The research statement is one of the most common parts of job applications.Reviewers will use the statement to assess your candidacy for a position.It is important to make the statement as impressive as possible because it introduces you as a researcher.All you have to do is write a research statement after you plan out what you want to say.
Step 1: Do you know what the major themes or questions are in your research?
You want to answer the main questions in your research.You will be able to articulate the questions in your research statement if you write them down.Slavery and race in the 18th century, the efficacy of cancer treatments, and the reproductive cycles of different species of crab are some of the major themes of your research.You may have a few questions to guide your research.Write all of the questions and see if you can come up with a bigger question.
Step 2: Understand why your research is important.
Even if the position you are applying for is in your field of study, do this for academics both inside and outside.Expect your audience to have a basic understanding of your field, but don't assume they will be an expert in a particular discipline.This might include ways that your research can be applied to future problems or how you address a knowledge gap in your field.For example, if your work is on x-ray technology, describe how your research has filled any knowledge gaps in your field and how it could be used in hospitals.It is important to explain why your research matters to people who don't study what you do.It's helpful when you apply for grants.
Step 3: Tell me what your future research interests are.
The reviewers who read your statement don't just want to know what you've done in the past, but also how you plan to research if you get a job or fellowship.Think about what questions you would like the research to answer and what elements of your topic you want to explore.What are the things you want to research next?Link your previous research to what you want to study in the future.This will give your reviewer a better idea of why your research is important.
Step 4: Think of problems or challenges that have been solved.
These can be questions that your previous research has answered or problems that have arisen during the course of your research that you had to work around.This will allow you to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities while also showing how your research has been successful.If your research was historical and the documents you needed to answer your question didn't exist, describe how you pursued your agenda using other types of documents.
Step 5: The skills you can use at the institution should be listed.
Mention the skills you were able to use in your research statement.The committee will be able to assess how compatible you are with the research done at the institution and how likely you will succeed in the future.Experience working with digital archives, knowledge of a foreign language, and the ability to work together are some skills you might be able to highlight.When describing your skills, use words that are action-oriented.You could write "speak Spanish" or "handled digital files."Don't be shy about describing your skills.Your research statement should impress whoever is reading it.
Step 6: The first section should include an executive summary.
Write 1-2 paragraphs that include a summary of your research agenda and its main focus, any publications you have, your plans for future research, and your ultimate career goals.At the beginning of your research statement, place these paragraphs.This section should be used as a summary of the things you will talk about in the rest of this statement.The executive summary is the section that summarizes the rest of the research statement.If the reviewer chooses to only read this section instead of your whole statement, they will still learn everything they need to know about you.You should only include factual information that you can prove or demonstrate.Don't make your experience seem more than it is.
Step 7: In the second section, tell us about your graduate research.
You should write 1-2 paragraphs about the research project you did in graduate school.Explain why your research was important, what challenges you overcame in carrying out this research, and what skills you developed as a result.In this section, describe your research if you received a fellowship.If you can, include research in this section that goes beyond your thesis.If reviewers see you as a researcher instead of just a student, your application will be much stronger.
Step 8: Discuss your research projects in the third section.
If you graduated from graduate school before applying for a position, this is important.Write about your research in a way that will make the reviewers think of you as a professional researcher.Again, as with the section on your graduate research, be sure to include a description of why this research matters and what relevant skills you bring to bear on it.You can remove this section if you are still in graduate school.
Step 9: In the fourth section, write about your research interests.
If your application is accepted, describe in 1 paragraph the different themes, questions, and topics you would pursue in your research.To make this section more organized, use more than one paragraph.You should describe your future research projects in a realistic way.You should not describe potential projects or interests that are completely different from your current projects.Future research projects in microbiology will sound far-fetched if all of your research has been on the American civil war.
Step 10: Take the time to acknowledge how your work contributes to others research.
You can point out areas where the work being done at the institution is similar to your own research in your research statement.This will show your reviewers that you have thought about your future at the institution.Add a sentence that says Dr.The study of slavery in colonial Georgia was an inspiration for my own work on the subject.I would like to work with her on future research projects.
Step 11: Discuss funding partners in your research statement.
Discuss the different sources of funding that you could apply for during your tenure with the institution.The committee will see the value that you bring to the institution if they hire you.For example, if your research focuses on the history of Philadelphia, add a sentence to the paragraph on your future research projects that says, "I believe based on my work that I would be a very strong candidate to receive a Balch fellowship from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania."
Step 12: You should keep your research statement to 2 pages.
It is okay if your statement is close to 1 page or 3 pages, as long as it is not too long.If you can't fit everything you're trying to say to around 2 pages, cut some of the less important sections or use more concise language.If you're applying for a humanities or social sciences position, your research statement should be 1-2 pages long.A 3-4 page research statement is required for a position in psychology or the hard sciences.It is more important that the reviewer read the statement than that it is longer.They may just skip it if it seems too long.
Step 13: A formal tone is maintained throughout the statement.
In a formal setting, use language and phrases that speak to your professionalism.The people reading your statement are assessing you as a job candidate.For example, instead of saying, "This part of my research was really hard," I would say "I found this obstacle to be particularly challenging."
Step 14: Don't use technical jargon when writing a statement.
If you want someone outside of your field to understand your research projects and interests, you should write your statement.The reviewer cannot get excited about your research if they don't know what it's about.If your research is in anthropology, don't use phrases like "Gini coefficient" or "moiety" because someone in a different field would be familiar with them.
Step 15: When describing your past work, write in present tense.
Talk about your current and future research projects, as well as potential sources of funding.When you are writing about research and accomplishments that took place in the past, you should use the previous tense.When describing your future research projects, say, "I intend to..." or "My aim is to research..."
Step 16: Single spacing and 11- or 12-point fonts are used.
Since your research statement is short, you don't need to double-space it.If your statement is hard to read because it is small, the reviewer may feel bad for you.Don't make your text too large.If your research statement is larger than 12 characters, it will appear as if you are not professional.
Step 17: Section headings are used to organize your statement.
You can use descriptive headings like "Current Research," "Future Research Projects," and so on to show the different parts of your research statement.If your sections are long, use subheadings within them to make your statement even more organized.If you did graduate school research during your fellowship, use the subheadings in the section on previous research experience to show it.
Step 18: Before you submit your research statement, read it thoroughly.
If you make a mistake on your research statement, it can undermine your application.If you want to make sure you haven't overlooked any simple mistakes, have a friend read over your statement.