Science Research Resume Sample & Tips (+Template)

You’re a rational person—

You draw conclusions based on evidence.

Facts and figures are king.

So why wouldn’t you take the same approach with your science research resume?

Show them what you’ve got to offer—

Convince them like you’d convince yourself.

Read on to see how to write a research scientist resume at least as compelling as the research scientist resume template below.

In this guide:

• A research scientist resume sample better than four out of five.
• How to create the perfect research scientist resume job descriptions.
• How to write a professional science resume that stands out.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing a research science job.

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Not quite what you were looking for? Check out these guides:

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Research Scientist Resume Template

Here’s a science research resume lab manual:

1. Use the Right Research Scientist Resume Format

Skip the trial and error—

Draw on the experience of others when formatting your science research resume.

What you want:

A resume format that’s clean and clear.

One that highlights your strengths.

One that recruiters are used to seeing from research scientists.

And how you go about getting it:

Science Research Resume Format

• Choose the reverse-chronological resume format if you’re going for a non-academic job. Go with an academic resume format (a CV) if you’re applying to a university position.
• Select a good resume font like a Noto in 10–12 pt.
• Use one-inch resume marginsand make good use of white space to demarcate sections.
• Submit a one-page resume unless you have 7+ years of experience or an illustrious list of achievements. In these cases go with a two-page resume.
• Include at least these things in your resume: Header, Summary/Objective, Work Experience, Education, and Skills. Additional sections are highly recommended.
• Use a modern resume template. If you’re familiar with the tool, try LaTeX resume templates.

Some job ads will specify a file format for submitted resumes.

Always do as instructed in these cases, otherwise you risk having your resume knocked-back by an ATS.

In the absence of any other instructions—

Always go with PDF for your resume (provided you use an ATS resume template, of course).

2. Write a Science Research Resume Objective or Summary

A resume profile is like an abstract for your resume—

There are two kinds of resume profile.

Choose a resume summary statement if you already have some experience under your belt.

Here’s what you need:

1. One adjective (passionate, rigorous, diligent)
2. Your job title (research scientist)
3. Years of experience (4+, 5+)
4. What you bring to the table (design appropriate experimental protocols)
5. Your best 2–3 achievements (increased modeling efficiency by 13%)

These science research resume examples will show you how and how not to:

Science Research Resume Example—Summary

Passionate computer research scientist with 4+ years of experience working in both nonprofit and corporate research departments. Seeking to leverage microprocessor architecture expertise in helping the Techputer Foundation reach its Four Fundamental Goals. Used programming and firmware skills at BXT Group to increase modeling efficiency 13% while lowering overhead by 18% across the board.

Computer research scientist with 4 years of experience working in various research departments. Looking for opportunity to research new and exciting facets of microprocessor architecture.

It’s clear which is the better example, but do you see why?

It focuses on what the candidate can do for the employer—

Including achievements from prior jobs, grounded in concrete examples and backed up with numbers.

Writing a resume with no experience?

No problem.

Start your entry-level science research resume with a resume objective statement instead:

Science Research Resume Example—Objective

Diligent Computer Science MSc graduate from the University of Missouri. Specialized in microprocessor architecture design and microcode implementation. Focused coursework on RISC-V implementation. Launched popular FOSS firmware project.

Computer Science MSc graduate from the University of Missouri. No experience yet, but completed many projects during studies. Specialized in microprocessor design.

Use any achievements you can muster from your studies and any placement or volunteer work you’ve done.

And even if you don’t have any—

Dial in on what it is that you can offer your new employer. The first example above does this.

It’s normal to struggle with your profile—

The trick is to write it last. It’ll be easier, quicker, and better this way.

Finally—

Target your resume by keeping keywords from the job ad in mind and mentioning the employer by name.

3. Go with Evidence-Based Job Descriptions and Skills

Aim:

To show your potential new employer what benefits hiring you would bring them.

Apparatus:

• Resume achievements
• Resume power words

Method:

Show what benefits you can bring in the future by describing and quantifying the benefits you’ve brought to other employers in the past.

Here’s how—

Writing a resume job description for a research scientist:

1. Carefully re-read the job ad.
2. Look for the relevant scientific research skills and duties.
3. Think of time you’ve demonstrated those skills in fulfilling similar duties.
4. Write resume bullets, each of which describes a concrete benefit you brought to your employer. Quantify everything you can. Use the right resume verbs.

These research scientist resume examples show how:

Science Research Resume Example—Job Descriptions

Computer Research Scientist

BXT Group

2017–2019

• Developed new testing standards that cover 92% of experimental scenarios.
• Boosted modeling efficiency by 13% through custom software and firmware tweaks.
• Analyzed CPU bottlenecks to lower overhead by 18%.
• Participated in the recruitment of and directly trained seven new subordinates. 

Computer Research Scientist

BXT Group

2017–2019

• Worked on new testing standards.
• Performed custom software and firmware tweaks.
• Analyzed CPU bottlenecks.
• Trained new subordinates. 

Take note—

Putting numbers to achievements makes a huge difference.

But what if you don’t have so much work experience? Use research scientist achievements from non-science research jobs or your studies.

Another way to demonstrate your suitability:

Add a resume skills section.

And another opportunity to target your resume:

Don’t try to Monte Carlo your way out of choosing the right skills to put on a resume.

Use the lists below as starting points, but let your science research resume skills section be guided by your experience and the job ad at hand. 

Scientific Skills for Resume

Hard Skills

• Calculus
• Computer and technology knowledge
• Data analysis
• Discrete mathematics
• Experimentation
• Information systems management
• Linear algebra
• Mathematics
• Problem-solving
• Programming languages
• Software development
• Statistics
• Technical writing

Soft Skills

• Analysis
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Determination
• Organization
• Patience
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Training and teaching

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4. Make Your All-Important Education Section Work for You

There are few research scientists out there who don’t have formal training—

In short, an education in their chosen field.

List your degrees in reverse-chronological order.

Include the degree, school name, and years of attendance. Use an expected graduation date if you’re still studying.

But then:

Add a couple bullets to each degree that point to key research scientist skills.

You can model your education section on the example below:

Science Research Resume Example—Education Section

MS in Computer Science, University of Missouri

2013–2015

• Used electives to specialize in RISC-V and related architectures.
• Launched popular open-source project for the creation of FOSS firmware.

BS in Computer Science, University of Missouri

2009–2013

• Pursued passion for CPU design via course and project work.
• Received second place in Emulation Nation competition.

Experience not yet non-zero? 

Expand your resume education section further by including projects, classes, relevant coursework, competitions, and accomplishments that show that you were made to conduct scientific research.

5. Add Extra Sections to Your Science Research Resume

Experience, education, and skills.

There’s a lot to being a good research scientist that just doesn’t fit into any of those categories.

Shrug and move on, or—

Add one or two additional resume sections to fill in the blanks:

• Conferences
• Publications
• Foreign Languages
• Awards
• Hobbies, Activities, and Interests
• Volunteer Work
• Certifications
• Resume References

Science Research Resume Example—Extra Resume Sections

Publications

• "Security Concerns: Intel’s Microcode." In Microprocessors: The State of Play, edited by Alison Aymby. New York: Fancy Globe Press, 2015.
• “The Bloat Meme and RISC-V,” Unix-Like Systems 113, no. 3 (April 2015): 171–192.

Software

• Analytical: Minitab, MATLAB, SAS
• Development: Apache Kafka, Eclipse IDE, Ruby
• OS: Bash, Linux, UNIX Shell
• System architecture: Unified Modeling Language (UML)

Professional Membership

• Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)

There’s just one rule to keep in mind:

Everything you add here must be directly relevant to the job at hand.

And one final step:

You need a research scientist cover letter. If you haven’t been explicitly asked not to write a cover letter and sent it with your resume, then you risk having your science research resume suppressed on site. 

Expert Hint: Email your resume directly to the hiring manager. Where to find their name? Check LinkedIn, the company’s website, or simply call and ask for their contact details.

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Key Points

For a research scientist resume that precipitates interviews:

• Use the research scientist resume template up above, it’s clean and sharp.
• Showcase research scientist resume achievementsin your summary/objective, work experience, and education sections to make an impression.
• Filter your science skills according to job at hand. Let the job ad guide which of your skills include.
• Always pair your research science resume with a cover letter. Unless explicitly asked not to.

Do you have any questions about writing your research scientist resume? Got anything to add? We’d love to see your comments down below.

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