• • 2+ years of experience in how the AI development lifecycle impacts systems, distributed computing, and cloud-native paradigm
  • • Main research focused on how blockchain security could be enhanced by 65% within decentralized infrastructure
  • • Other research projects (36+), looking at how future trends could impact network security in AI automated systems
  • • Had 16+ publications in the Journal of Computer Science and secured +$16M in grant funding over the last two years
  • • Assisted 13+ senior researchers and computer science professors in completing various applications by debugging codes
  • • Participated in various other aspects of the software development process, including assessing briefs, writing code, and testing systems to ensure 100% accuracy
  • • Built 10 full-stack web applications with Java and Ruby
  • • Was tasked to help 5 researchers with the development of for-academia software with a focus on security
  • • Analyzed the code specifications and transformations to comply with 100% of all security, accuracy, and client-briefed protocols and parameters
  • • Met all mandatory schedule dates within the development process - receiving 98% approval in customer satisfaction

9 PhD Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your PhD resume must highlight your extensive research and expertise in your field of study. Tailor it to showcase how your unique skills are transferable to the job you're applying for. Demonstrate your proficiency in critical thinking and problem-solving through concrete examples of your work. Articulate your ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, as this is key to standing out.

All resume examples in this guide

phd resume template

Traditional

phd resume template

Lecturer in Molecular Engineering and Bioengineering Researcher: Biomedical Engineering, Ph.D. resume example

phd resume template

Electronic Product Design and Engineering Lab Technician, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering resume example

phd resume template

APTA Certified Physical Therapist, Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science resume example

phd resume template

Data Scientist: Niched In Statistics, Appplied Mathematics, and Machine Learning resume example

Resume Guide

Guide Overview

Additional Resumes

Extra Reads

Writing Your Ph.D. Resume

Resume Header Tips

Ph.D. Resume Summary

Resume Experience Section

Systematizing Your Experience

How to Include Your Degree

Ph.D. in Progress on Resume

Skill Set for Ph.D. Resumes

Certifications on Resume

Additional Sections

Key Takeaways

PhD resume example

George C. Jones's 8-year-Odyssey to his doctoral degree in engineering is finally complete. All he has to do now is complete his Ph.D. resume.

Little does George know that within the next three years, he'd apply to 500+ roles and still not be any closer to working in the renewable energy sector.

A little birdie told us why.

Everywhere George applied, he was labeled as an "egghead": book-smart with no real-world experience.

At least that's the story his resume told.

Unfortunately, George's sad "tale" depicts many graduates’ job searches.

By 2030/31, the US is expected to have 221,000 Ph.D. graduates . While this may be fantastic news for the academic community, the job pool is limited.

Swimming into the big blue sea - a.k.a. the "real world" - would require Ph.D. graduates to adapt their resumes to the business or industry requirements.

And listing vague bullets pinpointing your experience just won't do.

Enhancv knows how to translate your skills, knowledge, and achievements to ensure your resume stands out in the vast talent pool.

Because a well-written Ph.D. resume , showing skills, passion, and knowledge, is your ticket to the moon and beyond.

Our exclusive, Ph.D. resume guide will answer some of the following questions for you:

  • What are some of the biggest, unintentional mistakes Ph.D. graduates tend to make when writing their resumes?
  • Perfecting the top one-third of your resume: how to get recruiters' attention every time?
  • 102 of the most popular Ph.D. skills you need to add to your resume right now!
  • Lacking much professional experience: how to align your academic background with job expectations?
  • Get inspired with more ideas about formatting, writing your resume summary, and including your academic body of work in a way that works.

4 additional Ph.D. resume samples and why they work

Ph.d. bioengineering graduate.

Ph.D. Lecturer and Researcher in Bioengineering resume

This Ph.D. Bioengineering Graduate has certainly focused her effort on getting that tenure-track position.

Here’s why her resume works.

Within the top one-third of Dr. Taylor’s resume (the headlines, summary, and skills section), you’ll find many relevant keywords for the job advert.

She has also used the summary to qualify and quantify her results to help recruiters better understand her strengths.

The experience section is split into two parts: the first one notes all relevant teaching experience; the second section showcases depth and knowledge of research.

Dr. Taylor has included industry experience and strengths to further define her skill set and show results.

This approach would also be very helpful for any Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reviewing the resume, as it cross-aligns the candidate’s talents with the job requirements.

Ph.D. mechanical engineering

Engineering Lab Technician  Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering.png

If you’re wondering how to translate your academics into real-life experience, check this example out.

Dr. Aubry’s resume headline highlights his area of expertise and his Ph.D. degree, while his summary qualifies his key academic achievements, contributions, and success.

Dr. Aubry’s skills section focuses more on the technology he is apt at within the specified job requirements.

His roles as a lab technician, contributor, and research assistant also hint to recruiters that he’s results-oriented and can show how his work affected the industry.

Finally, his strengths section cross-aligns soft skills that are important for the role, including mechanical engineering knowledge, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and technical writing.

Apta certified physical therapist

APTA Certified Physical Therapist  Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science resume.png

In some industries, a specific certification can be a real game changer to meeting ATS standards.

Dr. Brubaker knows this and that’s why she has used her resume to highlight her American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) certification within various sections (headline, summary, and certification).

Another reason why Dr. Brubaker’s resume works is that it pinpoints her niche of expertise with tangible results.

Her education section not only lists all of her degrees, but she has turned recruiters’ attention to the grant funding her Ph.D. thesis secured (an outcome of the project).

Did you notice how she curated the experience section? Dr. Brubaker started with her more job-oriented responsibilities, followed by a leadership role.

if you’ve participated in any extracurricular activities during your studies, they could indicate various soft skills on your resume, including leadership, initiative, organization, etc.

data scientist, ongoing Ph.D. in statistics

Data Scientist  Ongoing Ph.D. in Statistics.png

Are you a current Ph.D. student, wondering how to include your ongoing degree on your resume?

Charles Flack’s resume includes some of the best how-to practices.

Charles uses the resume headline and summary’s first section to specify his research niche, which is followed by his ongoing Ph.D. Status.

N.B. Remember that the recruitment process is one of building trust with honesty. If you note in your resume that you’re a Ph.D. graduate (without this being the reality), recruiters will find out.

Continuing with Charles’s resume summary. It goes on to include an array of expertise and soft skills (e.g. leadership, adaptiveness, perfectionism) all within achieved results in academia.

His experience section includes roles in leadership, technical writing, and private tutoring, denoting individual skills and contributions.

The strengths Charles has included are more specific and tie in with data science roles. Those include quantitative problem-solving, deep learning, and iterative process.

21 Ph.D. related resume examples to help you get inspired

  • Entry-Level
  • Grant Writer
  • Lab Technician
  • Research Associate
  • Research Assistant
  • Lab Assistant
  • Lab Manager
  • Finance Intern
  • Data Science Intern
  • Entry Level Engineering
  • Entry-Level Mechanical Engineer
  • Software Engineer Intern
  • Nursing Student
  • Data Analyst Entry Level

Quick steps to success in writing your Ph.D. resume to get recruiters’ attention

Let's start with a big no-no: your academic CV, the one you used to secure that tenure position, is a No-go. Put simply - it lacks personality .

HRs and the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) need more context to your experience.

Unfortunately, here comes one of the biggest disadvantages you may face, leaving academia. Often, Ph.D. graduates get rejected as they lack practical work experience .

Don't get discouraged. Instead, find a resume format that works for you.

For Ph.D. graduates that have less work experience, we recommend a functional-skill-based format . It will help you highlight your unique skill set and academic excellence.

Also, it'll align your niche area of expertise with the role expectations.

Now that we've settled the formatting debate, let's look at a couple of more quick pointers for your Ph.D. resume.

1. The top one-third of your resume - the resume header and summary - is crucial to getting a high score on the ATS.

That's why you should try to include as many of the advert's relevant requirements within this section.

2. Expand your qualifications and skills within the experience section.

Don't just list plain bullets, but focus on the outcomes of your studies, research, or publications.

How to write your experience bullets:

3. Speaking of impact, detail your accomplishments within your academic work.

Focus on the picture and your research's influence on the scientific field, business/ industry, or communities.

Bonus: Remember to always list all work and academic experience that is relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Your Ph.D. experience can open many doors for you, giving you a front-row seat on the cutting edge of new technologies.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves, here are a couple more bits and pieces to keep in mind when writing your Ph.D. resume.

What recruiters are looking out for in your Ph.D. resume:

  • What methodology or technology have you used to prove your research?
  • If you've ever led teams, were you able to manage them successfully?
  • Would your niche area of expertise contribute to the organizational goals?
  • Can you bring to the table more than just theoretical knowledge?
  • How fast can you adapt to a non-academic environment and deliver tangible results?

Ph.D. resume's five most important sections:

  • Resume header with keywords from the job description
  • Resume summary cross-aligning requirements with experience
  • Resume experience to expand on the summary
  • Education section, listing all diplomas
  • Professional achievements in research and publications

Your Ph.D. resume should balance your knowledge with how fast it can be applied in a real-world environment.

That's why you need to be precise about the resume sections you chose to prove your merit.

Mythbusters: Your PhD resume header under the Enhancv microscope

After endless hours of searching different platforms, you've finally found that cancer research position that perfectly matches your profile.

Avoiding all emotional attachment and excitement, you finally decide on the following header:

2 PhD resume header examples

Let’s look at the bright side of things. If the organization would like to get in touch with Dr. Garnett, they'd easily find his contact details .

But on the other hand, he is making one huge mistake: Dr. Garnett isn't taking advantage of the power of the top section of his resume. More specifically - his headline .

This crucial section could provide Ph.D. graduates with an opportunity to include all relevant keywords that could match their profile. And at the same time, tease their professional story.

This may be obvious, but this example works as it shows that Dr. Garnett is not only a Ph.D. graduate, but his specific area of research and interest, which should supposedly match with the role he’s applying for.

A rule of thumb for headers is to never be vague about your research and expertise.

You could list your Ph.D. degree within your resume title so that it’s the first thing recruiters (and the ATS) see.

In the case of Dr. Garnett, his resume title could read “Dr. David Garnett, Ph.D.”.

Our suggestion is to be wary about the organization you’re applying for because if the culture is more informal, this may come off as “pretentious”.

Ph.D. resume summaries: HRs’ favorite instrument for advanced career storytelling

The Ph.D. resume summary is a really useful section for good first impressions and explaining your experience.

The summary can be used to highlight your skills, strengths, and achievements. While telling the story of your professional growth.

We know how important real-world examples are for you.

So, without further ado, here's how Dr. Lucina Collard rewrote her resume summary. And in the end, got the attention of a prestigious software development company.

2 PhD resume summary examples

Dr. Collard may have spent too much time in the lab, as her Ph.D. resume summary just lists what courses she took and her thesis statement.

No results, no outcomes.

In the end, she did decide to include some soft skills and passions, but without actually pointing out the “why” behind her work. This doesn’t make sense at all.

Here’s what her modified resume summary looked like in the end:

This summary works for one simple reason: it qualifies the achievements.

Dr. Collard has noted that within the past 6 years, she has been specializing in the job advert keywords “robotics” and “mechatronics”. The award is also a nice touch to paint the big picture of her experience.

Dr. Collard is apt at achieving results within a dynamic environment. That includes various professionals from different backgrounds.

When talking about her thesis, she goes on to show her familiarity with the process.

Editing Dr. Collard’s summary may seem just like one small step for her, but it’s actually a giant leap to securing an interview.

Making your Ph.D. resume experience section stand out for all the right reasons

When listing their experience section, most Ph.D. graduates are probably making the same mistakes.

The first one: leaving out your academic practice, thinking that recruiters only want to see work experience.

That's not true at all.

Your education would not only prove your technical capabilities, but also your soft skills. But, more on that in the following paragraphs.

The second error: those tricky job titles.

You'd find 1000+ resumes, listing each experience using the given academic titles; e.g. Professor, Lecturer, Post Doctorate Student, Graduate Student, etc.

Robotic vs personalized approach: 1:0.

The ATS, reviewing your resume, is set to recognize keywords that are vital for the job. The faster those appear at the top of your experience, the better.

Instead of listing that you used to be a "Lecturer at XYZ University", go with "Data Science and Machine Learning Lecturer at XYZ University".

Third slip-up: those tricky experience bullets.

Some Ph.D. graduates just list all their courses, research, and publications.

This isn't the way to go.

You should rather align your knowledge with the job description to prove tangible results.

A couple of questions to help:

  • What did this course help me learn and achieve that could be applicable to the job I'm applying for?
  • How did leading lectures help me to cooperate better within the learning environment?
  • What grants did my publications secure for the educational institute?
  • What effects did my research have on the big-picture subjects within the field?
  • The more you can get into the actuality (and practicality) of your education, the higher your chances are to get your first interview booked.

Let’s look at an example of how your experience can be showcased within your resume as crucial for the job.

Phd resume experience examples.

  • • Got PhD in Philosophy
  • • Took Philosophy of Mind, Brain, and Behavior Course
  • • Took Ethics Course
  • • Wrote Diploma on ‘To Be Or Not To Be: The Ethics of The Human Existence In The 21st Century’

This experience section is pretty negligent and robotic. Did you just get a diploma during those three-plus years?

You may be exiting from a leading higher education institution, but putting in the extra effort to your resume shows that you are diligent.

And that you’re actually invested in getting that particular job.

  • • Contributed 60+ publications to the university scientific journal, niching within human rights, ethics, and the big why of human existence
  • • Peer-reviewed publications for 12+ philosophy colleagues and professionals with a focus on consistency and validity of the thesis
  • • Collaborated with 10+ professionals from arts, science, and biotech fields to question and understand the ethics behind their projects
  • • Apart from the scientific paper for my final thesis, entitled 'To Be Or Not To Be: The Ethics of The Human Existence In The 21st Century’, published a short video on the university website to help inspire young professionals of philosophy to always stay alert

There’s no ground for comparison between the two examples. But let’s look at some of the basics.

The first experience bullet hints that the professional can write technical papers for their niche.

Next, the candidate showcases an eye for detail, collaboration, and teamwork.

Finally, they have found a way to get their thesis submitted on time and also make it more understandable.

On a side note - did you notice how a better job title could be a complete game-changer?

One bonus tip on better systematizing your Ph.D. experience

General practice is that you'd create one single resume experience section.

But what if while writing your Ph.D. resume, you realize that in the past six years, all your experience is for the same institution?

Here's an idea to spice up your experience section. You can create a couple of experience sections, based on functionality.

Thus highlighting job advert keywords and, at the same time, including more details.

So you could have some of the following headers, under which you could classify your work:

  • Research Experience
  • Technical Experience
  • Analytical Experience
  • Leadership Experience
  • Mentorship Experience
  • Teamwork Experience
  • Higher Education Experience

Feel free to align your transferable skills, which would be beneficial for the job you're applying for.

How should you include your degrees within your Ph.D. resume education section?

Here's the advice you've probably been waiting for; introducing…

… "How to write about your degree without sounding like a snob?"

And there are two possible scenarios at play.

The first is that you're applying for a job related to your area of study.

You should list your Ph.D. degree in detail, including research topics, method expertise, and publications.

As you're writing for non-specialized audiences, don't go overboard with the complex terms. Instead, weave keywords from the job requirements within your education section.

In the second case scenario, you're applying for a job that has nothing to do with your degree.

Keep your education section plain and simple with your degree, university/college, dates, and location.

Either way, remember to always list all of your degrees in chronological order, starting with the latest.

This isn't just some made-up rule or HR caprice. Your resume education helps recruiters determine if:

  • Your basic training and knowledge would fit the job
  • You stayed focused on your coursework and graduated on time
  • You would be a good fit for the team. Some companies tend to hire graduates from the same university

Ph.D. in progress: Should you include your potential degree on your resume?

Being transparent on your Ph.D. resume is what builds that fantastic initial relationship with the company you're applying for.

Thus, you have to be very clear and precise, especially in your education section.

If you're still pursuing your Ph.D. degree, shift the focus from the future to what you've achieved so far.

Your education section could answer any of the following questions:

  • How applicable your degree is to the job opening?
  • Which of the courses you've completed would help the company grow?
  • Is your education a stepping stone within your professional experience?
  • What is your expected graduation date?

Being on the course to completing your Ph.D. is definitely commendable, but sometimes life happens. And you may be forced to drop out of your Ph.D. education.

Should you then list the degree you didn't complete?

The answer is 100% yes, as your Ph.D.:

  • fills gaps within your professional experience
  • is valuable experience
  • has helped you gain new knowledge

Making it clear to recruiters that your degree is "Incomplete" or that you "Didn't Graduate" is very important.

List your degree, dates, university/college, and status.

If you get to the interview stage, recruiters will ask you why you dropped out. Be prepared to talk about why it wasn't the best option for your career at the time, or hint at the circumstances.

Even if it's hard to believe, HR managers are people - just like you and me - and they are able to show understanding and compassion.

Ph.D. resume: Is there a dream skill set your potential employers would like to see?

Recruiters review your resume to see how your experience aligns with the role, with a big focus on transferrable skills.

Or in other words, what else can you bring to the table to help the business or institution grow?

And transferable skills can be both hard (or technical ) and soft skills .

Your hard skills include the technology you used to complete your studies.

Consider the opportunities you've has to:

  • test and measure antennas parameters in an Anechoic chamber
  • audit in a lab environment renewable energy sources' efficiency
  • develop software, using Python, to patch cybersecurity risks

The list can go and on and on. Your Ph.D. has probably provided you with a pretty solid technical background.

When writing your resume’s separate technical skills section, ever wonder which technology should go first?

Rule of thumb: align the technology within the job description with your expertise.

The more proficient you are at a certain skill, the sooner you should list it.

Wondering what some of the most popular Ph.D. resume hard and technical skills are?

Check out our list, based on some of the most popular industries.

PhD resume technical skills for various roles:

15 hard skills for opportunities in business consulting:

  • Knowledge of different business-crucial frameworks, including Benchmarking, Balanced Scorecard, Porter’s Five Forces, The GE-McKinsey Nine-Box Matrix, The BCG Growth-Share Matrix, Core Competencies
  • Data Management and Analysis
  • Advanced Data Modelling
  • Strategy, Planning and Implementation
  • Assessing and Managing Risk Using Frameworks
  • Statistics and Understanding Correlations
  • CRMs: Salesforce, Zendesk, Bitrix24, etc.
  • Lead Generation Software: Zendesk Sell, Pipedrive, HubSpot, etc.
  • Project Management Software: Jira, Hive, Asana, etc.
  • Employer and Customer Satisfaction Surveys
  • Proposal Writing
  • Scheduling Software: Calendly, Google Calendar, Doodle, etc.
  • Revenue Optimization and Sales

15 technical skills for biology, biotech, biochemistry, and medical research:

  • Design, conduct, and analyze scientific research
  • Tissue Culture
  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
  • Gel Electrophoresis
  • Western Blot
  • Molecular (Gene) Cloning and various techniques
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Cell-Based Assays
  • Radioimmunoassays
  • Data Analysis in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and medical research
  • Laboratory and Equipment

15 engineering technical skills to add to your PhD resume:

  • Manufacturing: Forging, Welding, Assembling, etc.
  • Quality Control
  • Industrial /System Design and Analysis
  • Conceptual, Logical, or Physical Data Modeling
  • AI and/ or Machine Learning
  • Design Tools: AutoCAD, SolidWork, 3dsMax, etc.
  • Programming Languages: C++, Python, Java, etc.
  • Equipment Diagnosis
  • Project Management: Trello, Zoho, Microsoft Project, etc.
  • Data Analysis Software: Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Qlik Sense, etc.
  • CNC Programming
  • Advanced Physics
  • Structural Analysis
  • Nanotechnology

15 recommended computer science technologies:

  • Programming languages: C++, PHP, Swift, etc.
  • Software engineering and development: Atom, GitHub, Chrome DevTools. etc.
  • Cloud Platforms
  • Data migration and deployment
  • Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
  • Integrated Environments Management
  • Network Maintenance
  • Cybersecurity
  • Machine learning AI
  • Business Intelligence and Statistical Analysis Tools
  • SQL Consoles
  • SAS Development and Forecasting
  • Data Modelling Tools: ER/Studio, Archi, Ludichart, etc.
  • Automation Tools

15 academic and research technical skills:

  • Technical Literacy
  • Presentation and visual: Tableau, Prezi, PPT, etc.
  • Learning platforms: Moodle, Classroom, Teams, etc.
  • Surveys: Google Forms, MailChimp, Kahoot, etc.
  • Data-Processing Software: SPSS, RStudio, NVivo, etc.
  • Academic Networks: Google Scholar, Academia.edu., ResearchGate, etc.
  • Academic Research and Technical Writing
  • Email Writing
  • Data and Information Analysis
  • Copyright and License
  • Videoconferencing: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.
  • Applications for Securing Grants and Funding
  • Peer Reviews and Co-Writing Interdisciplinary Technical Papers

Moving on to your PhD resume soft skills

There's still no precise formula for how soft skills are gained and applied in the workplace.

How many times have you seen an advert that requires "a can-do attitude and teamwork"?

Yet soft skills are on all recruiters' must-have checklists.

In the case of Ph.D. applicants, these transferable skills are built thanks to all the healthy habits you've maintained through your education, including your:

  • collaboration
  • ability to meet deadlines

Soft skills hint to recruiters more about your character and style of work.

Here are some ideas as to which ones you can include within your resume:

37 PhD soft skills to spice up your resume:

  • Critical / Logical Thinking
  • Problem-Solving
  • Time Management
  • Brainstorming
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Meeting Deadlines
  • Working Under Pressure
  • Negotiation
  • Project Management
  • Organization
  • Prioritization
  • Flexibility
  • Independent Work
  • Ethical Decision-Making
  • Leadership or Mentorship
  • Collaboration
  • Teaching or Lecturing
  • Conduct Meetings
  • Supervision
  • Feedback and Evaluation
  • Motivating Others
  • Communicating Ideas
  • Presentation
  • Constructive Debating
  • Leading or Participating in Group Discussions
  • Public Speaking
  • Accelerated Learning
  • Attention to Detail
  • Writing Proficiency
  • Quantitative Literacy
  • Listening and Reflection

When describing your leadership or mentorship soft skills, here are a couple of questions you could answer within your resume to qualify your achievements:

  • What actions did you take to maintain a constant and successful team dynamic?

Mix in extracurricular certificates

Back in the day, you earned a couple of extracurricular certificates and wondering if you should include those on your Ph.D. resume.

Again, it's a matter of analyzing how necessary your certification is for the job.

E.g. if AICPA's CPA certificate is listed as obligatory within the job description - and you have earned yours - you know what to do.

Certificates show that you're willing to put in the extra effort to stay relevant. Proving that you're committed, flexible, and a life-long learner.

So, think about the relevancy the certificate would have within your field.

Then, consider including some of these popular certificates:

Top 50 PhD certificates from various institutions for your resume:

  • Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) - Certified Professional
  • ACRP - Clinical Research Associate Certification
  • ACRP - Clinical Research Coordinator Certification
  • American Health Information Management Association - Coding Specialist Physician-Based Certification
  • Nationally Registered Certified Patient Care Technician
  • National Healthcare Association (NHA) - EKG Technician Certification
  • NHA - Phlebotomy Technician Certification
  • NHA - Clinical Medical Assistant Certification
  • American Association of Medical Assistants - Medical Assistant Certification
  • Red Cross - Nursing Assistant Certification
  • Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc. - Registered Behavior Technician
  • American Association of Professional Coders - Certified Professional Coder
  • Pharmacy Technician Certification Board - Certified Pharmacy Technician
  • Society for Clinical Data Management - Clinical Data Manager
  • American Medical Writers Association - Medical Writer Certified
  • Board of Editors in Life Science - Board-Certified Editor in Life Science
  • International Society for Medical Publication Professionals - Certified Medical Publication Professional
  • Regulatory Affairs Professional Society - Regulatory Affairs Certification
  • Google Project Management Professional
  • Society of ​​Petroleum Engineers - Petroleum Engineering Certification
  • American Institute of Chemists - National Certification Commission in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Certification
  • Coursera - Software Engineering MasterTrack Certificate
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional in Service Provider Operations
  • CompTIA Security+ Certification
  • (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • American Society for Quality (ASQ) - Quality Engineer Certification
  • ASQ - Reliability Engineer Certification
  • Advanced Certificate Program in CFD-Aircraft Aerodynamics
  • Engineer in Training License and Certification
  • Society of Broadcast Engineers - Certified Audio Engineer
  • Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering - Certified Technical Professional
  • International Council on Systems Engineering - Systems Engineering Professional Certification
  • American Academy of Project Management - Certified Planning Engineer
  • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Master Specialist Certificate
  • iNARTE Electromagnetic Compatibility Designer Engineer Certificate
  • American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists - Board Certified Environmental Engineer
  • American Public Power Association - Key Accounts Certificate Program
  • Global Association of Quality Management - Certified Agile Developer
  • Environmental Protection Agency - Operator Certification Program Management
  • Institute of Management Accountants - Certified Management Accountant
  • National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers - Certified Bookkeeper
  • Association of International Certified Professional Accountants - Certified Public Accountant
  • Chartered Financial Analyst Institute - Chartered Financial Analyst
  • Internal Revenue Service - Enrolled Agent
  • The Institute of Internal Auditors - Certified Internal Auditor
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - Certified Fraud Examiner
  • National Association of Sales Professionals - Certified Professional Sales Person
  • Institutes of Management Consulting - Certified Management Consultant

PhD resume: let’s get creative with a few more resume sections

When completing your Ph.D. resume, you should always find ways to stand out from the crowd.

That’s why we’ve compiled for you some of the most popular sections which you could add to your resume.

Before doing so, always question each section's relevance to the job you're applying for.

  • Publications or Projects - focus on topic, methodology, and impact; include your grant ID code, if your research won any funding
  • Academic Awards - once more, consider if those would shine a better light on your expertise
  • Conference Presentations - this would showcase your public speaking abilities
  • Language Skills - be honest when listing your language proficiency

One final word of warning - your Ph.D. resume offers limited space to showcase your expertise, so try to make the most out of it.

key takeaways

  • The extra effort to align your Ph.D. skills with the job you're applying for always gets recruiters' attention.
  • Include as many relevant keywords within the header and summary of your Ph.D. resume.
  • Have separate sections, detailing how your academic background has helped you attain experience, skills, and certifications.
  • List chronologically all degrees you've earned through your education, with an adaptable approach to details.
  • Remember that the recruiters or the ATS assessing your resume may not be that scientifically literate. Substitute complex terminology with impact and results.

phd resume example

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3 PhD Resume Examples Made to Work for 2024 

Stephen Greet

PhD Student Resume

Phd application resume.

  • Write Your PhD Resume

With the role of a PhD student, you’re the intellectual powerhouse driving groundbreaking research and contributing to the advancement of knowledge. Your expertise allows you to dive deep into complex subjects, developing innovative solutions and pushing the boundaries of what’s already known. 

At the same time, you’ll need to balance your responsibilities as a teacher as well, imparting your knowledge to the undergraduates at your institution. Crafting a resume and creating a cover letter that demonstrate your ability to shine in this diverse role is no easy task.

Luckily, we’re here to guide you through the maze of showcasing your academic journey. With our varied PhD application resume examples , you’ll find the ideal resume template to help you craft your own winning resume in no time.

or download as PDF

PhD resume example with 7 years of experience

Why this resume works

  • Thankfully, Liam does a great job highlighting his internship and project achievements and how both are applicable in helping sustainably improve production.

PhD Student resume example with 6 years of experience

  • One strategy you can use to boost the chances of your PhD student resume to clinch an enrolment slot into the health sciences department is by harnessing the achievements from a volunteer project that brought screening services to a marginalized community.

PhD application resume example with 4-year experience

  • Therefore, achievements in increasing student participation and engagement accompanied by metrics in improved grades and assessment scores would go a long way to prop your suitability.

Related resume examples

  • Research assistant

Adapt Your PhD Resume to the School You’re Applying to

Job seeker stands with hands in air, questioning how to fill out job materials

As an aspiring PhD student, your resume is your scholarly calling card, showcasing the intellectual artillery you bring to the academic battlefield. 

This is where you can showcase your skills and express why you’re the right person to join the program. To do this, tailor your skills section to align with the specific requirements of your desired program and department. 

Highlight your expertise in research methodologies, statistical analysis, and any specialized software or equipment you’ve mastered. For the more technically inclined, don’t shy away from showcasing hard skills like Python, Matlab, Java, or Tableau.

You can also include a couple of soft skills because they’re essential for giving lectures and mentoring students. Just remember to reinforce them with demonstrable examples in the experience section later. 

Want some pointers?

15 top PhD skills

  • Microsoft Office
  • Google Sheets
  • Research Methodologies 
  • Academic Writing
  • Public Speaking
  • Lesson Planning
  • Grant Proposals
  • Grading Essays
  • Collaborative Research

phd resume template

Your PhD work experience bullet points

From conducting groundbreaking research to publishing papers, your journey as an academic is about more than just the day-to-day grind. In the experience section of your resume, the real spotlight should be on your transformative contributions. 

If this isn’t your first PhD, highlight achievements from your previous studies like securing research grants, publishing impactful papers, or successfully leading research projects. If you’re moving up from postgraduate studies, highlight the best and most impressive accomplishments from your master’s and bachelor’s degrees. 

Add some numbers to make your accomplishments pop. This could be the number of students mentored, successful experiments and research projects, or the reach of your published work. 

  • Highlight the number of your articles or research papers that were published in reputable journals.
  • Quantify the success of research projects with metrics such as project scope, budget management, or studies carried out.
  • Demonstrate your ability to secure research funding by specifying the number and value of grants obtained.
  • Showcase your impact as a mentor or tutor by talking about the number of students you’ve guided or the way they were able to improve their grades through your help.

See what we mean?

  • Created engaging course materials using Articulate Storyline, resulting in a 39% increase in student engagement and comprehension
  • Managed EHR software to document patient assessments, vital signs, and medication administration, maintaining 99.99% accuracy in recordkeeping
  • Partnered with farmers to develop customized crop management plans, resulting in a 31% increase in yields
  • Assisted in the development and implementation of assessments, leading to a 33% reduction in student dropout rates

9 active verbs to start your PhD work experience bullet points

  • Innovated 
  • Collaborated

3 Tips for Writing a PhD Resume With Little Prior Experience

  • Mention your involvement in conferences and workshops. This will showcase your ability to engage with and contribute to the broader scholarly community.
  • Echo your passion for knowledge throughout your resume, and look into the future. Outline your career objectives , illustrating your commitment to making a lasting impact through your PhD studies.
  • Any and all academic achievements look great on a PhD resume, so make sure to add them. Talk about your GPA, awards won, or competitions you’ve participated in to show your drive as a college student.

3 Tips for Writing a PhD Resume for Your Second PhD

  • Research is often independent, and academics are sometimes considered lone wolves. That’s why it’s important to emphasize your leadership and collaboration skills explicitly. The school needs to know you can mentor students and collaborate with other colleagues effectively—so turn up the enthusiasm for this area!
  • If you’re going for a research role, it’s essential to be at the forefront of your field—following all the latest papers and studies. You can show this by mentioning your participation in research initiatives or the conferences you like to attend. 
  • Show that you put just as much effort into your students as you put into your research by sharing student performance and engagement metrics. You can also discuss your favorite lecture and seminar-planning techniques to convey your passion and commitment. 

Absolutely! While not mandatory, a tailored career summary can be a powerful tool. Customize it for the PhD position, mentioning the specific program and academic role. Don’t forget to highlight things like research methodologies, data analysis, and any unique contributions to your academic field.

Choose a clean and professional format that prioritizes your academic achievements and research experience. Use clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent structure, much like you would in a research paper. 

Include skills that align with the specific requirements of the PhD program and your academic discipline. Highlight technical and soft skills relevant to research, teaching, fieldwork, and collaboration.

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Anna Muckerman

PhD resume examples & templates

PhD resume examples & templates

Resume header

Awards, publications, or referees on your phd resume.

If you’re ready to apply for a PhD, chances are you’ll be asked to submit a resume so that the admissions committee can easily review your qualifications and interests. While a PhD resume will have many similarities with resumes created for job opportunities, there are a few key differences you’ll want to keep in mind while writing.

Entry-level PhD Translation missing: en.examples.resume_example

Luckily, Resume.io is here to help. With 350+ resume examples and writing guides, we’re an expert resource for job seekers (and students!) in all professions and stages of their careers. This PhD resume example and writing guide is designed to help you highlight your best qualities and get accepted into the program of your dreams. Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is a resume for a PhD program?

  • How to write a PhD resume (tips and tricks)
  • The best format for a PhD resume
  • Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
  • Professional resume layout and design hints.

In order to pursue a doctorate degree, you’ll need to apply to a PhD program, which generally lasts about 4-6 years. In order to evaluate your readiness to take on this challenging educational pursuit, most institutions will ask you to compile a resume (sometimes called a curriculum vitae in academia) showcasing your previous education, relevant work experience, academic interests, awards, and publications. You can think of a resume for a PhD program as a snapshot of who you are and the work or degrees you are most proud of.

PhD stands for “Doctor of Philosophy” and is the highest postgraduate degree available. To obtain a PhD, you not only need to be an expert in your field, but you must also present original and compelling research on a related topic, most often in the form of a dissertation, which is a written work that compiles your research and presents your insights into the chosen subject matter. A dissertation is then defended in front of a committee that decides whether or not you’ve met the standards to obtain your PhD.

How to write a PhD resume

The very first step in writing your PhD resume is understanding what sections to include. Your CV should contain the following elements:

  • The resume header
  • The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
  • The employment history section for work or teaching experience
  • The resume skills section which may include research interests
  • The education section or academic history
  • A publications or awards section
  • A referees section if requested

While many of these sections can be found in some form on a standard resume for employment, there are key changes that academic committees will expect to see for candidates pursuing PhDs. 

Once you’ve identified the PhD program you’d like to apply to, it’s important to research the application process and any particular focus areas of the program. This will allow you to tailor your resume to contain the information most important to the selection committee. Be sure to include only the most relevant examples of work experience, while leaving out any odd jobs that are not related to the area you plan to study. For example, if applying to a PhD program in education, include your role as a graduate assistant for a university undergraduate course while leaving off a summer spent waiting tables at a local restaurant.

Choosing the best resume format for a PhD resume

PhD resumes are unique documents that will often deviate from other standard resume formats. Although the best format most closely resembles the reverse chronological structure of professional resumes, you’ll still need to make adjustments to best highlight your educational experience and research interests.

Make sure to order your resume with the most relevant sections first. While experienced job seekers may opt to place their education section at the bottom of their resume, PhD applicants should keep their education higher up on the page, usually after the summary section. PhD resumes should also contain an awards or publication section that are often rolled into the education section on other types of resumes. See our PhD resume example for more ideas on creating the perfect format.

The resume header is the attractive bar at the top or on the side of the page that contains your name, contact information, and any relevant social media profiles like LinkedIn. Your resume header serves a vital purpose in helping the reviewer to identify your document and making it easy to contact you about the next steps in the application process. The header also gives an attractive touch to your resume, but be sure to use a neutral color scheme and a professional font style as academic roles often call for a formal tone.

Resume summary example

The resume summary is the first section at the top of your resume that captures your interests, intentions, and key qualifications. For PhD applicants, make sure to include the name of the program and the university you are applying to (and don’t forget to update this for each different program – addressing your application to the wrong university is a serious mistake!) 

The summary should be about 3-5 sentences in length and should have a formal tone. Since PhD applicants often need to describe their research interests, the summary gives you the opportunity to do so without needing to use precious resume space to create a separate section for this information. Don’t forget to mention any relevant work or educational experience here as well as the goal of the summary is to encourage the reader to continue examining your resume. See our adaptable summary resume example below for more inspiration.

Get even more insight into the summary by checking out our related education resume examples:

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Strong background in psychology- and therapy-based academic research environments requiring high levels of focus and attention to detail. Strong analytical and critical thinking qualities.

Employment history sample

The employment history section for a PhD will look slightly different than for those applying to traditional jobs as it will likely contain details of your research experience along with any educational work experiences you’ve completed. Make sure to organize the information in a logical manner, starting with the most recent position and working backward through all relevant roles.

Don’t forget to include the job title or name of the research role, the employer or institution name, the dates completed, and the location. Just as you would for a job, create 4-5 bullet points that explain your most relevant accomplishments and duties completed. See our adaptable employment history resume sample below.

Student Researcher, University of Washington, Seattle November 2021 - Present

  • Gather, analyze and report data for academic research projects.
  • Maintain donor databases and publications records.
  • Assess research efficiency and identify areas for improvement.

Assistant Teacher, St. Clare School for Children with Special Needs , Singapore July 2018 - June 2020

  • Aided special education teacher in collaborating with students with varying levels of physical and mental disability.
  • Assisted teacher in preparing daily activities, lesson plans, and individual education plan (IEP) for each student.

CV skills example

While skills are seemingly more relevant for employment than for an academic position, the CV skills section can still be adjusted to meet the needs of a PhD applicant. The best part about the CV skills section is that it takes the form of a bullet point list meaning the reader is likely to take notice of this section early on while evaluating your resume. Use the skills section to highlight research areas, academic areas of interest, specialized skills from relevant roles, and any teaching skills you may have to put to use during the PhD program. Make sure to check the program requirements to see if there are any specific qualifications that can be easily added to this section. See our adaptable resume example below.

  • Data Analysis
  • Academic Writing
  • Psychological / Behavioral Sciences
  • Research & Analysis
  • Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
  • Mental Health Assessments
  • Clinical Care
  • Research-based Treatment
  • Behavioral Health
  • Marriage Family Therapy

PhD resume education section

The education section of your PhD is one of the most important areas that the selection committee will take into account. Make sure to place it high up on your resume, usually after the summary. The education section is the place to list all previous degrees, the awarding institution, dates attended, and location. Since you are applying for another degree program, it’s worth creating bullet points under your previous educational experiences to offer insight into your most relevant achievements like grades, awards, or leadership roles. See our adaptable education resume sample below.

Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy, University of Washington, Seattle September 2018 - May 2020

Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham September 2014 - May 2018

PhD education

If you have many publications, awards, memberships, or other honors to show, you may consider creating a separate section to call the reader’s attention to the achievements on your PhD resume. Here you can list the award or publication name, the publisher or granting institution, and the date completed. You may also create one or two bullet points to expand on each entry. If you don’t have many of these types of achievements to show, or if space is limited on your resume, you may consider including these accolades throughout the other sections of your resume. However, be sure that they are clearly highlighted so that the reader doesn’t miss your key attributes.

Another additional section you may need to include is academic references (called referees in the case of a PhD resume.) Don’t forget to double-check whether or not referees are actually required/requested on your resume. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting valuable space on a section that is less important to the section committee.

Resume layout and design

The right look and feel for your PhD resume is crucial to keeping the reader’s attention and proving that you are a serious applicant. Therefore, it’s important to make sure your layout and design are professional and tailored to the program you are applying for. 

An expertly-designed resume template can make it easy to create a great design with minimal headache. Look for a layout that clearly highlights your name and contact information and gives you enough space to include any additional sections like awards or referees. Stick with standard 1-inch margins and make sure to use the same font styles and sizes throughout your resume.

Key takeaways for a PhD resume

  • A resume is an essential application document when applying for PhD programs but it will likely look different from resumes created for employment opportunities.
  • Pay attention to the requirements of the PhD program and tailor your resume to match. The skills and summary section are great places to do this.
  • Don’t forget to include PhD-specific information like your areas of interest, publications, awards, or referees.
  • Keep your design professional and formal. Check out our adaptable resume sample to get started on creating a great layout.

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Ph.D. Resume Examples and Templates for Industry and Non-Academic Jobs in 2024

Ph.D. Resume Examples and Templates for Industry and Non-Academic Jobs in 2024

Frank Hackett

  • Resume Examples
  • How To Write a Ph.D. Resume Resume
  • Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Ph.D. for Non-Academic Jobs Resume

If you earned a Ph.D. and want to work in a non-academic setting, crafting a resume that balances your professional and educational achievements is important. Highlight your degree and any relevant academic research you’ve done, but you also need to convey the key skills and job experience you can bring to an organization. Review our resume examples and strategies to accelerate your job search and land your next interview.

  • Entry-Level
  • Senior-Level

Entry-Level

1. Write a brief summary of your Ph.D. resume qualifications

With a Ph.D., you’ve proven mastery of an academic subject, but when going for an industry or non-academic job, you’ll need to summarize your abilities and accomplishments outside the classroom. This requires a strategic approach to your personal branding. Employers must see you as more than just a researcher, so you must clarify your versatility. Build a dynamic profile incorporating various skills and industry expertise to position yourself as a subject matter expert (SME) who can apply their academic training in the field.

For example, if you are applying for a consultant or SME role with a cloud computing company, you could emphasize your background supporting database migrations as a consultant. If you’ve delivered consulting services within the pharmaceutical industry, highlight your experience in drug development and clinical trials.

Professional Profile - Example #1

An IT consultant specializing in developing scalable IT infrastructure for enterprise companies. Expertise in cloud technology, Microsoft Azure, and data-driven decision-making. A proven track record of partnering with diverse technology teams to execute large-scale IT initiatives. Adept at defining IT strategy and leading complex data migration projects.

Professional Profile - Example #2

A scientist and pharmaceutical expert specializing in drug discovery, research and development (R&D), clinical drug trials, and regulatory compliance. Adept at leveraging pharmaceutical expertise to aid organizations in creating innovative new medicines to improve quality of life.

2. Outline your Ph.D. resume experience in a compelling list

When seeking an industry job with a Ph.D. resume, show you’re more than just an academic. Share clear and compelling examples of how you’ve excelled in previous jobs you’ve had. Point out your value to organizations and include data where possible.

If you lack hands-on experience outside of academia, leverage your academic projects and dissertations to brand yourself as an SME in the eyes of hiring managers. Think about how your academic research relates to your target industry, and pay close attention to the job description as you showcase your projects. For example, you could leverage your experience in instructional design to obtain a consulting position to help organizations develop training programs and curricula.

Professional Experience - Example #1

Medical Education Consultant, Detroit Healthcare Educators, Detroit, MI

May 2021 – Present

  • Serve as a consultant for stakeholders at a healthcare education company, which includes developing programs to refine training curriculum for medical students
  • Interface with healthcare partners (HCPs) and C-level executives to ensure alignment with long-term organizational objectives
  • Develop course content and workshops using instructional design principles and perform assessments to create train-the-trainer programs

Professional Experience - Example #2

Drug Discovery Consultant, Collingswood Pharmaceuticals, Collingswood, NJ

  • Serve as a lead consultant for drug discovery and drug development for a premiere pharmaceutical company, which includes interacting with pharmaceutical teams to ensure regulatory compliance throughout all phases of R&D
  • Provide subject matter expertise to researchers and scientists in the development of a new cardiovascular drug to reduce the risk of pulmonary disease
  • Conduct research on medical data across five clinical drug trials

3. Add Ph.D. education and certifications

If you’ve earned a Ph.D., the education section of your resume will be prominent. But what might seem less obvious is including some specifics about your area of study and any relevant industry certifications you may have earned. Clearly, you believe in lifelong learning, but anything you can add to show specializations or job-related learnings can make you even more attractive.

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical Science
  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI September 2011 – May 2018

Certifications

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
  • Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), Expected 2022
  • Certified Associate of Project Management (CAPM), 2021

4. List key skills and proficiencies

A big part of making it to the job search process’s interview level is ensuring your resume passes the applicant tracking system (ATS). This helps recruiters screen candidates by looking for pertinent keywords related to the role. Confirm you have the keywords the hiring team seeks. Look closely at the job description (or job postings in your field of interest) and ensure important terms and skills are mentioned on your resume. Here are some skills that non-academic or industry jobs might want to see from Ph.D. degree holders who apply:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
Agile methodology Analytics
AutoCad Big data
Chemical engineering Cloud computing
Cybersecurity Data analytics
Data science DevOps
Drug development Engineering
Information technology (IT) infrastructure Instructional design
Manufacturing Medical education
Product development Project management
Pharmaceutical science Research

5. Highlight academic research related to the role

If your dissertation is relevant to the industry job you’re applying for, it would be worthwhile to include a section on your resume that describes your research findings. For example, if your Ph.D. project was related to cybersecurity and you’re seeking an IT infrastructure position, that could help you stand out from your peers.

How To Pick the Best Ph.D. for Non-Academic Jobs Resume Template

The best resume template depends on the industry you are targeting. For instance, how you construct a resume for a biomedical engineering role might look different than for an art historian position. That said, if employers are looking for candidates with high educational levels like Ph.D.s, it’s probably best to choose an academic-looking rather than design-heavy template. Keep it clean, simple, and professional.

Ph.D. for Industry and Non-Academic Jobs Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Ana Jameson, Ph.D. (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Detroit, MI 12345

A Medical Education Leader and Consultant, specializing in instructional design, medical research, curriculum design, and program development. A proven track record of delivering consulting for healthcare organizations to enhance training curriculums within the medical education space. Expertise in defining adult-learning strategies in alignment with business needs.

Professional Experience

Medical Education Consultant, Detroit Healthcare Educators, Detroit, MI May 2021 – Present

Adjunct Professor, Medical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI June 2018 – May 2021

  • Taught medical science courses to 75+ medical students per semester, developed curriculum, designed courses, and performed academic assessments
  • Coordinated with faculty to evaluate education programs and refine curriculums to improve student outcomes
  • Provided academic advising and mentorship to students to drive professional development within the medical science field

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Medical Science University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI September 2011 – May 2018

Master of Education (M.Ed.), Instructional Design University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI September 2009 – September 2011

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Medical Science University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI September 2005 – May 2009

  • Medical Education
  • Instructional Design
  • Program Development
  • Strategy Development
  • Cross-functional Collaboration

Justin Long, Ph.D. (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Newark, NJ 12345

A Scientist and Pharmaceutical Expert specializing in drug discovery, R&D, clinical drug trials, and regulatory compliance. Adept at leveraging pharmaceutical expertise to aid organizations in the development of innovative new medicines to improve quality of life.

Drug Discovery Consultant, Collingswood Pharmaceuticals, Collingswood, NJ May 2021 – Present

Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Science, University of Newark, Newark, NJ June 2018 – May 2021

  • Taught pharmaceutical science courses to 50+ students per semester, including drug discovery, drug development, laboratory safety, and pharmaceutical research
  • Supervised laboratory research projects, ensured compliance with safety procedures, evaluated student research, and provided support to drive academic growth

Academic Experience

Research Dissertation, University of Newark, Newark, NJ  May 2016 – May 2018

  • Wrote a 100-page dissertation on the effectiveness and long-term medical effects of emtricitabine and lamivudine in managing HIV symptoms, which included evaluating medical data from clinical drug trials

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Pharmaceutical Science University Of Newark, Newark, NJ September 2011 – May 2018

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Pharmaceutical Science University Of Newark, Newark, NJ September 2007 – September 2011

  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Research
  • Regulatory Compliance

Abhishek Singh, Ph.D. (123) 456-7890 [email protected] 123 Your Street, Philadelphia, PA

An Engineering Leader and Certified Project Management Associate specializing in chemical engineering, production, and manufacturing. A proven track record of collaborating with diverse teams to enhance production efficiency and quality control. Adept at managing stakeholder expectations and executing complex engineering projects.

Project Management Consultant, Philadelphia Manufacturing Inc., Philadelphia, PA May 2021 – Present

  • Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) and project management consultant for a chemical manufacturing company with 300+ employees and $50M in annual revenue
  • Analyze production processes and lead continuous improvement efforts, resulting in a 15% throughput increase for the organization over a six-month span
  • Collaborate with engineering, project management, and production teams to analyze process gaps and ensure compliance with hazard safety regulations

Research Dissertation, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA  May 2019 – May 2021

  • Wrote a 120-page dissertation on the effectiveness of Agile methodologies in improving production quality and efficiency for chemical manufacturing plants, which included analyzing and gathering research data from 50+ chemical production sites

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Chemical Engineering Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA September 2014 – May 2021

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Chemical Engineering  Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA  September 2010 – September 2014

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Agile Methodology
  • Manufacturing
  • Process Improvement

Frequently Asked Questions: Ph.D. for Industry and Non-Academic Jobs Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for ph.d. non-academic resumes -.

The professional experience section of your resume should bring your achievements to life, which is why choosing the right action verbs is important. Consider using some of the common engaging action verbs from the list below that are typically relevant to job candidates with Ph.D.s.

Action Verbs
Analyze Build
Conduct Coordinate
Design Develop
Diagnose Drive
Evaluate Execute
Generate Identify
Implement Improve
Lead Manage
Migrate Optimize
Oversee Test

How do you align your resume with an industry or non-academic job description when you have a Ph.D.? -

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , median weekly earnings for those with Ph.D.s was $2,083, which is the highest compared to other educational attainment levels. For example, bachelor’s degree holders had median earnings of $1,432.

Continuing your education can certainly pay dividends on the job market, but you’ll need to leverage your academic experience strategically on your resume to break into an industry or non-academic job. Unlike academic positions that are more likely to require CVs, industry jobs generally view resumes to evaluate potential candidates. 

The key is to focus on the unique skill set and thought leadership your education level has helped you achieve. Perhaps it might mean sharing details of a research project you were involved with or how a consultant role in a related industry helped an organization meet an objective.

What is the best Ph.D. resume format for industry and non-academic jobs? -

Usually, using a reverse chronological format will familiarize hiring managers and allow you to highlight your professional and academic experiences. If you are changing careers completely, it might make sense to combine a resume format. But otherwise, sharing your most recent experiences and working your way backward makes the most sense.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Resume for PhD application example

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You’ve wrapped up your degree and are keen to embark on your PhD journey.

But before you can get stuck in, you’ll need to secure your place by putting forward a compelling PhD application and resume.

If you’ve never written an academic-style resume before, the process can be daunting. That’s why I’ve created this step-by-step guide to writing a resume for a PhD application.

I’ve also included a PhD resume example, to give you a better idea of what you need to include. Here’s what I’ll cover in the guide:

Guide contents

PhD application resume example

  • Structuring and formatting your resume
  • Writing your resume summary
  • Detailing your education
  • Detailing your relevant experience

Resume templates 

PhD Applicant Resume-1

As you can see from the resume example above, a PhD resume is structured differently to a traditional resume. Instead of focusing on work experience, academic experience and accomplishments are prioritised.

However, the fundamental resume writing rules stay the same. Therefore, the candidate has put forward their information in a way which is clear, concise and formatted for easy reading.

resume builder

PhD application resume structure & format

PhD programmes receive thousands of applications, meaning the university admissions teams are generally very time-strapped.

As such, you need to structure and format your resume to make it as easy as possible for them to review.

First impressions count and a cluttered or disorganised application won’t do you any favours.

Instead, you should aim for a clean, well-organised and professional appearance throughout.

Formatting Tips

  • Length: While academic resumes are generally longer than standard resumes, it’s still best to aim for a short, relevant and concise document. For PhD applications, a length of one or two A4 pages is ideal. This is more than enough space to highlight your suitability without overwhelming the reader with irrelevant information or excessive detail.
  • Readability: The information on your resume should be laid out logically, with clear section headings for easy navigation. Break up large chunks of text into small, snappy paragraphs and include bullet points where appropriate.
  • Design: Opt for a clear, legible font and stick to it throughout – consistency is important. Ensure your headings are formatted for attention by using bold text or a slightly larger font size.
  • Things to avoid: Steer clear of elaborate designs, fancy fonts, images or logos – they’re simply not needed and might distract from the all-important written content.
  • Things to consider: resumes ‘rules’ differ from country to country, so if you’re applying to an international university, take some time to research what’s expected of you.

Structuring your resume

Organise your content into the following sections for ease-of-reading:

  • Contact details – These should always be at the very top of your resume.
  • Personal statement – A brief introductory summary of your qualifications, skills and experience in relation to the PhD.
  • Core skills – A short and snappy list of your most relevant skills, tailored to the PhD.
  • Education – A detailed breakdown of your relevant qualifications, especially your undergraduate and postgraduate degree(s).
  • Career summary/research experience – An overview of any relevant work or research experience, angled towards your chosen field of study.
  • Additional information – A space to detail any other relevant information which may boost your application.

Quick tip: While the simple resume format above is usually ideal, academic institutions often have their own preferred structure. Double-check their guidelines before you start writing – their preferences should be prioritised – and use a resume template if you want to speed things up without sacrificing quality.

Resume Contact Details

Resume contact details

Commence your resume by sharing your basic contact details

  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Location – Rather than listing your full address, your town or city, such as ‘New York’ or ‘Boston’, is enough.
  • If you have one, add a link to your LinkedIn profile or a portfolio of work.

Resume for PhD Personal Statement

Your summary / personal statement is essentially your first impression on the reader and is a great way to hook their attention.

It should provide a snappy summary of who you are and why your qualifications, skills and ambitions make you a perfect candidate for the PhD.

resume summary

Tips to consider when creating your personal statement:

  • Tailor to the PhD: Every PhD programme should have a description available, which you can use to tailor your personal statement ( and your resume as a whole). Focus on proving you have the appropriate educational background, skillset and knowledge to carry out the project.
  • Prove your enthusiasm: It’s important to put forward your drive and motivation for your field and explain why the specific PhD is so well-matched to your wider interests and ambitions.
  • Avoid clichés: Clichés and generic phrases like “I’m a motivated team player” and “gives 110%” won’t impress the admissions team.
  • Keep it short: A paragraph length of around 8-15 lines is perfect. This is only an introduction – the detail can come later on in your resume.

What to include in your resume for PhD personal statement?

  • Your academic background – Give a brief overview of your undergraduate degree and/or masters and how they’ve brought you towards this PhD.
  • Impressive results – PhD students are normally academically extraordinary, so make sure to point out any impressive results or feedback – whether that’s your degree as a whole or a particularly relevant assignment/project grade.
  • Relevant skills – Use the PhD project description to find out what the university is looking for in candidates. Then, try to incorporate the core skills into your summary.
  • Relevant experience – Not everyone will have any relevant research or work experience to their name at this stage, but if you do, make sure to briefly highlight it here.
  • Interests, goals & motivations – Give a brief insight into your motivation for taking on a PhD, why you’re so committed to your specific research topics(s) and what you think you can add. It’s also helpful to summarise how the course will fit into your wider career ambitions/goals.

Core skills section

Next, create a punchy list of core skills, organised into 2 or 3 columns of bullet points.

Use the project description to identify the required skills and knowledge, then use your findings to inform your list.

resume core skills

This will help the busy admissions team to see that the PhD is right for you at a glance.

Education & Qualifications

A PhD resume is all about academic achievements and qualifications, so this section should make up the bulk of your resume.

Working in reverse chronological order, provide a detailed breakdown of your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

If you have any other academic qualifications that are particularly relevant to the PhD subject, they might be worth listing, too.

Structuring your education

By working to a considered structure, you can ensure your education is easy to navigate and that your key achievements stand out.

For each of your relevant qualifications, break up information into the following sections.

Start by detailing the type of qualification, the title, the achieved grade, the academic institution at which you studied and the year you graduated.

MSc – Environmental Engineering (Distinction)

St James University (2018)

Course content

Next, discuss your thesis or dissertation title (if applicable), the modules you studied and any relevant projects you were involved in.

What you choose to write here should be tailored to the PhD you’re applying for – focus the detail on the most relevant aspects of the qualification.

Thesis: “Identification of the Bacterial Profusion and Variety in Nuclear Waste Disposal”.

Modules: System Analysis in Urban Water Management; Process Engineering in Urban Water Management; Air Quality Control; Waste Management; Ecological Systems Design, and Remote Sensing and Earth Observation.

Project: “Research Study for Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment”

Key achievements (optional)

Finish up with a snappy list of key results, accomplishments or learning outcomes you achieved.

This might be an impressive grade for a highly relevant assignment, an award you won or a quote of exemplary feedback from a tutor.

Career & Research Experience

Next up is your career & research summary, which should be tailored to the PhD in question.

You could include relevant research experience here, as well as any related employment (even if temporary or voluntary).

Make sure to be selective with the type of employment you list, though. For example, a part-time waiting on job isn’t worth including, but a laboratory or tutoring job might be. Ultimately, it should be related to your field or have helped you develop relevant skills or knowledge.

When discussing your research roles, make sure to detail the techniques you used, the skills developed and any interesting findings.

Structuring your experience section

Ensure your career & research section is clear, scannable and easy to read by working to the following structure:

Outline the dates of employment/contract, the role title and the organisation or institution you worked for.

Aug 2018 – Sep 2019 Research Intern Hydro Continental, New York

Give a brief overview of the position or research project as a whole, discussing the team you worked with (or lead), who you reported to and what the goal of the project was.

“Undertook a short-term assignment pertaining to the Economics of climate change in order to research and drive improvements in energy consumption and emissions; reported to the Executive Engineer.”

Key responsibilities

Then use bullet points to pinpoint your duties and responsibilities within the role, making sure to mention any relevant techniques or skills used that could benefit your candidacy.

  • Employed the Marginal Abatement Cost (MAC) curve tool to present carbon emissions abatement options.
  • Built partnerships and participated in open discussions with other country modellers and research associates.
  • Amassed and processed varied data from multiple sources.

Writing your resume for PhD

Applying for a PhD is a daunting yet exciting time, but a flawless resume can help you achieve your goals.

Remember to tailor your resume to the specific PhD you’re applying for and aim to make a compelling case for your suitability and aligned goals.

Before you send off your resume, try to get a second opinion from a current or previous tutor, trusted family member or friend.

It’s also worth checking the finished document with our quick-and-easy Resume Builder , to eliminate the risk of overlooking mistakes.

Best of luck with your PhD application!

Life After My Ph.D.

Ph.d. to industry resume template, example & tips.

phd resume template

An industry resume is nothing like an academic CV.

It’s not an exhaustive list of your achievements.

It’s not about length.

It’s not about prestige.

It’s all about fit and being exactly what the recruiter is looking for.

Other stuff that you did during grad school simply doesn’t matter .

An industry resume is clear, concise, and effective.

Let’s take a look at the resume I used to get the recruiters to want to talk to me.

Industry Resume Format (Generic)

This is the exact resume format that I used for my industry job applications, including the one I ended up landing. Clear, concise, and effective, with plenty of white space.

phd resume template

This isn’t going to be exactly how a resume will be structured for everyone that reads this. But, the general outline and format worked very well for me when I was applying to jobs.

You know that the recruiter is skimming through dozens of resumes on any given day. The moment they come across your resume, they have to be convinced you’re worth speaking with.

This resume format worked for me because regardless of the role that I was applying for (I applied for mainly 2 types of roles, Support Scientist and Medical Writer), I made it extremely, extremely clear to the recruiter that I was a good fit for the position and worth interviewing.

I’ll go through each section of the resume in a bit more detail below:

Full Name and Exact Position Name From Job Listing

So I didn’t always do this.

At the beginning, I only put my full name at the top and not the job name. I thought it was super presumptuous to pretend like I could call myself that, having it so high up in the resume like it was my current title.

Sure, it made sense to me if people were already in a similar position and therefore used that job name up top, but coming out of grad school or a postdoc, not having had that actual job yet, I had a weird aversion to putting the job name smack dab at the top of my resume. It was a weird mental block that I think some readers can relate to.

Well, as a famous actor and athletic brand once said, just do it.

It’ll help the recruiter remember which position you’re applying to, and allow them to more easily associate your name with that role. It’s okay you haven’t actually had that job before! Putting it at the very top of your resume isn’t about labeling yourself as someone already having had that role. Think of it more as an organizational thing to help the recruiter.

Contact Information & Socials

I kept my resume super basic with only my city, state, and Zip, the phone number, and email address at the top. My resume was seriously no frills, no fuss.

Qualifications Summary

This is a really important section that the recruiter is going to immediately read to get a sense of who you are. You like skimming stuff and getting to the good bits, right? Same goes for these recruiters.

This is where you make your first impression and you want to make sure it’s a good one. Fill this section with lots of technical and soft skills that you see listed on the job listing and that you can infer from the job listing.

I think the free tips from Cheeky Scientist’s Free Resume Guide are incredible for this section. It should be a 3-liner, where the first line is the first impression you’re going to make, and should be a line that describes your fit for the role using key skills from the job listing. The second line should be about your most technical skills and experiences that fit the role. The third line should be more soft skills and other things like project management and public speaking.

Experience Sections

So, this can look totally different depending on the role you’re going for.

If your desired role is totally lab-based and benchwork-oriented, it might be one big section named “Research Experience” with all the job-relevant lab experiences you’ve done listed in reverse chronological order.

If you’re going for a medical writer or science writer role, then the section won’t be about labwork. It’ll be titled “Writing Experience” and be about all the things you’ve written while being in those workplaces (so yep, you’d still list the lab as the lab and department and all that).

The bullet points really need to reflect the job listing and the things you did during grad school or your postdoc that match the listing’s needs. You might be tempted to mention really cool technical things you did that you are proud of, like learning a new programming language to statistically analyze something big for your project. But try not to use precious resume space unless it’s really relevant to the job and you are genuinely convinced the recruiter will see it as beneficial to know about you.

It’s also super helpful to write your bullet points in a way that shows real, measurable outcomes, and not just “I know how to do this thing”. As you can see from how I structured them, you should try to include some sort of measured outcome in each bullet point so the recruiter sees how you were able to use that skill you claim to know and actually get results. What are they going to be paying you for, if not results?

What worked for me was to put the Education section towards the bottom where it’s still visible but not the very first thing that the recruiter sees. I think this helped distance me from giving off an academic impression and allowed me to really showcase my skills and fit for the role with the Qualifications on top.

Education is obviously really important for a lot of jobs because recruiters can screen for education and use that as a cutoff, but it’s not as important as you demonstrating you have the skills you need to do the job right.

I genuinely saw a massive increase in the number of responses once I started structuring my resume in this way.

This is pretty self-explanatory. Any skills you have that fit the role you’re trying to get would be great to list here. Be simple, and use short words rather than descriptive phrases, so that it’s easy to scan.

Soft skills are great as well, because you don’t want to come across like a nerd that doesn’t know how to get along with coworkers.

I liked the look of having 2 columns in my Skills section.

Support Scientist Resume Template Example

Now, I’ll show you an example of the above generic resume being used as an actual, useful template for a position I was interested in: Support Scientist.

One of the roles I was really interested in was the Support Scientist, or Technical Support Scientist. Large life science research supply companies have these roles that help the researchers who are customers do their experiments and troubleshoot things that come up.

You’ve probably spoken with, emailed, or chatted online with someone who’s a Support Scientist for a company you bought some sort of research tool or reagent from. It’s not a Field Application Scientist position where you have to physically go into their labs. It’s all virtual, either by phone, chat or email, and that appealed to me.

The reason I was super interested in this role was because I had a lot of experience working with clients already from my tutoring days (I have a whole blog post about my tutoring side hustle during grad school if you’re curious, $500 a month, baby!) and I genuinely enjoyed working with and educating them.

Sure, I tutored kids and Support Scientists work with adult scientific researchers.

But the literal years of experience I had from interacting with the students and parents to identify areas of improvement, plan ways to help them through their knowledge gaps, and allow them to meet their goals all while being professional and knowledgeable was super appealing to recruiters.

In all the phone screens I got, they all asked about my tutoring experience way more than they asked about my research experience.

It’s important to be able to prove that you’re not just a nerdy scientist who knows their science, but that you’re also a well-adjusted individual who can communicate professionally with people. I think this will ring true for many other positions, not just this particular one.

Here’s the exact resume template that got me Support Scientist interviews at 4 major laboratory research supply companies here in the U.S….ones that your lab has probably purchased from.

phd resume template

As you can see, I organized it by starting out with the Qualifications Summary, like I covered for the generic resume format above. I really wanted to showcase an equal contribution of my technical prowess as well as my genuinely client-focused, “loves to work with others” side. I wanted to make sure that the recruiter saw I was not only a scientist, but also one that can work with clients in a troubleshooting manner very easily and effectively.

I then made sure to include my “Scientific & Technical Experience” section, and then the “Customer-Facing Experience” section, as I knew they were both very important for the role. Oh yeah, Company 2 was me being a campus tour guide during undergrad ! Fits the theme of this job, right?

As for the skills, I included all the skills related to the company’s product line. Sometimes job descriptions will give you specifics on which category of products you’ll cover, work on, research, sell, oversee, etc., so that will give you information on what to definitely include in your skills section.

phd resume template

Resume Preparation Steps

That was just one example above, and it might not be the exact role you’re looking for. That’s okay, because these next steps will hopefully help you develop a great resume for whatever industry role you’re looking for.

You’ve probably heard people say to not use the same resume for a bunch of jobs, and that’s totally true! You want to tweak your resume to fit the job you’re applying for. When it comes to preparing your resume to fit the job you’re interested in, here’s the general workflow I used:

1. Having a pre-phrased, mostly-done resume template saved

I had something like the above Support Scientist resume template already saved on my computer. It was in my Job Search folder and was named something pretty basic, like “SupportScientist”. All the basic sentences about troubleshooting something or cultivating relationships with clients were all in there, because those sentences applied well to the type of role I wanted to apply to.

Sure, you can tweak those too here and there depending on the role! Overall, though, I had a template ready to fill in with details from the job listing.

2. Finding jobs to apply to

I found jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed. I didn’t need to buy LinkedIn Premium, but the 1-month free trial was pretty interesting so I do recommend you check it out. I didn’t need Premium to get the job I got and I don’t think it’s necessary to get a job. The job I actually got was listed on Indeed!

You can set up notifications to get new job listings that are the types of roles you’re interested in every day by email. You can also use the Save tools on LinkedIn and Indeed to save jobs to your “My Jobs” list to have them all in one place.

I’ll get more into this and how I got my job in another post but those two sites were where I looked for and applied for jobs. I honestly didn’t use any other sites or job boards. I didn’t network at all, either.

If you’re not entirely sure about what job role you’d like to have in industry, check out my post with general tips on how to figure that out for yourself and approach the industry job search process in general!

3. Figure out the job’s key skill requirements

Next, I looked at the exact wording of the description of the job listing to see which techniques they wanted me to be the best at.

Some companies were looking for applicants that were very experienced with cell stuff, like mammalian cell culture and cell enrichment/dead cell removal. Other companies were interested in applicants that were very experienced with RNA isolation, rtPCR, and in-situ hybridization.

It’s important to take some time to carefully read through the job listing’s description to get a good sense of the key skills, both technical skills as well as soft skills, that you’d want to write in your resume.

The more familiar with the job listing’s description, the better prepared you’ll be to create a resume that fits that role.

4. Tweak the resume template

Finally, I opened up the template I had saved, and tweaked it by filling in the details using the information I had gleaned from the job listing.

5. Save the resume as a PDF with a unique name

Once I made all the job-specific changes I needed for the resume, I saved it as a PDF. Saving it as a PDF helps you maintain the formatting of the original document. Sometimes when I used a Word file and sent it through LinkedIn and then looked at it after the fact from the LinkedIn page where I applied for the job, it looked all squished and terribly formatted.

I also made sure to give it a unique name that was specific to that company. Usually, something along the lines of “YourFullNameCompanyNameResume” worked for me. So for example if your name was Leslie Knope, and the company was named Cryo-Glad, you could make the file name “LeslieKnopeCryoGladResume”.

I put the company name in the file name because if the recruiter downloaded it, I wanted to make sure they saw I wasn’t using any old resume that was lying around to waste their time. I wanted to show I actually made that resume specifically for that role at that company. No clue if that helps in any significant way but it kept me organized, too!

phd resume template

The Recruiter

In order to prepare a winning resume, it’s important to understand this concept of the “recruiter”. Yes, we hear it here and there as we begin to explore the world of industry jobs. But like with experiments that we want to get done properly, it’s important to understand every element of the process to get it right, and that includes understanding who a recruiter is, and what a recruiter does.

A recruiter is someone who works for the company you want to work at, usually in the HR department, and is responsible for advertising the open position, as well as selecting, screening, and facilitating the hiring of candidates for jobs. Recruiters are your main line of communication throughout the job application process.

A recruiter can also be someone that works for a company called a staffing agency (or similar name) that helps companies find potential hires.

Either way, recruiters benefit from finding the best of the best applicants to spend their time and energy on. They only have a certain number of hours in a day to screen applicants. When they feel confident about an applicant, they’ll even provide them with tips on how to do well in interviews with their company and inform the applicant about expectations and impressions.

Your job when preparing a resume is to make it crystal clear to the recruiter that you’re worth talking to and moving forward in the process. You need to relieve them of the burden of flipping through dozens of job applications hoping to find suitable candidates to fill the role.

Another thing to remember about recruiters is that they can be a scientist or they can be a regular recruiter. Scientific recruiters have scientific training in the area that you want to get a job in. That makes sense if the company wants to recruit for an especially technical position that requires the recruiter to assess if the candidates really know what they’re talking about.

A regular recruiter tends to be a bit more of a generalist and is still very aware of the requirements of the role, but may not “talk shop” with you as much from the get-go. They tend to ask more general questions to see if you match the description of the role.

You can try to check if the recruiter is a scientific recruiter or a normal recruiter by identifying them from the job listing and then looking them up. That can inform how you communicate with them through your resume and cover letter. Connecting with the scientific recruiter by saying things that you can both relate to about research, labwork, or leaving academia, can help give a positive impression if done well!

However, it’s very common that you won’t be able to find the name of the recruiter anywhere and that’s totally okay . You can still fill your resume with key skills and outcomes that pique their interest, regardless of their background.

phd resume template

The resume format that I shared in this post worked wonders for me.

It takes a little bit of time to get into that industry mindset where the point of a resume isn’t to brag about everything you’ve ever done (like in a CV), but is to make it as easy as possible for the recruiter to think that you’re a good fit.

The contents of your resume, and perhaps the structure of some aspects of it, are going to be very different from mine if you’re considering other roles. Have no fear! The same general techniques apply.

What you can do right now is to start making a resume “template”, like I did, for the role that you want, and filling it with key phrases that really showcase your talents in the context of that role. Once you have that on hand, half the work is done! Tweaking it for every job listing will get easier and easier the more you do it. Good luck!

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Share this:, 8 responses to “ph.d. to industry resume template, example & tips”.

[…] an entire blog post I wrote that has my generic industry resume template, an example industry resume, and resume […]

[…] which positions I applied to so I don’t waste my own time. I seriously re-vamped my resume to what it is now, using tools like the Cheeky Scientist Free Resume Guide and Zety Ph.D. Resume Example and Guide […]

[…] Figuring out what to write in each paragraph will be pretty straightforward given you’ve already completed your resume (resume template and tips are available in this post)! […]

[…] of stuff, the better of an idea you’ll have of what roles to go for and that can help you design your resume and tailor it to fit those […]

[…] is kind of a bonus little tip, but like I mentioned in my industry resume tips blog post, even though I had a general template for my resume, the details were always tailored to each job I […]

[…] My blog post: My resume template, example & tips […]

[…] Ph.D. to Industry Resume Template & Tips […]

[…] transferable skills. I also go through the exact phrasing for the bullet points on my resumes in my Industry Resume Template, Example & Tips […]

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CV/Resume Creation

Below are sample materials to help guide the creation of your CV, resume, and cover letter. Some of these samples have been generously donated by UVA students and postdocs in order to provide you with ideas about how to create your own materials. DO NOT COPY the text exactly and please keep in mind there are numerous acceptable formats for these documents.  

Information on this page includes:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Cover Letter

CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)

The curriculum vitae, also known as “vita” (without the “e”) and abbreviated as "CV,” is a comprehensive overview of your educational background and academic qualifications.  It is the standard statement of credentials within academe and the research world, and the foundation of an application for an academic or research position, akin to the resume for job markets outside of academics.  As is the case for all application materials, your CV should be tailored to each job opportunity and should emphasize your strongest qualifications.  

While there is no limit to length, the CV must concisely convey information.  In the early stages of the applicant screening process, search committee members will probably spend less than one minute scanning each CV to reduce a large pool of applicants to a manageable list of qualified candidates.  To increase your chances of making the short list, you should prepare an attractive CV that clearly and succinctly identifies the qualifications that make you a good fit for the position.

While general guidelines are presented here, you are strongly urged to consult with faculty in your department for guidance.  Given that CV styles change over time, it can also be instructive to look at the CVs of junior scholars in your field, particularly those who hold the kinds of positions that interest you.

  • Arts and Art History
  • BioChemistry  (Industry)
  • Economics  (sample from MIT)
  • Engineering   (sample from Michigan State University)
  • Higher Education (Administration)
  • Research Focused  CV
  • Teaching Focused  CV

There are several resume formats for presenting information, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, depending on the material being presented.  Select a format that best showcases your qualifications in relation to the job you seek.

  • Chronological Resume

Lists all experience in reverse chronological order.  This most traditional type of resume highlights a progressive record and best suits job seekers who have moved forward along a particular career path.  This format may be less effective for people changing career pursuits, those who have little work experience, and those who wish to make a case for the transferability of skills to a different line of work.  In addition, someone with old but very relevant experience should not choose this format as it will bury a strength at the end of the resume.

  • Modified Chronological Resume

Often an effective format for graduate students.  This format groups experiences into categories based on their function (e.g.. research experience, leadership, technical experience, writing and editing, marketing), and lists them in reverse chronological order within each category.  The categories are prioritized according to relevance.  This format can highlight a less recent but highly relevant experience.  Carefully chosen category headings help to give the applicant an immediately recognizable identity, grabbing the reader’s attention.  Sometimes job seekers have to be creative in grouping experiences.

  • Functional Resume

Actual job titles and dates of experience are simply listed at the top or bottom of the resume without accompanying descriptions.  The bulk of the resume consists of grouped general descriptions of skills used in one or more of the experiences (e.g.. project management, communication skills, leadership, organizational skills).  This format is most useful for people changing careers and for those who have little work experience because it emphasizes transferable skills and deemphasizes gaps in employment or a lack of experience.  Beware, though, that many employers dislike this format, preferring instead to see exactly what you did, where you did it, and when.

  • Combination Resume

Another potentially effective format for graduate students.  The combination resume combines the advantages of the chronological and functional resumes by listing past experiences chronologically and categorizing the functional descriptions for each experience by skill sets (e.g.. communication skills, leadership, analytical/technical skills).  This format is suited to job seekers with only a few major experiences that employed multiple skills.  It can also help graduate students to showcase the relevance of their teaching and research experiences, and the transferable skills those tasks require.  As with the modified chronological resume, sometimes job seekers have to be creative in grouping their skills for this format. 

Resume Sample 1  (for non-academic positions)

Resume Sample 2  (for industry positions)

Resume Sample 3  (for engineering/industry positions)

Resume Sample 4  (for consulting positions)

COVER LETTER

A cover letter usually accompanies a job application beyond academe.  If no cover letter is requested, send one anyway unless the employer explicitly instructs you not to do so.  The role of the cover letter (a.k.a.. “letter of interest” or “letter of application”) is to interpret your qualifications for the reader to convince him or her of your suitability for an advertised position or a potential employment opportunity.  Your cover letter is not analogous to a fax cover sheet.  Instead think of it as a mini-thesis in the sense that it allows you to make an argument for your fit for the job or line of work.  Written in the first person, the cover letter also gives you the opportunity to express your voice and to show your interest, professionalism, and gift for the written word.  Graduate Career Services offers workshops every semester on preparing cover letters.  Check our  Programs and Events  for a schedule of upcoming opportunities.

> Cover Letter Guide

Cover Letter Sample 1  (for academic position)

Cover Letter Sample 2  (for industry position)

phd resume template

Sample PhD Resume Example

Most industries value PhD holders the most out of all the other job seekers. This is due to the fact that PhD recipients have spent several years mastering their profession and are experts in their respective fields.

All resume examples in this guide

phd resume template

Example of a PhD Resume

Patricia B. Butler, PhD ‍ English Professor Laurel, MD [email protected] 443-708-5978

Professional Summary

Expert English Professor with 10+ years of experience and expertise in dramaturgy and literature instruction. Exceptional ability to help students achieve success in learning curriculum material. Promotes reading of dramatic literature to enhance critical thinking and language acuity.

PhD University of Austin, Texas 2009

Bachelor of Arts in Literature University of Illinois 1996

Work Experience

English Professor Cornell University, New York 03/2016 - Present

  • Encouraged students ability to think critically and participate in discussions in the courses of drama by implementing a variety of teaching methods and techniques.
  • Improved employee attendance record by emphasizing punctuality and preparation for work upon arrival.
  • Incorporated discipline into lesson plans as a means of increasing student concentration and participation in class so they would be accountable for their own progress.
  • Relationship development
  • Creative Problem Solving
  • Grammar rules
  • English Native
  • Hindi fluent
  • Arabic fluent

As a PhD holder, many industry positions are going to be available for you. Most PhD students already have a lot of professional experience and transferable skills.

But how can you show industry employers exactly what you can offer the company in terms of specific skills and expertise?

You'll be able to find great success in your job search through writing a strong PhD resume !

We'll be guiding you through writing a successful and effective curriculum vitae that is going to impress any hiring manager!

PhD graduates and students have a lot of resources they can apply to their careers through the academics that they hold. These resources come in the form of academic, professional, and research experiences.

According to GlassDoor the national average salary for PhD students is $32,400 per year in the United States. While some of the best PhD degrees typically earn around $150,000 in their mid-career stage.

Here’s some examples of top salaries for PhD holders:

A PhD in Chemical Engineering pays around $96,000 in their early career, rising to $146,000 at mid-career level. Holders of a PhD in Organic Chemistry start around $83,000 while increasing to $146,000 mid-career. A PhD in Computer Science can earn $118,000 in their early career stage rising to $145,000 in their mid-career stage.

Most careers and companies don't have PhD graduates in their teams, but any organization hiring for a specific job will be more than welcome to hire one.

Your main concern is going to be making a curriculum vitae that's going to knock all other PhD resumes out of the water, and we're here to help with that!

How to make a PhD Resume

Most graduate students have a lot of experience with research experience, the business world, and leadership, but they sometimes might lack the skills to transfer this information onto a resume or curriculum vitae CV.

In order to write a successful PhD resume, you'll need to focus on some important first steps. You'll need to establish a few foundational elements in your resume before you write the content of the application.

It is essential to get the structure and layout of the PhD application right. These elements are what stand between a successful and bad resume.

The layout of the PhD Resume

A successful resume will have an effective design. Your PhD resume should present professional information about your career in a good-looking way.

A proper design and resume layout make the resume much more impactful!

In order to properly showcase each detail of your PhD career to the many employers you'll be sending your resume to, the resume layout will need to have sections.

Sectioning out your resume will make the professional information appear much more pronounced. For instance, your work history will go into the work experience section, while your education will be written in the academic section of the application.

Below are all the sections we'll be covering in this article; we recommend including these sections into your resume layout:

  • The Contact Information
  • The Professional Summary
  • The Job Description (Work Experience Section)
  • The Education Section
  • The Skills Section
  • Other Information Regarding Awards, Honors, and Certificates

The structure of the PhD Resume

It is essential that the resume gives the reader information effectively and in an impactful manner. A proper application has to talk about your relevant skills, accomplishments, work, and academic experiences in a structured way.

While the resume layout determines the look and design of your CV, the structure of your PhD resume is going to affect how the content itself looks and appears on paper.

It is crucial that your application content and text has proper structure; here's how you can do it:

In order to structure text properly, it is essential to apply a resume format. Resume formats can be divided into chronological and functional.

The chronological format is the widely accepted way to structure and format a resume.

In other words, your content will all be written from oldest to newest. Whenever a new professional experience is added to the experience section, it will appear at the top.

Additionally, your application needs to be one or two pages long, written in Times New Roman or Arial font styles with 10 - 12 font sizes.

sample phd resume example

Start with the contact information of the PhD Resume

Just like properly starting any academic presentations, so does your PhD CV need a strong, informative start.

A great way to begin your writing process is by introducing yourself to the reader. After all, the main reason why you're writing a resume in the first place is for employers to notice your credentials.

This information can be provided to the reader through the contact information section.

After writing your name as the title of the CV, include your job title, physical address, email address, and relevant professional website below.

Example of a header / Example of a bad header for PhD

English Professor

443-708-5978

The contact info header below is incorrectly written because the title isn’t very visible. Your name has to be the title of the application and it has to be a couple of font sizes larger than the rest of the text.

Patricia B. Butler, PhD

1785 Wilson Street

https://multimediamecca.com/

Is a photo required in the PhD Resume?

Many job seekers often find themselves wondering whether or not it is a good idea to include a professional photo in their resumes.

While some companies and positions are more lenient when reading through resumes with professional photos, we don't recommend including pictures in your CV.

80% of US companies would say they would not consider an applicant who had a photo in their resume.

Additionally, a PhD resume is going to be focused heavily on the text and showcasing relevant professional information. The layout of the resume won't have enough space to fit in a photo anyway.

Professional summary for a PhD

More often than not, there will be a lot of other PhD graduate candidates looking to get employment at the same positions you've applied for.

What's even more interesting is that employers receive over a hundred applications every day; this holds especially true for non-academic positions.

Recruiters simply don't have the time or ability to fully read through all of the applicants' resumes. Instead, they'll just skim through applications.

A great way to get around this problem and grab the hiring manager's attention right away is by putting a short, concise section into your resume that discusses relevant information about your expertise.

This part of the application is called the professional summary section, and it briefly talks about your relevant experience, achievements, and skills in regard to the position you're applying for.

sample phd resume example

Professional Summary Examples

This summary is incomplete, because it lacks the clarity and impactfulness that the one above has, as well as being too wordy. A good summary needs to be clear, logical and to the point!

Expert English Professor with a lot of years learning and teaching in literary studies, drama and literature instruction. Proven skills when it comes to helping students get to achieving success in learning curriculum material. Strong promoter of reading of dramatic literature to enhance critical thinking and language acuity.

sample phd resume example

Work Experience in the PhD Resume

Now that you've written the introduction for your application in the form of the contact info and summary sections, it's time to get into the process of putting down the most important information for your CV.

The work experience section has to be the highlight of the application because, as a PhD student, you've most likely amassed some professional experience. These experiences need to be discussed and showcased effectively in order to impress the hiring managers.

The work experience section is going to be the largest, most essential part of the CV because it gives the reader a chance to gain insight into your expertise as a PhD professional.

Describe your professional experiences on your PhD Resume

Work experience is very important on a PhD resume; it can make or break your application and the chances of getting considered for a position. If you follow a few expert recommendations, you can create a substantial gap between yourself and the competition and land the job interview.

The position you held most recently should be given priority; write them at the top of the section. Whenever you write a job description, start with the title. Be sure to also include the company name and the length of time you spent with the employer.

Describe your responsibilities and work achievements once you have written the title of your job, company name, and dates of employment.

Examples of professional experiences for PhD

Cornell University

03/2016 - Present

  • Increased employees' attendance records from passable to exceptional by emphasizing punctuality and being prepared to start work on arrival.
  • Implemented discipline and other measures into lesson plans to encourage students to participate in class and concentrate on their lessons so that they would take responsibility for their own learning.

Education in the PhD Resume

As a PhD postgraduate, you hold an immense amount of experience when it comes to teaching, higher education, and general academic background.

Because of these acquired abilities, a big chunk of your resume needs to be dedicated to showcasing your academic background. In a way, the CV is going to be a combination resume.

If you have a PhD, both the work experience and education sections will be immensely important to write effectively. These sections will give your resume very powerful credibility.

Most high-end jobs nowadays require a degree, so who's a better candidate than a PhD recipient?

Should you start with education or work experience for a PhD Degree?

When it comes to a PhD degree holder that wants to write an effective resume, the layout of the application can often be quite confusing.

You might be wondering which is the better option, starting the resume with the work experience or education sections?

In the case where you have a PhD degree, we recommend making this the highlight of your application. The reader has to see your academic credentials right after the summary section.

Your academic background is what sets you apart from the other candidates, after all.

How to properly list your education in a PhD Resume?

We have gone through a lot of detail talking about the importance of a solid education section, but how should it look exactly?

We're here to give you all the pointers you'll need in order to prepare an effective education section that shows your discipline successfully.

Follow these tips below:

  • The last degree you obtained should be the starting point of this section. Including your PhD first and then your master's is a good example.
  • Provide the name of the school, the address, the year of attendance, and the degree earned for each educational certificate.
  • Unless it is exceptionally high, you shouldn't mention your GPA. Only include GPAs above 3.7.
  • With a bullet point or two, list all your relevant coursework relevant to the job you are applying for.

Example of the education section of a PhD Resume

Tarbiat Modares University / Tehran / 2009

Master of Arts

Tarbiat Modares University / Tehran / 2002

  • Member of Dean’s list

Bachelor of Arts in Literature

Kathmandu University / Kathmandu / 1996

sample phd resume example

Skills to put in the PhD Resume

No resume is going to be complete without mentioning a few of your abilities first. This holds especially true if you weren't able to fully present your relevant skills in the other sections of the application.

A great way you can showcase your specific skills in your curriculum vitae is by adding in a skills section.

A skills section is a crucial part of your application because you can highlight the abilities you felt were left out of the other sections and specify that you have these abilities.

The skills section is one of the parts of your application that the reader is going to look at instantly, so you have to make sure that this part of the CV is up to par.

What are the main skills sought for in a PhD Resume?

We've provided a shortlist of skills that any resume with a doctor of philosophy education would be able to incorporate:

  • Results-oriented
  • Communication expertise
  • Project Management
  • Computer Proficient
  • Domestic and International Experience
  • Problem resolution
  • Group leadership

Additional Headings for your PhD Resume

Any resume can benefit from additional information, especially if your application has some leftover white space.

A great way to fill out these spaces is by adding additional headings and sections that showcase different ways you can benefit the hiring organization.

Certifications in a PhD Resume

Certifications are an excellent way of adding to your academic and professional background.

Certificates will almost guarantee you a job interview!

Publications

As a Phd graduate, you'll most likely have some form of work history in the form of publications.

Most doctors of philosophy have to write large thesis papers that take months or even years to finish in order to earn their degrees.

These papers are incredibly difficult to write and are very impressive on a resume. Therefore, it is a good idea to dedicate a small section to listing the publications you've worked on.

Summary: Key Points for Writing a Perfect PhD Resume

In order to be successful during a job search, a resume must be comprehensive and well written, as well as be able to fully demonstrate the candidate's abilities.

When creating your resume, remember the following key points:

  • Ensure that the name of your resume appears at the top of your resume.
  • In your professional summary, highlight your knowledge, experiences, skills, and career goals.
  • Work experience must be included in professional resumes. Using bullet points simplifies the reading of job descriptions.
  • Skills that are relevant to the job description should be included in your skill section.
  • Write the education section above the work experience section.
  • Remember to write all of your application sections clearly and concisely, so that there is no confusion for the reader.

Write a Cover Letter That Goes With Your PhD Resume

Providing the recruiter with additional documentation about your skills and experiences is always a plus, especially if we're talking about cover letters.

Cover letters are page-long professional summaries that go into detail about your career goals, work history and skills.

For more information about how a cover letter should look, check out our resume builder by visiting this link !

Frequently Asked Questions for a PhD Resume

Should i put phd on my resume.

If you have a PhD degree, you should definitely include it in your resume. Doctors of philosophy and higher education certificates are highly valued across many different fields.

How do you write PhD on your resume?

Utilize all of the different sections of your resume and describe your work experience, skills, accomplishments, certifications, and educational background.

You should follow the layout instructions and structure guidelines from our resume templates and find additional information and resume samples too.

Create your resume with the best templates

phd resume template

What’s a Rich Text element?

The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.

Static and dynamic content editing

A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!

How to customize formatting for each rich text

Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.

Create your resume in 15 minutes

Our free collection of expertly designed cover letter templates will help you stand out from the crowd and get one step closer to your dream job.

phd resume template

Sample letters to download

phd resume template

Cover Letter

Advice for getting a job, instructions.

PhD Student Resume Examples & Samples for 2022

This page provides you with PhD student resume examples to use to create your own resume with our easy-to-use resume builder .

Also, check out our collection of 500+ resume examples .

PhD Student Resume Sample and Template

Tips for writing your resume

To land the perfect job, you need the perfect resume. In today’s crowded job market, it is more important than ever to stand out among the competition. When you write your resume, it is vital that you get everything right, from the organization of the template to the details of your work experience. To make sure your resume is flawless, here are some tips for writing the best resume possible.

Let them know where to contact you

Your resume should begin with your contact information. It is very important that potential employers, having read your resume, know how to contact you! At the top of your resume, include your name, phone number, email address, and city.

Introduce yourself

A personal summary, though optional, is a great way to introduce yourself to an employer with your resume. This section is comprised of one or two paragraphs where you can feature your notable accomplishments and highlight your most valuable skills. Your summary should give employers a brief outline of your experience and capabilities and intrigue them to keep reading.

What do you do best?

Shorter than a work history section, in a skills section you can efficiently list your core competencies in a way that is direct and easy to read. Showcase the skills and abilities that you bring to the job, focussing on those which distinguish you from the competition. The more useful and unique your skills are, the more you will stand out to an employer.

Showcase your achievements

Display your work experience in reverse-chronological order, beginning with your most recent position at the top of the section. Describe for each job your title, responsibilities, and accomplishments, with a focus on performance and results rather than duties. Use action words like ‘developed, ‘produced’, and ‘delivered’ when describing your work history to create compelling and impactful descriptions of your experience. Highlighting quantifiable information, like performance metrics and revenue, is a great way to demonstrate your abilities.

What did you learn, and where did you learn it?

Your education section should include the name of any post-secondary schools you attended, the degrees you earned, and any academic distinctions you achieved that you deem worth featuring. If they are particularly relevant, you can also include major areas of study and important projects that you participated in. Like the work experience section, your education should be displayed in reverse-chronological order.

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Curriculum Vitae (CV) Template for Doctoral Students Academic Job Search

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PhD College Student Resume

Phd college resume.

Address: [Your Address]

Phone: [Your Phone Number]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/your_own_profile

Detail-oriented and highly motivated PhD candidate with a strong background in Molecular Biology. Seeking to leverage research expertise and academic achievements to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in genetic engineering within academia or industry.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular Biology

[University Name] | [City, State]

Anticipated Graduation: [Month Year]

Master of Science (MSc) in Genetics

Graduated: [Month Year]

Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biology

Research Experience

Investigating CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing in Human Stem Cells

Conducted research on CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing techniques for potential therapeutic applications.

Utilized molecular biology techniques to modify human stem cells.

Published findings in "Journal of Molecular Biology," resulting in 20 citations.

Exploring Epigenetic Modifications in Cancer Cells

Investigated the role of epigenetic modifications in cancer progression.

Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to analyze data and draw conclusions.

Presented research at the International Symposium on Cancer Research.

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant

[Month Year] - [Month Year]

Assisted in teaching Molecular Biology (BIO 301).

Conducted weekly lab sessions and graded assignments.

Provided guidance and support to undergraduate students.

Professional Experience

Research Intern

[Company Name] | [City, State]

Contributed to research projects focused on developing novel gene therapies.

Conducted experiments and analyzed data under the supervision of senior scientists.

Presented research findings to internal teams and contributed to project reports.

Publications

Title: "CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Gene Editing in Human Stem Cells"

Publication: Journal of Molecular Biology, 2055

Abstract: This study investigates the efficiency and precision of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing in human stem cells. Our findings demonstrate high editing efficiency with minimal off-target effects, highlighting the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology for precise genome engineering in therapeutic applications.

Title: "Epigenetic Regulation of Cancer Progression"

Publication: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Cancer Research, 2054

Abstract: This research elucidates the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating gene expression during cancer progression. Our study reveals specific epigenetic signatures associated with tumor metastasis and identifies potential therapeutic targets for intervention in cancer treatment.

Awards and Honors

Outstanding Graduate Student Award University of Science and Technology, Anytown, USA Awarded for academic excellence and research contributions, May 2055.

Dean's List University of Science and Technology, Anytown, USA Recognition for academic achievement, Fall 2050 - Spring 2052.

Best Poster Presentation Award International Symposium on Cancer Research Awarded for presenting innovative research on epigenetic modifications in cancer cells, 2053.

Proficient in PCR, DNA sequencing, and cell culture techniques.

Proficient in bioinformatics tools such as BLAST and Geneious.

Familiarity with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology and epigenetic analysis methods.

Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and lead research projects effectively.

Strong analytical skills and the ability to conduct detailed research and data analysis.

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Available upon request.

Resume Templates @ Template.net

IMAGES

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    Learn how to write a PhD resume for non-academic jobs with our sample and tips. Customize your resume to the job, highlight your transferable skills, and downplay any concerns employers may have about hiring a PhD.

  2. 9 PhD Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

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  9. How To Write a PhD Researcher Resume (With Template)

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  11. PhD Source

    The Ultimate PhD Resume Template is more than just a document; it's a strategic tool designed to give you a competitive edge in the academic and professional arenas. Whether you're applying for academic positions, research roles, or industry opportunities, this template will help you make a strong, lasting impression on your audience.

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    Learn how to create a resume or CV that highlights your academic and professional qualifications for a Ph.D. program. See tips, a template, an example and frequently asked questions about Ph.D. resumes.

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  21. Sample PhD Resume Example

    Example of a PhD Resume. Patricia B. Butler, PhD. ‍ English Professor. Laurel, MD. [email protected]. 443-708-5978. Professional Summary. Expert English Professor with 10+ years of experience and expertise in dramaturgy and literature instruction.

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