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Job Search Resources

Academic Job Market Materials

Examples of academic job market materials can be tough to find. I was on the job market for two cycles before pivoting to my current role in Postdoctoral Affairs. Below are examples documents from my job search. I hope they help individuals planning to apply for faculty jobs. Note all materials here were for positions in Psychology departments with a neuroscience research focus.
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Cover Letter

Suggested length varies but <2 pages is ideal. 
Example_faculty_job_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 312 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

I have seen ads asking for a cover letter with research interests embedded in it (no separate research statement). An example is below.
Example_integrated_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 799 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Research Statement

Two examples below: one that accompanied an R1, research-intensive application & another for a position at a liberal arts institution where faculty teach/work primarily with undergraduate students.
Example_research_statement_R1.pdf
File Size: 820 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Example_research_statement_LA.pdf
File Size: 755 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Teaching Statement

If you have experience teaching courses, describe real-world examples in this document. Be reflective and descriptive regarding approaches that worked (or didn't) in your class. The goal is to show you can be an effective teacher.

I didn't have much teaching experience and so this statement is more philosophical.
Example_teaching_statement.pdf
File Size: 383 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Diversity Statement

Example_diversity_statement.pdf
File Size: 115 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

More resources on crafting diversity statements from HERC & UCLA & example statements from UCSD & UCLA.

Where to Find Faculty Job Ads

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HERC Jobs                        HigherEd Jobs

Chronicle of Higher Education Jobs

Science Careers             Nature Careers

Future PI Slack Group

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Looking for a community of other Ph.D.-trained scientists trying to secure a faculty job?

Join Future_PI Slack!
Amazing guide to the faculty job search from University of Pennsylvania Career Services

Looking for more examples of job materials
?
There are may excellent resources on UCSF's Office of Career & Professional Development website.
​Example academic job search materials from UCSF can be found here. 

What qualifications are needed for different types of faculty jobs?
The Academic Career Readiness Assessment (ACRA), also from UCSF, is an excellent starting place for this.
Read the ACRA publication describing the development of this instrument.

I am also part of a team trying to understand the faculty job market from the applicant's side. Read more about that work here.

Example Job Talk

Putting together a job talk for an academic interview takes a lot of work. Get plenty of feedback. The file below is the result of multiple revisions and feedback from a variety of audiences. It was given as part of an open, seminar-style presentation during my interview for a tenure-track assistant professor position at a large, R1 university.
CSmith_example_job_talk.pptx
File Size: 9139 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

Sometimes, you will also be required to give a chalk talk, which typically does not involve powerpoint.
Rather, in a chalk talk you sketch out (typically on a white board) and discuss research ideas with small group of faculty.
See advice on giving a chalk talk here and here.

CV Examples

Chris_Smith_CV_July_2022.pdf
File Size: 446 kb
File Type: pdf
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Chris_Smith_CV_June_2020.pdf
File Size: 888 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chris_Smith_Postdoc_CV.pdf
File Size: 370 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chris_Smith_CV_Grad_Student_Final_Year_6.pdf
File Size: 299 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chris_Smith_CV_Grad_Student_Year_4.pdf
File Size: 253 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Chris_Smith_CV_Grad_School_Year_2.pdf
File Size: 147 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Non-Faculty Job Application Materials

Resume Examples

CSmith_Science_Med_Writer_resume.pdf
File Size: 322 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CSmith_Scientific_Program_Manager_resume.pdf
File Size: 288 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CSmith_Postdoc_Affairs_resume.pdf
File Size: 291 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CSmith_VT_Postdoc_Affairs_resume.pdf
File Size: 713 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Cover Letter Examples

CSmith_NC_State_Postdoc_Program_Manager_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 173 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CSmith_VT_Postdoc_Affairs_Program_Admin_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

CSmith_Scientific_Project_Manager_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 169 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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