Academic Careers Research Statements University Of

Summary

Academic Careers:
Research Statements
Many post-doc and faculty job postings – in a variety of disciplines and in an array of institutions – require
that candidates send a Research Statement. Being able to write coherently about your past/current
research efforts and articulately about your future research plans is very important

DEFINITION
 The research statement describes your research experiences, interests, and plans

 Research statements are often requested as part of the faculty application process

 Expectations for research statements vary among disciplines. Ask faculty members in your department
about the expectations for your field

PURPOSE
 Departments want to learn more about your:
o Academic specialty and interests
o Passion for research
o Compatibility with departmental, school, and/or university research efforts
o Potential to earn grant money
o Ability to operate as a professional scholar, independent of your advisor
o Writing ability
 Writing a research statement allows you to:
o Further reflect on and define your research interests
o Gain confidence in your research skills and desire to become a faculty member
CONTENT
 Recent & Current Research
o Research statements for current students and recent graduates usually discuss the dissertation
and/or other major projects from graduate school

o If you have done several projects, convey the connection among them

o Place your work in a broader context or framework – the big picture

o Discuss how you became interested in your topic and why it continues to interest you

o Answer the “so what?” question. How does your research contribute to the field? Why does
your research matter? Why is it important?
o Briefly describe any significant recognition your research has received - publications,
presentations, grants, awards, etc

o If you discuss projects that you have worked on with a team, be sure to articulate your
contribution to the projects

o Acknowledge the work of other scholars in your field, when appropriate

 Future Research
o What are your short-term research goals (2-5 years)?
o Discuss 2-3 feasible research ideas that interest you

o Explain how your goals build on (but are not necessarily direct extensions of) your recent work

o Describe your ideas about potential funding sources, collaborative partners, facilities, etc

o Consider detailing how you will involve students (undergraduate and/or graduate) in your
research and how your research relates to your teaching

o Indicate how your research goals align with departmental goals

o What are your longer term research goals (5+ years)?
 Appropriate Detail
o Your plan should be well-considered, realistic, and practical

o Include enough detail to show depth of knowledge but do not go overboard with minutiae

o Consider including some preliminary data – perhaps using tables, graphs, or other illustrations

FORMAT
 Your research statement should be brief and well-organized

o Aim for one to three pages (longer statements are sometimes appropriate)

o The introduction should summarize the contents of the research statement and include the
information that is most important for departments to know

o The conclusion should also summarize the contents of the research statement

 Your research statement should be pleasing to the eye and easy to read

o Single-spaced or 1.5 spaced
o Concise paragraphs
o Short bulleted lists
o Clear subject headings
 Your statement should not include grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors!
GETTING STARTED
 Contact your home department

o What are the norms for research statements in your field?
o What information is known about your potential employers that might help you prepare your
research statements?
 Jot down a preliminary outline and some ideas for content

 Find sample research statements using a search engine, websites of professional organizations, etc

 Finish a full draft

 Have somebody proofread your research statement (peer, research team member, faculty member,
career counselor, etc.)
 Consider customizing / tailoring your research statement for different job opportunities

WRITING SAMPLES
 Job announcements often request a sample of your scholarly writing

 You can send one with your application packet even if it is not requested

 Check with a professor regarding how many samples to send, if an announcement doesn’t specify

 Examples of samples to send:
o Re-prints of your published articles
o Copies of book chapters you’ve authored or co-authored
o Pre-prints of articles in press
o Completed chapters of your dissertation
SAMPLE RESEARCH STATEMENTS
 Science
o http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/graduate-students/academic-career-
preparation/research-statement (Ecology & Zoology)
o http://grad.wvu.edu/r/download/88047 (Biology)
o http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/files/Research_PhD_Biostatistics2007.pdf
(Biostats)
o http://web.physics.ucsb.edu/~reager/REagerResearchStatement.pdf (Physics)
 Engineering, Technological, & Math Fields
o http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ssuri/About_Me_files/SidSuriRS.pdf (Computer Science)
o http://www.chrispoirel.com/research-statement (Computer Science)
o http://www.cct.lsu.edu/~burak/research.pdf (Math)
o http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/graduate-students/academic-career-
preparation/research-statement (Engineering)
 Other Fields
o http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/careerservices/files/Research_Lingusticsfaculty2010.pdf
(Linguistics)
o http://brucewhitehouse.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/whitehouse-research-statement-
2007.pdf (Anthropology)
o http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/pdf_files/Valles%20%20Research02.pdf (Public Health)
o http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/career/graduate-students/academic-career-
preparation/research-statement (Literature & Sociology)
o http://www.marileneoliver.com/writings/writresstat.html (Art)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 Vick, J. M., & Furlong, J. S.(2008). Academic job search handbook (4th ed). Philadelphia: University of
Pennsylvania Press
o Sample research statements: Literature, Sociology, Math, CS, Biology, & Astronomy
 http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/1820
 http://chronicle.com/article/Writing-SamplesTeaching/125726/

Research statements are often requested as part of the faculty application process. Expectations for research statements vary among disciplines. Ask faculty members in your department about the expectations for your field. PURPOSE Departments want to learn more about your: o Academic specialty and interests o Passion for research

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a research statement?

What is a Research Statement? The research statement (or statement of research interests) is a common component of academic job applications. It is a summary of your research accomplishments, current work, and future direction and potential of your work.

How do you write a research statement for a teaching job?

You want to be able to show a search committee that your research is moving forward and that you are moving forward along with it in terms of developing new skills and knowledge. Ultimately, your research statement should complement your cover letter, CV, and teaching philosophy to illustrate what makes you an ideal candidate for the job.

How do you write a research statement for a dissertation?

Research statements for current students and recent graduates usually discuss the dissertation and/or other major projects from graduate school. If you have done several projects, convey the connection among them. Place your work in a broader context or framework – the big picture.

What are the three parts of a research statement?

You can think of a research statement as having three distinct parts. The first part will focus on your past research, and can include the reasons you started your research, an explanation as to why the questions you originally asked are important in your field, and a summary some of the work you did to answer some of these early questions.