how to write a cover letter for postdoc

How to Write a Great Postdoc Cover Letter

While a good cover letter makes an explicit connection between how your past experience will help you succeed in the postdoc position, a great cover letter sparks the PI’s interest and ensures they read your CV. Here are some tips to make sure your cover letter is a great one.

Before you start writing, learn as much as you can about the position and the lab. Do some research on the department’s website and talk to your mentors about the group. It’s also a good idea to take a look at their recent papers to familiarize yourself with the kind of work they do. Once you have a good understanding of the position and group, you can determine which of your qualifications would be most applicable. Be sure to emphasize them in your cover letter.

The Cover Letter Format

A cover letter starts like a formal letter with the date at the top followed by the name and work address of the job poster. This is followed by the salutation. For a postdoc position, you will often be addressing your letter to the PI. However, if it is not clear from the advertisement who the job poster is, you can always address the letter to “members of the search committee).

The Introduction

The opening paragraph should explain why you are writing this letter. Indicate the specific position you are applying for and where you saw it advertised. If another professor at the university or someone the PI knows suggested that you apply for the position, mention it here. Follow it up with a short description of yourself that will allow the reader to place you academically. This could be something like “I am in the final year of my PhD in (field) at (name of university) and will be graduating/defending/finishing in (month). My dissertation is titled (title) and is supervised by Professor (name)”.

The Body Paragraphs

The bulk of your cover letter will be spent demonstrating how you are the right candidate for this postdoc by highlighting your qualifications and showing how they will benefit this specific project. One of the biggest mistakes you make is not tailoring this section to each position you apply for.

In a postdoc cover letter, it is common to dedicate one paragraph to your dissertation or current research project. Summarize your research topic, your key findings or arguments and why they matter to the field.

Now, this next step is important: you must translate your dissertation and previous research to the postdoc project. What expertise will you bring to the project by virtue of your past research that no one else can? Give specific examples that show you understand the proposed projects. Work in reference to you major awards and accomplishments while doing so. Depending on the requirements of the position, it might also be relevant to discuss your teaching experience here. Remember, the theme throughout the body paragraphs should be how your research experience will make this postdoc project successful.

The Final Paragraph

This last paragraph covers some job applicant formalities. In it, you should write that you have attached your CV and other necessary documents in your application. Mention that you look forward to hearing from them and are available to discuss the position further in an interview. Finally, thank them for their consideration before signing off.

Get Feedback

Once you have written your postdoc cover letter, ask your supervisor or a mentor to review it for you. They are likely to have had some experience hiring and will be able to make valuable suggestions from the other side of the table. They can also check that your cover letter is formatted according to the conventions of your field.

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Open date: May 6, 2024

Next review date: Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Sunday, Jun 30, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of California, Davis invites applications for one Postdoctoral Researcher in biochemistry and structural biology.

POSITION DESCRIPTION: A postdoctoral scholar position is available immediately in the lab of Dr. James Letts in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Davis. The successful candidate will lead independent research projects focused on understanding the structure and molecular mechanism of plant mitochondrial respiratory complexes and supercomplexes using single particle cryo-EM as a major approach. Projects will entail organelle isolation, membrane protein purification and reconstitution, biochemical, biophysical, structural and spectroscopic assays and experiments. Responsibilities:

Research (90%) • Design and carry out experiments using techniques including membrane protein purification, membrane protein reconstitution, activity assays and single particle cryogenic electron microscopy. • Collect, analyze, and present data in group meetings and external conferences. • Maintain detailed experimental records and notes. • Work with the Principal investigator to prepare high-quality peer-reviewed manuscripts and grant submissions to pursue funding opportunities. • Provide peer review and feedback on manuscripts and grants.

Lab management (10%) • Provide technical support and mentoring for junior researchers. • Maintain lab stocks and databases. • Contribute to lab maintenance and organization.

CLOSING DATE: For full consideration applications should be received by May 21, 2024. *recruitment will remain open until position filled.

TERM OF APPOINTMENT: Initial appointment will be 100% (full time) for two-years, with renewal depending on performance.

QUESTIONS: Please direct questions to James Letts, [email protected]

TO APPLY: Qualified applicants should upload a cover letter, a research statement describing their research experience and skills, and a curriculum vitae. Documents must be submitted as PDF files. Applicants should also provide contact information for three references.

Apply via this URL: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06484

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Graduate degree (PhD or equivalent) in biochemistry, biophysics, or structural biology with demonstrated expertise in structural biology. Candidate must have experience in protein purification. Candidate also must be able to keep a complete and detailed laboratory notebook of experimental procedures and data and to archive and document reagents and data for publications, grant proposals, and presentations. Strong organizational and planning skills are a must. Prior experiences with structural biology, the characterization membrane proteins or protein complexes are preferred. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills and the ability to work well both independently and as a part of a team.

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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.  

How to Write a Cover Letter That Will Get You a Job

I ’ve read thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of cover letters in my career. If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right. What I can tell you from enduring that experience is that most cover letters are terrible — and not only that, but squandered opportunities. When a cover letter is done well, it can significantly increase your chances of getting an interview, but the vast majority fail that test.

So let’s talk about how to do cover letters right.

First, understand the point of a cover letter.

The whole idea of a cover letter is that it can help the employer see you as more than just your résumé. Managers generally aren’t hiring based solely on your work history; your experience is crucial, yes, but they’re also looking for someone who will be easy to work with, shows good judgment, communicates well, possesses strong critical thinking skills and a drive to get things done, complements their current team, and all the other things you yourself probably want from your co-workers. It’s tough to learn much about those things from job history alone, and that’s where your cover letter comes in.

Because of that …

Whatever you do, don’t just summarize your résumé.

The No. 1 mistake people make with cover letters is that they simply use them to summarize their résumé. This makes no sense — hiring managers don’t need a summary of your résumé! It’s on the very next page! They’re about to see it as soon as they scroll down. And if you think about it, your entire application is only a few pages (in most cases, a one- or two-page résumé and a one-page cover letter) — why would you squander one of those pages by repeating the content of the others? And yet, probably 95 percent of the cover letters I see don’t add anything new beyond the résumé itself (and that’s a conservative estimate).

Instead, your cover letter should go beyond your work history to talk about things that make you especially well-suited for the job. For example, if you’re applying for an assistant job that requires being highly organized and you neurotically track your household finances in a detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, most hiring managers would love to know that because it says something about the kind of attention to detail you’d bring to the job. That’s not something you could put on your résumé, but it can go in your cover letter.

Or maybe your last boss told you that you were the most accurate data processor she’d ever seen, or came to rely on you as her go-to person whenever a lightning-fast rewrite was needed. Maybe your co-workers called you “the client whisperer” because of your skill in calming upset clients. Maybe you’re regularly sought out by more senior staff to help problem-solve, or you find immense satisfaction in bringing order to chaos. Those sorts of details illustrate what you bring to the job in a different way than your résumé does, and they belong in your cover letter.

If you’re still stumped, pretend you’re writing an email to a friend about why you’d be great at the job. You probably wouldn’t do that by stiffly reciting your work history, right? You’d talk about what you’re good at and how you’d approach the work. That’s what you want here.

You don’t need a creative opening line.

If you think you need to open the letter with something creative or catchy, I am here to tell you that you don’t. Just be simple and straightforward:

• “I’m writing to apply for your X position.”

• “I’d love to be considered for your X position.”

• “I’m interested in your X position because …”

• “I’m excited to apply for your X position.”

That’s it! Straightforward is fine — better, even, if the alternative is sounding like an aggressive salesperson.

Show, don’t tell.

A lot of cover letters assert that the person who wrote it would excel at the job or announce that the applicant is a skillful engineer or a great communicator or all sorts of other subjective superlatives. That’s wasted space — the hiring manager has no reason to believe it, and so many candidates claim those things about themselves that most managers ignore that sort of self-assessment entirely. So instead of simply declaring that you’re great at X (whatever X is), your letter should demonstrate that. And the way you do that is by describing accomplishments and experiences that illustrate it.

Here’s a concrete example taken from one extraordinarily effective cover-letter makeover that I saw. The candidate had originally written, “I offer exceptional attention to detail, highly developed communication skills, and a talent for managing complex projects with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask.” That’s pretty boring and not especially convincing, right? (This is also exactly how most people’s cover letters read.)

In her revised version, she wrote this instead:

“In addition to being flexible and responsive, I’m also a fanatic for details — particularly when it comes to presentation. One of my recent projects involved coordinating a 200-page grant proposal: I proofed and edited the narratives provided by the division head, formatted spreadsheets, and generally made sure that every line was letter-perfect and that the entire finished product conformed to the specific guidelines of the RFP. (The result? A five-year, $1.5 million grant award.) I believe in applying this same level of attention to detail to tasks as visible as prepping the materials for a top-level meeting and as mundane as making sure the copier never runs out of paper.”

That second version is so much more compelling and interesting — and makes me believe that she really is great with details.

If there’s anything unusual or confusing about your candidacy, address it in the letter.

Your cover letter is your chance to provide context for things that otherwise might seem confusing or less than ideal to a hiring manager. For example, if you’re overqualified for the position but are excited about it anyway, or if you’re a bit underqualified but have reason to think you could excel at the job, address that up front. Or if your background is in a different field but you’re actively working to move into this one, say so, talk about why, and explain how your experience will translate. Or if you’re applying for a job across the country from where you live because you’re hoping to relocate to be closer to your family, let them know that.

If you don’t provide that kind of context, it’s too easy for a hiring manager to decide you’re the wrong fit or applying to everything you see or don’t understand the job description and put you in the “no” pile. A cover letter gives you a chance to say, “No, wait — here’s why this could be a good match.”

Keep the tone warm and conversational.

While there are some industries that prize formal-sounding cover letters — like law — in most fields, yours will stand out if it’s warm and conversational. Aim for the tone you’d use if you were writing to a co-worker whom you liked a lot but didn’t know especially well. It’s okay to show some personality or even use humor; as long as you don’t go overboard, your letter will be stronger for it.

Don’t use a form letter.

You don’t need to write every cover letter completely from scratch, but if you’re not customizing it to each job, you’re doing it wrong. Form letters tend to read like form letters, and they waste the chance to speak to the specifics of what this employer is looking for and what it will take to thrive in this particular job.

If you’re applying for a lot of similar jobs, of course you’ll end up reusing language from one letter to the next. But you shouldn’t have a single cover letter that you wrote once and then use every time you apply; whatever you send should sound like you wrote it with the nuances of this one job in mind.

A good litmus test is this: Could you imagine other applicants for this job sending in the same letter? If so, that’s a sign that you haven’t made it individualized enough to you and are probably leaning too heavily on reciting your work history.

No, you don’t need to hunt down the hiring manager’s name.

If you read much job-search advice, at some point you’ll come across the idea that you need to do Woodward and Bernstein–level research to hunt down the hiring manager’s name in order to open your letter with “Dear Matilda Jones.” You don’t need to do this; no reasonable hiring manager will care. If the name is easily available, by all means, feel free to use it, but otherwise “Dear Hiring Manager” is absolutely fine. Take the hour you just freed up and do something more enjoyable with it.

Keep it under one page.

If your cover letters are longer than a page, you’re writing too much, and you risk annoying hiring managers who are likely sifting through hundreds of applications and don’t have time to read lengthy tomes. On the other hand, if you only write one paragraph, it’s unlikely that you’re making a compelling case for yourself as a candidate — not impossible, but unlikely. For most people, something close to a page is about right.

Don’t agonize over the small details.

What matters most about your cover letter is its content. You should of course ensure that it’s well-written and thoroughly proofread, but many job seekers agonize over elements of the letter that really don’t matter. I get tons of  questions from job seekers  about whether they should attach their cover letter or put it in the body of the email (answer: No one cares, but attaching it makes it easier to share and will preserve your formatting), or what to name the file (again, no one really cares as long as it’s reasonably professional, but when people are dealing with hundreds of files named “resume,” it’s courteous to name it with your full name).

Approaching your cover letter like this can make a huge difference in your job search. It can be the thing that moves your application from the “maybe” pile (or even the “no” pile) to the “yes” pile. Of course, writing cover letters like this will take more time than sending out the same templated letter summarizing your résumé — but 10 personalized, compelling cover letters are likely to get you more  interview invitations  than 50 generic ones will.

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Write a winning cover letter.

Room: Zoom  | Contact:  [email protected]  | Presented by: Learning and Development | Event Type: Workshops and Training |

Yes, cover letters are still important to include with your application and can make or break your chances of getting an interview. After all, they serve as the first example of your work and communication skills. This workshop will give you the tools to write a compelling cover letter that clearly articulates why you’re the right person for the job. We’ll discuss whom to address it to, how long it should be, and how it can be used to communicate your interest in and fit for the job.

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Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor Cornelius Groenewald

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Our postdoctoral research fellowship program is dedicated to preparing scholars for an academic career in the domains of pediatric perioperative, pain, sleep, and/or opioid research. Fellows will play a pivotal role in NHLBI, NIAMS, and NICHD-funded studies, focusing on the intersection of perioperative pain, sleep, and opioid use. Fellows will be exposed to longitudinal observational, interventional, and qualitative research designs, and a range of methodologies including psychosocial assessment and intervention, clinical trials, digital health, quantitative sensory testing, ecological momentary assessment, actigraphy, and electronic mediation adherence technologies.  An additional key pillar of the fellowship is to provide proficiency in handling and interpreting vast datasets, including claims data, electronic health records, and other publicly accessible datasets – all with a keen focus on pediatric pain, sleep, opioids, and perioperative outcomes. Profession-specific co-mentorship will be arranged where relevant (e.g., psychologist, data scientist), and clinical time may be an option for applicants with clinical training backgrounds.

In addition to core research activities, the fellowship emphasizes capacity-building in grant writing, manuscript preparation, advanced data analysis techniques, and the art of mentoring and supervising burgeoning scholars. We value innovation, and our program provides an enabling environment for fellows to conceptualize, develop, and lead independent research initiatives.

The postdoctoral fellowship is anchored at Stanford Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine and the Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Clinical work at Lucille Packard Children’s hospital is also available for applicants working towards professional licensure. Committed to fostering the next generation of leaders, Stanford University ensures that fellows have access to an expansive suite of career development opportunities, both within Stanford University and the Stanford School of Medicine.

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Nuclear data science postdoctoral research associate.

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Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is seeking a well-qualified Postdoctoral Research Associate with experience in data analytics, data science, engineering or a comparable discipline for the Radiochemistry and Nuclear Measurements Department within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division. You will contribute to the department’s ongoing research initiatives related to nuclear facility monitoring, data fusion and forecasting, national security, and nuclear safeguards.

You will work closely with our interdisciplinary team of scientists, researchers, and engineers to analyze complex datasets, extract meaningful insights, and create data-driven tools, reporting directly to the manager of the radiochemistry and nuclear measurements department. The postdoctoral researcher will create machine learning models that incorporate multi-modal data streams to help inform process control for solvent extraction processes, acoustic data collection and other nonproliferation projects.

You are expected to have foundational knowledge of the nuclear fuel cycle, and experience in nuclear facilities. You are also expected to be a strong asset to our interdisciplinary R&D team and work both alone and as a team member. You must be self-motivated but also take direction from other team members and peers. Familiarity with the nuclear nonproliferation mission and experience working hands-on with sensors is highly preferred.

Our team works a 9×80 schedule located out of our Idaho Falls facility with every other Friday off.

Conduct research on the use of data analytics to enhance nuclear nonproliferation efforts

Apply advanced data analytics techniques to analyze and interpret datasets

Develop and implement data mining and machine learning algorithms to uncover patterns, trends, and correlations

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define research objectives and design appropriate data collection methodologies

Clean, preprocess, and manipulate data to ensure accuracy and reliability

Visualize and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences

Contribute to the development of reports, and presentations

Write scientific manuscripts for journal publication, and presentation of research results at national and international conferences, workshops, and meetings

Write and contribute to funding proposals for customers and Laboratory Directed Research and Development proposal calls

QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

PhD requirements must be completed by commencement of appointment and within the previous 5 years.

PhD in data science, engineering (any), physics, statistics, computer science or related discipline.

Strong background in any of the following: data analytics, machine learning, or statistical analysis.

Demonstrated oral and published written communication skills in English.

Proficiency in programming languages such as Python.

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy “Q” clearance, which requires US Citizenship.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

Proficient with thermal image processing and management of large datasets.

Experience creating machine learning models.

Familiarity with solvent extraction equipment and processes.

Experience with environmental monitoring with sensors and/or sampling.

Experience optimization algorithms and their application.

Hands-on experience with sensors.

ABOUT THE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION DIVISION:

INL’s nuclear nonproliferation mission helps enable the nation to prevent, counter, and respond to nuclear and radiological threats. INL has top nonproliferation experts with real-world experience and backgrounds in areas including nuclear facility inspection, modeling and simulation, material science, physics and engineering. These employees hold dozens of patents, have won numerous awards, and lead global nonproliferation programs. From developing new technologies for safeguarding nuclear material to refining analytical techniques designed to assess fallout composition in the aftermath of the use of a nuclear device, our staff members are at the forefront of the nation’s nonproliferation efforts.

INL provides technical resources, special nuclear materials, and several dedicated outdoor training ranges with access to short-lived radioactive materials that support civilian and military programs. Many of these programs support the missions of the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.

Job Information:

• Salary Grade: $95,004.00 Annually
• You are required to show a demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working environment
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.

Benefits and Relocation

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program (tuition assistance)
• Comprehensive Relocation Package
• Benefit eligibility subject multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 5,000 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to discover new science and development technologies that underpin the nation’s nuclear and renewable energy, national security, and environmental missions.

Growing INL: An Overview of New Facilities and Capabilities

INL Mission Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.

INL Vision Our vision is to change the world’s energy future and secure our nation’s critical infrastructure.

Selective Service Requirements To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Women and People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Reasonable Accommodation We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Other Information When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants, who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.

INL does not accept resumes from third party vendors unsolicited.