characterization of nucleotides, nucleosides and metal-thiolate complexes.
- Supervised and trained technicians in protein expression and purification.
- Research topics: microRNA structure analysis and bioinformatics; cancer biology
- Discovered RAPD markers based on DNA polymorphism in butternuts.
We compared 13,685 sample research scientist resumes with job offers and found that the average years of experience required for a research scientist job required by employers is 3.1 years.
How much work experience do employers want to see?
The average research scientist job listing asks for 3.1 years of work experience.
How much work experience does the average research scientist candidate have?
The average research scientist resume contains 6.0 years of work experience.
Write your work experience section in a way that embraces your research scientist skills.
Sounds easier said than done? Take a look at how other people have done it. Below are real
examples from research scientist resumes that people have included in their work experience
section to demonstrate their knowledge of key skills:
5
Education
As a research scientist, you may wonder exactly how your education section should look.
Research Scientist roles often require a Post-Doctoral Training degree or higher, so the majority of
research scientist resumes that we looked at contained a post-doctoral training degree.
Based on our analysis of research scientist resumes, the most common major for research scientist candidates is Chemistry,
but other majors made their way in as well.
Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Biology and Physics were relatively common.
Majors
Show More
As shown above, the Education section can be very brief. However make sure to include the following:
The name of the school you attended
The year you attended
Your major
Your GPA
The level of education you attained
Related Research Scientist Resume Templates
Research Scientist Salary
Did your resume land you an interview? Be prepared to talk salary.
How To Answer "What Are Your Salary Requirements"When you are ready to send your resume to employers, it's important to be aware of the current market conditions for Research Scientists. Salary can vary based on factors such as location, company, and industry. Check out our detailed salary information for Research Scientists to learn more.
Average Employee Salary
$71,000
$48,000
Min 10%
$71,000
Median 50%
$105,000
Max 90%
Helpful Links
Updated May 19, 2020