Updated on Jan 19th 2010

Curriculum Vitaes

Dr Jenny Bedford, Physiology research fellow at the University of Otago, gave a talk about curriculum vitaes (CVs) and tips for post-docs.

What should be included (in order):

Name
Date of birth (optional)
Address work and home (optional), include phone, fax and email (addresses)
Qualifications, degree(s) (major subject) and year of graduation
Prizes, honours and scholarships (use your judgement over school, probably only mention if you were dux or proxime accessit)
Employment record
Membership of societies pertinent to your area of study. Also include FGW or similar organisations because it indicates a wider interest)
Publications (refereed and non-refereed separately) and book chapters
Conference presentations
Grants
Other
Referees – choose people who you know will write something positive and who will take the time to do it properly for you.
Never embellish your CV – the world is a very small place.

University registry should have an extensive list of awards and grants which should be up-to-date
American Federation of University Women have funding available which can be held with other awards. Also IFUW.
Rotary Ambassadorial scholarships. Look around for awards that look for a more well-rounded applicant other than strictly academic.
Many staff in US universities will have money as part of a research grant.

Word of mouth is often the best way of finding a boss.
Pick your boss carefully – you have to work with them for 2-3 years.
Avoid big conferences (thousands or more) for sounding out prospective bosses. Small conferences (up to 100 or so) good for meeting people.
Pick a project which is achievable and that you know you will get something out of it.
Publications, publications, publications.
Identify a boss that will be a good referee and mentor.
Start looking for a position 6-18 months before you want to take up a post-doc.