cover letter postdoc biology

How to write a killer cover letter for a postdoctoral application

Many graduate students applying for their first postdoctoral positions underestimate the importance of the cover letter. While it may be true that your awesomeness is beautifully outlined on your curriculum vitae, your cover letter often will dictate whether the busy principal investigator puts your application at the top of the heaping pile or into triage.

First impressions are everything for some people, so leave nothing to chance. If you provide only your CV, you aren’t being very personable, and you lose a precious opportunity to highlight some things that make you stand out. On the other hand, a cover letter is also an opportunity to shoot yourself in the foot, so here are a few do’s and don’ts.

A few do's

Start off right. Address your potential future PI properly, as “Dr. (insert surname here).” If you begin your letter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern,” your application could be dismissed as generic and untailored for the position. A letter that appears to come off an assembly line is likely to ride directly into the trash bin. If you do not invest the time to learn about the PI and his or her research, then the PI is not likely to invest the time to read your application.

After the salutation, the first statement should be a formality that states why you are writing to the PI. It is important to respect how hectic a day in the life of a PI can be, so get right to the point — something like, “I am applying for the postdoctoral position available in your laboratory that was recently advertised (where).”

The second sentence should specify your current position, place of work and mentor. If you are not immediately available for hire, it is useful to mention when you will be able to start. End the first paragraph with just one or two concise sentences that hint at why you are the ideal candidate for the position — you will expand on these points next.

In the second paragraph, elaborate on why you should be considered for the postdoc — not just any postdoc, mind you, but this particular postdoc in this particular lab. Yes, it is infinitely easier to use the same cover letter for the dozens of postdoctoral positions for which you are applying, but that is not going to cut it. These uniform letters are easy to detect and usually dismissed as lazy and insincere. If you fail to convince the PI that you are taking the postdoc search seriously, then the PI is not likely to take you seriously. It is essential that you customize your letter, emphasizing how your background is aligned to the PI’s studies and the specifics called for in the advertisement. Consider this the first demonstration to your future PI that you are resourceful and thoughtful — if you fail to do your homework, it does not build confidence that you will be diligent with your project. Equally important to convincing the PI that you have the right stuff is conveying your excitement for learning something special that is studied by his or her lab. Strive to balance what you would give to the lab and what you would gain from it.

In paragraph three, it is time to brag about a few key achievements, such as your most important paper or two, a grant or fellowship, or other notable honors (an award-winning presentation at a conference, for example). You also can briefly mention that you have experience training more junior people if that is the case. But don’t give a laundry list of every minor award — that is why you submit a CV. The cover letter is the trailer, and your CV is the movie.

End your cover letter with the same professionalism you used at the opening. Thank the PI for his or her time and consideration. Be sure to provide your contact information and state that you look forward to hearing from him or her. Everything discussed above should fit onto a single page — 1 ½ pages at most.  

A few don'ts

There are a number of important don’ts that apply to cover letters. Things that might seem trivial to you actually can be turnoffs. Use plain email stationary free of distracting backgrounds or pictures. Choose a font that is not too big, not too small, not in color, definitely not comic sans and NOT IN CAPS. A plain, boring font like 12-point Arial or Helvetica is easy on the sore eyes of a PI struggling to read the 87th postdoc application. At midnight. After struggling with an online manuscript submission. I can hear the chorus of nonconformists arguing that unconventional fonts and graphics make their applications stand out. Of course it does, but I contend that it is a gamble to present yourself in this manner. If you have the goods, you don’t need the glam.

Some applicants waste valuable sentences describing how they “deeply admire” the “esteemed” laboratory or how they always dreamed about working with the PI. When the cover letter is heavy on flattery, the applicant usually is light on talent or productivity. If your cover letter contains significant blocks of text copied straight from the advertisement, you may be construed as someone with poor language skills or unable to paraphrase. It should go without saying that spelling and grammatical mistakes are inexcusable and often taken as a sign of laziness and carelessness — two of the worst attributes a scientist could possess. Finally, avoid slang and attempts at humor, and do not end your sentences with an exclamation point!

I hope these tips help you land that perfect postdoctoral position.

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Bill Sullivan is a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and the author of several books.

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Cover Letter Best Practices

A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer and should accompany your résumé, unless the employer requests otherwise. If there is an option to include a cover letter, we always recommend doing so. While a résumé provides a summary of your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements, a cover letter allows you to develop a narrative for your career, demonstrating the skills you have honed, and articulating your enthusiasm for the role.

If you think of your résumé as a map to a new city that the hiring manager has not visited before, the cover letter would be the guidebook. It will not cover everything on the map, but it will highlight the most relevant stops along the way and provide additional context. Cover letters and résumés work together and should be in conversation with the job posting.

• Strong Cover Letters
• Anatomy of a Cover Letter
• Give a clear indication of the skills and experiences that make the applicant a good fit. Your cover letter should translate how your experiences have developed both technical and non-technical skills necessary for the role.
• Provide evidence of the skills in action. Show, do not tell—provide concrete examples that craft a compelling narrative.
• Make an explicit connection between applicant and job. A cover letter should articulate your understanding of the organization you are applying to and how you fit in.

Use a business-letter format and stick to one page of 3-5 paragraphs. Like a résumé, each cover letter you write should be tailored to the specific position and employer to align with the organization’s culture and the requirements of the role.

• Use the same header on both your cover letter and résumé for a cohesive and polished look.
• When available, include the name, title, company, and address of the person you are writing.
• If you do not know the recruiter or hiring manager’s name, address your letter to “Recruiting Team” or “Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “To whom it may concern.”
• Use the opening paragraph to introduce yourself. State why you are writing and how you learned about the position. If someone referred you or you have established a contact through networking, include the person’s name and affiliation with the employer.
• The first paragraph should also articulate what you know about the organization and what draws you to a role. Be sure to review the job posting and carefully research the company to identify the most important skills to highlight as well as why you want to join the team. Conveying genuine enthusiasm is essential! It is often helpful to conclude the opening paragraph with a clear assertion of your skills, much like a thesis statement for your cover letter. This last sentence also helps structure your body paragraphs.
• The body paragraphs should emphasize and elaborate on your strongest qualifications and key relevant experiences. Address qualifications specified in the job description and give concrete examples of when you have demonstrated the skills the employer is seeking. Do not repeat all the content from your résumé; instead, select 2-3 experiences that showcase the positive impact of your relevant skills.
• The final paragraph reiterates what draws you to the organization and the skillsets and experiences you bring to the table. You should also use the closing paragraph to express thanks for consideration and to request an opportunity to discuss the position.
• If you are using the header from your résumé, do not repeat your contact information in the signature.

Once you have a draft, get feedback! Graduate students can make career advising appointments at NCA through Handshake to receive individualized feedback from our dedicated PhD advisers on application materials. They can also pop into our virtual drop-in hours for quick questions. Postdoctoral fellows can contact the  Office of Postdoctoral Affairs for feedback on their materials. The Graduate Writing Place is another wonderful resource for both grad students and postdocs, and their fellows provide feedback on academic and non-academic application materials.

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Postdoctoral Research Associate Cover Letter Sample

Get more job offers and find inspiration for your cover letter with this customizable Postdoctoral Research Associate cover letter sample. Copy-paste this cover letter sample at no cost or rewrite it directly in our professional cover letter builder.

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Postdoctoral Research Associate Cover Letter Sample (Full Text Version)

Martin Lambert

Dear Hiring Manager,

As a Doctorate of Molecular and Cellular Biology graduate, I apply with enthusiasm for this opportunity.

During my studies at the University of Sunnybank, I taught Genome Expression and Organization and Genetic Manipulation as a part-time undergraduate Microbiology Instructor. As well as the planning and delivery of high-quality instruction in physical and virtual settings, I administered and evaluated assessments. I was particularly pleased at the average 97% pass rate my classes achieved.

As well as my instructional duties, I assisted with the research and writing of "Chapter 2: Molecular Cell Biology of Diabetic Complications" in Erick Miska’s (2017) Molecular Cell Biology Advances in the 21st Century (Persimmon Press). 

In addition to 6 years of research and teaching and my recent doctorate, I hold a Master of Biology. I have also attended numerous professional workshops and courses.

I have enjoyed my time at the University of Sunnybank, and am grateful for the excellent research opportunities offered. As my doctorate is now complete, I seek a postdoctoral research associate role that will enable me to help advance our understanding of molecular cell biology.

Please find attached my curriculum vitae for your consideration. Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to hearing from you regarding next steps. 

Yours sincerely,

Milan Šaržík, CPRW

Milan’s work-life has been centered around job search for the past three years. He is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) as well as an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches (PARWCC™). Milan holds a record for creating the most career document samples for our help center – until today, he has written more than 500 resumes and cover letters for positions across various industries. On top of that, Milan has completed studies at multiple well-known institutions, including Harvard University, University of Glasgow, and Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

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Bringing the World's Best Biology to You

Session 2: Applying for a Postdoc

• Duration: 00:10:55

00:00:09:06 - Hello, my name is Naledi Saul, 00:00:11:07 and I'm the Director of the Office of Career 00:00:12:28 and Professional Development 00:00:14:04 at the university of California, San Francisco. 00:00:16:25 This session is to help you write an effective CV. 00:00:21:18 One of the things that happens when students find out 00:00:23:27 that they have to write a CV 00:00:25:02 is it ends up being an anxiety provoking experience, 00:00:27:24 because one of the first things they do 00:00:29:14 is they look online for CV samples. 00:00:31:25 And doing so, they get a full range of all of the skills 00:00:35:00 and experiences that they see 00:00:36:07 some of their colleagues have had 00:00:37:25 and some of their friends have had, and even strangers. 00:00:40:13 And they start to wonder whether or not 00:00:42:09 they actually have anything to put on paper. 00:00:45:09 So one of the best solutions I found to this 00:00:47:28 is to basically talk to you a little bit 00:00:50:01 about how a career counselor puts together a CV. 00:00:53:14 Career counselors basically put together CVs in three steps. 00:00:57:13 First, we pick headings. 00:00:59:12 Second, we then look at the descriptive text 00:01:01:24 and fill it out. 00:01:02:18 And then three, we focus on final formatting. 00:01:04:27 So let's actually go through each of those steps. 00:01:07:10 to help you figure out how to write your strongest CV. 00:01:12:23 To understand why we start with the headings, 00:01:15:02 it helps to take half a step back and have a conversation 00:01:18:15 about how this entire hiring process unfolds 00:01:22:10 from the person who's trying to potentially bring someone 00:01:25:06 to their lab or their organization. 00:01:27:21 You should know that anytime you apply for a job 00:01:30:05 or a postdoc opportunity or any opportunity, 00:01:33:18 you and all the other candidates will have three things. 00:01:36:12 You'll have certain academic training. 00:01:37:25 You'll have certain professional skills. 00:01:39:14 And you'll have a certain reason 00:01:40:19 why you want this opportunity. 00:01:42:21 No one quality about you separates you 00:01:45:06 from other candidates, 00:01:46:14 but collectively, nobody else 00:01:48:06 has your same combination of superpowers, 00:01:51:13 including whatever your particular degree is, 00:01:55:06 your unique combination of professional skills, 00:01:58:01 and also your unique reason for actually moving 00:02:01:20 in that direction or developing that skillset. 00:02:04:11 And so CVs and cover letters were designed 00:02:07:16 to basically mine for that data. 00:02:09:28 CVs cover the first two points, 00:02:12:13 your academic training and your professional skills. 00:02:15:04 It's why it starts with the section of education, 00:02:17:17 and then it goes into your research experience, 00:02:20:03 your teaching experience, your leadership and service. 00:02:24:03 But in general, 00:02:24:28 it basically gives an entire sort of arc 00:02:27:18 of your professional development as a scientist. 00:02:30:17 What it doesn't cover is your interests, 00:02:33:18 both why you did what you did, 00:02:35:12 and why you're interested in whatever the opportunity is. 00:02:38:16 And that is why cover letters were invented. 00:02:42:08 Collectively, the person reading 00:02:43:27 your application materials will get a full picture 00:02:46:08 of not just who you are and what you've done, 00:02:48:16 but why you've done it. 00:02:51:00 So let's drill down into the CV 00:02:53:11 to really unpack a little bit about the format. 00:02:56:28 This is useful because what we find is, 00:02:58:28 is that a number of students as they're looking online, 00:03:01:17 they're actually trying to first get a sense 00:03:03:16 of like what is the skeleton of a CV? 00:03:06:23 One of my goals is that you are able 00:03:08:20 to look at other people's documents 00:03:10:20 and understand the logic behind them. 00:03:14:06 The thing that you need to recognize about the CV 00:03:16:28 is it's designed to actually tell the first two parts 00:03:19:15 of the story in a particular way. 00:03:21:21 Your section headings, 00:03:23:03 including your education section 00:03:24:19 if there's relevant training section 00:03:26:04 are usually the things that come first, 00:03:28:18 sort of the theoretical lens 00:03:30:02 which is shaped sort of what work you do 00:03:32:05 and the way that you do it. 00:03:33:19 And then it breaks down 00:03:35:17 in terms of how you've developed as a scientist. 00:03:38:24 So there's you, in terms of your research experience 00:03:41:02 as I've said before. 00:03:41:29 You, in terms of your teaching experience, 00:03:43:21 and you, in terms of leadership and service, 00:03:45:16 and then any other experience you have, 00:03:47:23 project management consulting, anything else. 00:03:51:12 The third part is actually the outcomes. 00:03:54:07 So because you've done all of that training 00:03:57:12 and you've done all of those professional experiences, 00:03:59:24 you have have the right to belong 00:04:01:16 to this professional association. 00:04:03:03 You have the ability to do these techniques. 00:04:06:14 You have this presentation record. 00:04:08:14 You have this publication record. 00:04:10:18 The point is that the bottom of the CV 00:04:14:07 usually focuses on your productivity. 00:04:17:26 There will be samples below in the resources section 00:04:20:05 to give you a sample of potential headings 00:04:22:15 for you to start to prepare your document. 00:04:25:12 So that's the first step. 00:04:27:04 But usually, the second step 00:04:28:19 that students really struggle with, 00:04:30:19 is how much information to include in descriptive text. 00:04:33:10 Because earlier they might have felt 00:04:34:28 that they didn't do a lot in their careers, 00:04:37:19 or you may feel you haven't done a lot in your career, 00:04:39:27 you may be tempted to put everything about who you are 00:04:42:29 and what you did and where you didn't, 00:04:44:19 and every single activity into a descriptive text. 00:04:48:21 Instead, we encourage students and postdocs 00:04:52:11 to really think about just three things. 00:04:55:21 Your breadth, your depth, and your impact. 00:04:58:21 So when you're writing about a research experience, 00:05:01:00 focus on highlighting the name of the project 00:05:03:16 that you worked on, or projects that you were involved in. 00:05:06:27 Then secondly, focus on the range of responsibilities 00:05:10:04 that you engaged in, such as what did you synthesize? 00:05:13:03 What did you analyze? 00:05:14:03 What did you design? 00:05:15:12 Who did you mentor? 00:05:16:20 And then focus on the outcomes, 00:05:19:02 such as, what did you achieve? 00:05:20:14 What did you solve? 00:05:21:12 What did you discover? 00:05:22:12 What did you initiate, build, or publish? 00:05:25:10 These three touch points 00:05:26:12 will help anyone reading your document 00:05:28:13 to get a full sense of your development 00:05:31:10 and what you're able to do. 00:05:33:09 Once again, in the resources section, 00:05:35:06 there will be a sample description that's dissected 00:05:37:16 and color coded to give you a better sense 00:05:39:27 of what a typical research experience would look like. 00:05:44:14 Once you've done those two first steps. 00:05:46:13 Once you've picked your headings, 00:05:47:19 and once you've written your descriptive text, 00:05:49:18 the final step is actually looking at the formatting. 00:05:53:06 The general goal with formatting 00:05:55:11 is really thinking about whether or not it's easy 00:05:57:23 for someone to read. 00:05:59:00 The way to figure this out best 00:06:00:12 is truly to basically make sure 00:06:02:07 that somebody else reads your document at the end. 00:06:04:19 But there are some general guidelines that you'll see 00:06:06:22 when you're looking at all of the different samples 00:06:08:21 that you might have access to. 00:06:11:25 The thing you should know is that your document 00:06:13:10 will probably be between, 00:06:14:28 I would say, one and three pages on average. 00:06:17:05 If it's longer than that, 00:06:18:15 it's usually because you are telling me 00:06:20:00 about your incredible range of publications. 00:06:24:07 Your margins are usually between 0.5 and 0.75 inches. 00:06:29:06 Your font size is usually between 10 and 12 font, 00:06:32:19 just really making it readable. 00:06:34:09 But what's most useful to understand 00:06:36:07 is that you're not just looking at the text, 00:06:39:06 you're basically trying to make sure 00:06:40:14 that the headings are at least one or two font sizes larger. 00:06:43:11 So a person can easily skim down your headings 00:06:45:29 and fully understand your range of experiences. 00:06:48:25 Try to use fonts that are familiar, 00:06:51:01 that are sort of well-established. 00:06:52:27 Unusual fonts are sometimes 00:06:54:10 a little bit more complicated to read. 00:06:57:04 In the end, you can also really think about 00:06:59:23 when you're looking at your document, 00:07:01:07 what is the most important information, 00:07:03:04 and then intentionally choose to bold 00:07:06:03 or highlight that in some way. 00:07:08:02 That's the bolding, capitalization, underlining, 00:07:11:26 and using bullet points. 00:07:14:13 Finally, number every single page 00:07:17:09 and put your name on it. 00:07:18:19 That way, when a person reads your document, 00:07:20:22 they'll be able to unclip it 00:07:23:05 and look at all three pages, 00:07:24:27 or two pages, or however long it is. 00:07:26:26 And then be sure that they have it in the right order 00:07:29:03 and be able to put it together again. 00:07:31:13 So those are some general strategies 00:07:33:23 about actually preparing a document. 00:07:35:22 So now let's actually talk about the final part, 00:07:38:18 which is the cover letter. 00:07:40:22 So when people think about cover letters 00:07:43:10 they usually ask the first question, 00:07:44:28 "Do people read cover letters?" 00:07:47:04 And the answer is yes, sometimes. 00:07:50:05 But the useful question isn't do people read cover letters? 00:07:53:05 It's when people read cover letters, 00:07:55:03 what is it that they're looking for? 00:07:56:29 What do they need the cover letter to do? 00:08:00:06 As we talked about before, 00:08:01:17 cover letters cover that third part 00:08:03:28 of who you are as a candidate. 00:08:06:21 It covers your interests, 00:08:08:02 both what you've done 00:08:09:24 and why you're interested in their opportunity. 00:08:13:11 You should know that actually whoever's looking 00:08:15:24 at your material, 00:08:16:26 will probably first look at your CV, 00:08:18:28 no matter how fantastic your cover letter is. 00:08:21:06 They'll probably skim it first 00:08:23:05 and get a sense of you as a candidate. 00:08:25:28 But there are times when people actually 00:08:28:18 either don't fully understand your range of experience 00:08:32:21 or your interests, 00:08:33:26 where they'll then look at the cover letter 00:08:35:17 to actually explain it to them. 00:08:37:14 So next, let's drill down 00:08:38:24 into what should be in the cover letter 00:08:42:00 that actually explains a little bit about your interests. 00:08:44:23 When you think about writing your cover letter, 00:08:46:22 think about how familiar your audience is going to be 00:08:49:26 with your skills and experiences. 00:08:51:24 This is relevant when you start 00:08:53:01 to think about different postdoc opportunities. 00:08:56:16 When looking at a postdoc opportunity 00:08:58:14 that you think is gonna be a continuation of your work, 00:09:01:23 you probably could get away with not including 00:09:04:01 a very detailed cover letter, 00:09:05:19 but simply summarizing your interest in the position. 00:09:09:21 But if you're pivoting, 00:09:11:03 if you're actually moving into a new field or area, 00:09:13:27 if it's very likely that the PI will not be familiar 00:09:16:20 with what your work has been, 00:09:18:07 or be able to naturally connect 00:09:20:27 why you are interested in their lab, 00:09:22:27 a cover letter can actually help sort of clarify 00:09:26:18 for them why you are a strong and an interesting candidate. 00:09:30:22 When talking about a cover letter, 00:09:32:11 you're usually including a document 00:09:33:27 that's between one and three paragraphs long. 00:09:36:14 And the main thing that's really helpful to drill down into, 00:09:40:21 is a summary statement about yourself, 00:09:43:17 and what lab you come out of, what your degree is, 00:09:47:11 and also a statement that you are interested 00:09:49:26 in this position. 00:09:50:23 That's usually your first paragraph. 00:09:52:25 Your second paragraph actually explains 00:09:55:16 a little bit about your research, 00:09:57:10 and also starts to talk a little bit about, 00:09:59:23 particularly, if you are pivoting, 00:10:02:08 what your interest is, 00:10:03:27 and why you feel that you're a good fit for the lab. 00:10:07:06 This is the time that you would actually talk a little bit 00:10:09:09 about the fact that you've read their papers, 00:10:11:01 or that there's something engaging about their work. 00:10:13:29 You would close your letter by really drilling into 00:10:17:13 both that you feel that you have something novel 00:10:19:24 or interesting or exciting that you wanna work on, 00:10:22:09 and that you'd like the chance to talk with them further. 00:10:25:02 You can see in the resources section a sample of a document, 00:10:28:12 but it's also a good idea to sometimes 00:10:30:08 just go online and type the words, 00:10:31:29 postdoc cover letter samples, 00:10:34:03 because many career centers 00:10:35:10 will actually have samples for you. 00:10:37:16 So that's the overview of how you write a CV 00:10:40:00 and a cover letter. 00:10:41:07 Next, we'll talk about interviewing.

• Educators of H. School / Intro Undergrad
• Educators of Adv. Undergrad / Grad

Talk Overview

When you apply for postdocs and other types of jobs, you typically need to submit a curriculum vitae and a cover letter as part of your application package. This session will teach you strategies to assemble an effective application package geared towards getting the position that you want.

Session Narrative

A typical application package for academic and/or research positions requires two things: a curriculum vitae (CV) and a cover letter. These documents tell your potential employer what you have done (e.g., academic training and professional skills), and why you have done it (e.g., interests). Moreover, they will help you demonstrate why you’re a great match for a job. But, how do you even start drafting these documents? Start by thinking about the specific items (e.g., skills, experiences) that you would like to highlight in your application. While the general structure of the CV and cover letter are the same, you should tailor these documents to highlight the aspects of your portfolio that are most relevant to the specific job (postdoc or otherwise) that you are applying for. This session will provide you with tips and strategies to help you construct an effective CV and cover letter.

Constructing your CV:

A CV is requested at almost every stage of an academic career, and yet, we aren’t usually taught how to write it. Whether you already have a CV or have never drafted one, it helps to take a step back and think about the main purpose of the CV. 

Tailor your CV for the position. A CV is designed to help principal investigators (PIs) or hiring managers understand the academic training and professional skills of prospective candidates so they can assess if they meet the requirements of a specific job. That’s why a CV should be geared towards a specific job . Sometimes we forget how crucial this last point is, and if we apply to multiple positions in a short period of time, it can be challenging to create many different applications. But ultimately, your CV should demonstrate how well your career experiences fulfill the qualifications for the job that you are applying for. It can be a lot of work to create many different versions of your CV (and cover letter), but in the end, it is worth it.

Breadth, depth, and impact. Although you may feel obliged to write every single detail of what you have done, it’s better to be direct, specific, and concise in your CV. Its goal is to convey your most important accomplishments effectively. Your potential employer may be reviewing dozens of applications at once or just skimming through your application package. You want to make sure that they don’t feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and that it is easy for them to get a good sense of who you are and what you have done. For each item in your CV describe the breadth (e.g., name of the project), the depth (e.g., your responsibilities in it), and the impact (e.g, discovery, publications). If the item’s breadth, depth or impact does not help communicate your fit for the position, consider not including it.

Use formatting to emphasize key elements. You need to think about how you can strategically format your CV to highlight important elements (see Figure 2.1). Aside from making sure that the size and general format of the CV are readable, you can also use CAPITALIZATION, underlining , and bolding to emphasize different components of your CV. To help you prioritize the elements of your CV that you want to “pop” for the reader, look at your CV as if YOU were the person hiring for this position.

Use action verbs. When describing your accomplishments, use action verbs to show your contributions and impact. 

Get feedback and advice from your mentors. Send people in your mentoring network a description of the position you are applying for, your CV, and cover letter, and ask them for feedback, particularly about the fit of your materials for the position.

Cover letter: Answering the why question

Your CV conveys how your skills and background are ideal for a particular job. However, it doesn’t answer an important question: Why are you interested in the position? That’s the role of the cover letter: to highlight and explain how your interests and experiences make you a great fit for the job. Explaining this is particularly important when you’re trying to switch fields, or when the connection between your skills and experiences and the requirements of a job isn’t obvious from just reading your CV. 

The cover letter is also an opportunity to highlight your most relevant accomplishments and explain how these make you a great candidate. You can use the cover letter to thoughtfully discuss why you want to join the lab, and what made this opportunity stand out to you. A compelling cover letter should not feel general; rather it should be customized for each lab or position you’re applying to.  

There will be core elements to all of your cover letters (see Figure 2.2). However, you should customize each one to demonstrate you have done your homework to learn about your potential employer (e.g., the specific research the lab does) and how you will fit in or add value to what they do. The more specific information you can give about the lab and how your interests align with the particular job, the better. 

As you start working on your CV and cover letter, you may feel intimidated and not know where to start. If you have a severe case of writer’s block, take a blank piece of paper and start with an outline . Review and add one piece of information to the document every day until you’re able to complete it. It’s not about perfection, but progress.

Activities (Exercises and Self-Reflection):

• Activity 2.1: Working on your curriculum vitae
• Activity 2.2: The application package

Watch: next session >>

Speaker Bio

Naledi saul.

Naledi Saul is the Director of Career and Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She holds a Master’s of Public Management degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Spelman College. Prior to UCSF, Naledi was an Assistant Dean of Students and Assistant… Continue Reading

More Talks in Professional Development

Related Resources

• Step-By-Step: How to Write Your CV and Cover Letter for a Postdoc Position by the Office of Career and Professional Development at UCSF
• Quick Formatting Tips for Cover Letters by Purdue University
• CVs, Resumes, and Cover Letters by the Office of Career and Professional Development at UCSF
• Resume Samples & Tools by the Office of Career Strategy at Yale University
• CV to Resume Conversion: When to use a CV versus a Resume by Yale University
• CVs and Cover Letter by the Office Of Career Services at Harvard University
• Job Hunting in Industry: Searching, Applying, Interviewing, and Negotiating for a Scientist Position produced by iBiology

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Table of Contents

Cover letter for a postdoc (5 samples)

As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.

This blog post will show samples of “cover letters for a postdoc.”

Samples of postdoc cover letters

To get a postdoc position, you need a well-written cover letter that showcases your passion for and dedication to the industry. When writing a postdoc cover letter, these are some of the essential things to include in your letter:

• Address the employer with a formal salutation. For example, “Dear/Hello (name of the recipient or hiring manager).”
• The next step is to state the position you are applying for and how you found the opening. 
• Write a short sentence about why you’re interested in the position.
• State your skills and work experience; ensure they are similar to the job position. When stating your skills, provide the accomplishment you have achieved. 
• Conclude your letter with a forward-looking statement. For example, “I look forward to discussing the position further.”

“01/06/2021

Dr. Harold Bergman

Enteny University

113 Sunnyside Circle

Enteny, Illinois, 60002

Dear Dr. Bergman,

I am writing to express my sincere interest in Enteny University’s open postdoc laboratory position. I would love to pursue my postdoctoral studies as a member of your team. I am a recent graduate of Bertrum University where I gave my presentation on hydrogen fuel cell viability. You may remember Juan Sosa mentioning my interest in your laboratory at the end of the last school year.

In my research, I focused on developing hydrogen fuel cell delivery and storage solutions focusing specifically on portable applications for military use. In my doctoral studies, I worked to develop charging and backup systems for portable electronic devices (PEDs). Current military operations cannot effectively use fuel alternatives because emergency and frequent charging solutions remain unavailable. Most of my work has revolved around alternative energy-harnessing systems and long-lasting batteries. In my work, I produced fuel cells less susceptible to environmental degradation factors and extreme temperatures. I look forward to continuing my research and working toward miniaturizing fuel cells to improve their PED compatibility as a member of your research team.

I would appreciate the opportunity to continue my research in your laboratory and pursue a long-term future with Enteny University. I believe the nature of my research relates to your lab because, as the leading institution in fuel cell research, my chosen field of study is extremely relevant to your efforts. I think my knowledge and experience surrounding PEDs and battery longevity could aid in your research.

I am a self-motivated, independent researcher with eight years of experience. As a detail-oriented, qualified and creative candidate, I feel my fuel-cell research, grant proposal writing and tutoring experience could be a major asset to your laboratory. I’ve attached my CV and would be very interested in setting up a time to further discuss my skills and qualifications with you. Please let me know if you have questions and I look forward to hearing from you.

Harriet Browne”

“[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]

[123 Company Address]

[Company City, State xxxxx]

[(xxx)-xxx-xxxx]

[[email protected]]

Dear [Dr./Mr./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Last Name],

I am writing to express my interest in a postdoctoral position in your lab. I am a PhD Candidate in the Andrew Dwyer lab at James Hill University expecting to graduate in June 2022. My graduate work, published in Science this year, investigated the RNA virome in various aquatic environments using metagenomic analysis. My future research goals are to apply my computational skills and develop my skills working with non-human primate models to better understand and design therapeutics against pathogenic viruses. I believe my strong background in virus biology, library preparation, and next-generation sequencing analysis make me an ideal candidate to study respiratory disease viruses in your lab.

In my thesis lab, we use viral evolution to find trends that unite eukaryotic disease viruses. However, our current picture of RNA virus taxonomy is still incomplete, with the five-clade organization largely informed by human and agricultural animal and plant studies.

Therefore, to refine and complete our understanding of the global RNA virome, I sampled multiple complex aquatic environments and performed metagenome analysis. Confirming that the five-phyla classification based on RdRP sequence comparisons holds true, my analysis nearly tripled the number of currently known RNA viruses.

Host assignments proved to be tricky during my thesis. But I tackled this problem through various methods, including developing machine learning algorithms and comparing RNA viruses to size-separated microbial preparations subjected to DNA and RNA sequencing. I am continuing to characterize the novel and more highly divergent RdRPs discovered by our sampling. Also I mentor one graduate and one undergraduate student with their independent projects drawn from my work.

While I have focused primarily on RNA virus ecology and evolution during my graduate work, I am comfortable extending my research to studying RNA viruses in human disease. I collaborated with Dr. Henry Fields on a publication, currently under review at Frontiers in Immunology, studying rhesus macaque responses to MERS-CoV. The skills I learned through our collaboration, as well as from electives and literature search in immunology and human virology, have prepared me well to transition from studying viruses to studying virus-host interactions. Additionally, I look forward to applying my computational skills toward single-cell sequencing analysis examining the effects of age, diet fat content, and viral strain on primate responses to SARS-CoV-2 challenges, building on the methods and results in your recent Cell Reports Medicine paper. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to talk with you more about my fit in your lab. Thank you for your time and consideration.

“Anshu Mahajan

Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

+91 84 90184020

[email protected]

linkedin.com/in/anshu.mahajan

Pondicherry, 10.01.2022

Kajol Samra

Head of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Pondicherry University

Chinna Kalapet

Kalapet, Puducherry

Dear Ms. Samra,

As an alumnus of Pondicherry University, I was thrilled to learn about the Post-Doctoral Fellow position available at the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. During my PhD studies at Pondicherry University, I researched the relationship between circadian regulation and neurodegenerative diseases and wrote my doctoral thesis “Circadian activity and memory performance in Alzheimer’s patients” under the supervision of professor Qadim Ray. Seeing that Pondicherry University hopes to move to the forefront of neurodegenerative disease research with a new team led by professor Abbas Sengupta, I believe that my analytical skills and academic experience could be a great asset to this programme.

The fellowship offer mentions you’re looking for candidates skilled in the areas of lab management, cytometry for apoptosis detection, and data collection. I am happy to say that I possess all of those qualities:

• Lab management: During my PhD research, I collaborated with fellow doctoral students to create a lab maintenance plan, which included up-to-date information on equipment booking, planned activities, instrument inventory, scheduling details, and a list of consumables and chemical supplies for restocking. By implementing this system, we were able to reduce the instances of conflicting activities by 67% within two months, and we maintained a stock of consumables and chemical supplies 88% of the time.
• Cytometry for apoptosis detection: I am familiar with various methods of apoptosis detection, having conducted flow cytometry to detect changes appearing in organelles, monitor activation of caspase 3, oversee changes to the plasma membrane, and changes in the nuclear DNA, using cells at a concentration of 1×106 cells/ml.
• Data collection: For my doctoral thesis, I have conducted 74 detailed interviews with Alzheimer’s patients, covering their current memory-related symptoms, overall health, family history, and sleeping habits. I have compared this information with data gathered using sleep trackers that collected information about sleep cycles. Instead of paper copies, I have used Excel spreadsheets and Cloud solutions for storing information, which helped to speed up the process of pulling up specific data by 89%.

What makes me particularly interested in your post-doctorate fellowship program is the chance to continue my research. Having worked with Alzheimer’s patients, I have seen first-hand how this disease influences the quality of life of not just the patients themselves, but also their loved ones. I believe that working together with other researchers under the guidance of professor Abbas Sengupta can lead to significant discoveries in the nature of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, I have observed how another team of researchers at Pondicherry University achieved a major breakthrough in the study of endosome function and dysfunction. I believe that professor Sengupta’s team can replicate this success and lead to a better understanding of diseases that afflict over 50 million people worldwide.

I can’t wait to discuss my ideas for managing data gathered by professor Sengupta’s team and for introducing changes to laboratory procedures to create a smooth workflow. Could we schedule a meeting next week to discuss how my research experience can contribute to this project?

Anshu Mahajan

linkedin.com/in/anshu.mahajan”

“Dear Professor Knightly,

Having completed my doctorate in Slavonic Studies last semester, I am applying to continue my Postdoc research in the area of the Old Church Slavonic language.

Researching the homeland and language of the Slavs has always been a passion and I have undertaken many translation projects that have contributed to the modern understanding of how language influenced the early Slavonic church in the Moravian Empire.

I will be spending much of my Postdoc period in libraries across Eastern Europe, presenting at local symposia and writing my second book on the development of early Proto Slavic and Common Slavonic languages in conjunction with a number of leaders in the field. My travel has mostly been funded by the publishers, but given the considerable expense in my work I am continuing to request the bursary from the university.

I teach classes for local students and will continue to lead seminars six times a year on my return trips to Chicago. I enclose my latest research paper for your interest. It has received critical acclaim in over 15 industry publications. After analyzing over 2,000 church manuscripts, it is fascinating to see the evolution.

I was proud to receive my doctorate, but the work is just beginning. Understanding the origins of language is helping to unlock the secrets of the early Slav Church – exploring many of the rituals that still hold firm to this day.

Simon Bartley”

“New Haven, June 26, 2020

Professor B. Hawthorne

Faculty Search Committee

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305

Dear Professor Hawthorne,

I am writing to apply for the position of Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford. I am completing my PhD in Clinical Psychology and Criminology at Yale University under the direction of Professor Mark Fisher with an expected graduation date of May 2021.

Within my research, I have focused on a multidisciplinary approach to examining the nature of self harm and how social support networks affect the likelihood of self-harm being fatal. The thesis ‘Cry for Help: Non-Suicidal Self-Harm Characteristics’ takes 128 participants aged 15-39, 50% male and 50% female. Analyzing quantitative statistical data on the angle and depth of NSSH, the comparison versus factors such as time of contact with therapist, standardized family awareness of issues, number of social support network points as well as self-reported severity of suicidal ideation found the following.

It was found that severity of suicidal ideation didn’t reliably predict the severity of NSSH, i.e. its actual objective risk to life. However, it was found that gender was a reliable predictor of location of NSSH, with females mostly harming their arms and legs, while males were more likely to harm their chest and private areas. It was also found that the combined strength of social support was a significant predictor in the severity of NSSH, i.e. depth and angle. Early time of contact with a therapist was not affecting severity of NSSH, but had a significant correlation with frequency of harm.

With the NCHS reporting a 30% increase in death by suicide in the United States between 2000 and 2016, it is a highly pressing issue to reverse engineer the factors that lead to heightened risk, and many scholars consider NSSH a stage in the development of fatal suicidal ideation. The next part of my study intends to look at the relationship between strength of social support for young males and risk of online political and religious radicalization, another great risk to our civilization in these uncertain times, and there aren’t many better places to conduct this study than Stanford. My approach is highly informed by the modern machine learning cross-factor analysis that has been innovated by Professor Musk, and upon which I based my own analysis.

I am well-prepared to do my part teaching as well as researching, having taught a range of courses in Psychology, Criminology, Sociology and Statistics, such as ‘Radicalization: Social and Scientific Factors’ which has been wildly successful with the undergraduates at Yale, and grew from 7 students signed up in 2018 to over 55 in 2020. All in all, I have taught 400+ undergraduates and mentored 20+ master’s students, and achieved increasing participation in courses designed by me year and year, and higher than average results on all previously-established courses.

I am enclosing my curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, as well as copies of transcripts. I also attach letters of reference from Dr Smith, Dr Jones, and Robert Martinson. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I could provide additional information or materials that will aid you in the evaluation of my application. I am available for interview during the next Criminology conference at Stanford, or by phone or email at any other time.

Best Regards,

Sam Marks PhD

211-978-1043

[email protected]”

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do i write a cover letter for healthcare.

“I am writing to express my interest in applying for the [specific position name] listed on your website. Between my educational background and relevant experience, I am confident that I can help support your hospital’s mission of [reference to facility’s specific values and mission].”

How do you grab attention in a cover letter?

How to Create an Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter: 

• Write a compelling introduction.
• Use tasteful humor in your cover letter. 
• Research about the company. 
• Demonstrate your confidence. 

If you like this blog post, please leave your comments and questions below.

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Institute for Systems Biology

Postdoctoral fellow.

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The Kane lab at the Institute for Systems Biology is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow interested in the biology of aging to lead projects focused on understanding, measuring and predicting heterogeneity in aging, and particularly identifying epigenetic determinants and biomarkers of frailty. The ideal candidate will have experience in epigenetics, library preps, next generation sequencing and associated analyses. Specific experience with measurement and analysis of DNA methylation or histone modifications, and/or experience in the biology of aging is a plus. Current funded projects include the exploration of cross-sectional and longitudinal epigenetic (histone marks, DNA methylation, transcriptome) markers of frailty, aging and sex differences.

This role will work closely with the PI, as well as other collaborators and offers the freedom to pursue one’s own research interests. As a key part of a growing lab, this position offers opportunities for mentorship, leadership and career advancement. Postdoc salaries at ISB are very competitive, and there is the opportunity to substantially supplement salary with local fellowship funding for excellent candidates. Candidates also have the opportunity to be part of the University of Washington Biological Mechanisms of Healthy Aging T32 Training Grant.

Successful candidates should have (or shortly be awarded) a Ph.D. in Biology, Systems Biology, Physiology, Computational Biology, Biological or Biomedical Engineering, or a related field. Candidates should have excellent organization and communication skills, and will be expected to manage projects, submit papers for publication and contribute to grant writing.

Applicants should include a CV and a brief (1 or 2-page) cover letter summarizing their background, future research interests and fit for this position.

ISB is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Pay Range: ISB pays postdoctoral fellows on a scale based upon experience: $65,478 – $91,711 annually

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A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the Fu laboratory in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine for a translational research project studying the role of circadian homeostasis in tumor suppression focusing on obesity-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The candidates are expected to have training background and techniques in molecular and cellular biology, animal models, and good interpersonal skills in collaborating with clinicians and bioinformaticians. The project will use state-of-the-art technologies including RNA/ChIP-seq, in vivo nuclear run-on, proteomics, metabolomics, and humanized mouse models to define the role of circadian dysfunction in carcinogenesis and novel therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment of obesity-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

• Works with the PI for hypothesis development and experimental design.
• Performs bench work using various lab techniques and taking the major responsibility in conducting a research projects in studying the mechanism and therapeutic options of obesity-related HCC.
• Collaborates with clinicians, bioinformaticians, and lab member in lab research activities.
• Participates in data processing, discussion, analysis, reporting, and manuscript preparation and conference presentations.
• Helps the PI and the team in managing the research in the lab.
• Mentors junior lab members.
• Applies to fellowships.
• Participates in departmental and institutional research symposium and retreats.
• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.
• Prior first author publications in peer reviewed journals.
• Highly motivated to pursue an independent career in biomedical research.
• Excellent communication, time management and teamwork kills.
• Application documents needed: a cover letter to state research interests, an updated resume, and contact information of minimal three references.
• The candidates should have basic knowledge in molecular and cellular biology, liver biology and disease models, cancer, metabolism, obesity, and mouse genetics. The experimental expertise in studying mouse models, serum and liver biomarkers, gene expression, adenoviral techniques, primary hepatocytes, RNA and protein expression, and protein-protein (IP and co-IP) and protein-DNA interactions (CHIP) are preferred.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

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Baylor College of Medicine fosters diversity among its students, trainees, faculty, and staff as a prerequisite to accomplishing our institutional mission and setting standards for excellence in training healthcare providers and biomedical scientists, promoting scientific innovation, and providing patient-centered care. Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

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Postdoctoral Research Opportunity – Translational Brain Tumor Research

The Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University is seeking outstanding postdoctoral scholars for expansion of basic and translational studies related to modulation of the blood-brain barrier to enhance passage of drugs, biologicals and cells for treatment of neurological diseases and brain cancer, precision medicine-based approaches to cancer drugs for gliomas, and the study of the effects of ultrasound therapy on the brain across species.  

This position offers an opportunity to work in the NIH-funded lab of Dr. Adam Sonabend , a neurosurgeon-scientist with a background in translational brain tumor research, the study of glioma progression, and regulation of transcription. The Sonabend Lab has a strong translational emphasis and relies on patient tumor specimens and clinical data, transgenic mouse glioma models, next-generation sequencing data (ChIP-seq, exome sequencing, RNA-seq), and cutting-edge technologies such as whole genome CRISPR screens for advancing our projects. Most projects involve analysis of clinical-trial related specimens, where biological questions are investigated.

The lab has strong collaborations with expert groups in complementary fields including Dr. Maciej Lesniak’s lab (Northwestern University) for tumor immunology, Dr. Ali Shilatifard (Northwestern University) for epigenetics, and Dr. Raul Rabadan’s lab (Columbia University) for computational and systems biology. The department offers a nurturing environment for career development, a stimulating community of several brain tumor research labs, weekly conferences and seminars of interest.

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to build a publication record including submissions to leading cancer biology journals; supervise rotating undergraduate, graduate and medical students; apply for internal and/or extramural funding; and attend national meetings that will help to build an international reputation.  

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer biology, gene therapy or neuroscience.  

Required Competencies:  

• Experience working with small animal models and mammalian cell culture.
• Ability to design and conduct experiments, maintain accurate GLP style recordkeeping, and collaborate effectively within a team environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prepare and present research at meetings and write scientific manuscripts in fluent English.

Preferred Competencies:  

• Expertise in immunology and flow cytometry techniques.
• Cloning, western blot, immunofluorescence, qPCR.
• Familiarity with next generation sequencing data and gene expression analysis.
• CRISPR, gene silencing and over-expression techniques.
• Assembly of viral vectors.  
• Basic coding and next-generation sequencing analysis.  

Interested applicants must send a current curriculum vitae, a cover letter containing a short summary of research experience and aspirations, and names and contact information for at least three professional references to Dawn Rose  via email at  [email protected] . Applicant must be able to begin employment no later than August 1, 2024 .  

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.