Writing an Academic Research Statement on the Job Market

Writing an Academic Research Statement on the Job Market

We’ve looked at the 12 Sentences That Should Be Included in Your Academic Cover Letter and the CV and The Teaching-Centric Cover Letter.  Today we look at the Research Statement (RS).

What is a Research Statement?

It is typical for academic job applications to include a declaration of research interests (or a research statement). The Research Statement is an engaging summary of your research successes, present work and anticipated future direction of your study are summarized in this document.

The following are examples of topics that should be in your statement: funding history and potential requirements for laboratory equipment, and space and other resources. Potential research and industrial collaborations: show your research contributes to your field. Future directions of your research.

It reveals to search committees the many aspects of your professional identity as well as the path of your academic career. It conveys the impression that your study will flow naturally from your previous work and will be unique, significant, and original. It puts your study interests into context—why is your research important? So, what exactly is the problem? It mixes your previous accomplishments and present work with a research plan for the future. It aids hiring committees in their evaluation of you as a TT professor.

(source Twitter Adam Grant, May 2022)

Why a Research Statement?

It tells the story of your academic and professional life to potential employers, and it serves as a record of your achievements. It conveys the idea that your future work will build on the work you've already done and will be unique, significant, and original in some way. It helps put your research goals into perspective—why is it important? What's the point of all of this? Proposal for future research is included into your accomplishments and present work Helps hiring committees evaluate: 

• compatibility with the department or school
• ability to think and communicate like a serious scholar and/or scientist
• areas of specialty and expertise
• potential to get funding
• academic strengths and abilities

The goal of the research statement is to introduce yourself to a search committee, which will probably contain scientists both in and outside your field and get them excited about your research. To encourage people to read it: make it one or two pages, three to four only for advanced candidates, use informative section headings and subheadings, use bullets, use an easily readable font size, make the margins 1” all sides. It must be on Letterhead with your name in the subheading or page header. So, in short, the Research Statement, just like the Teaching Statement, needs to be one to two pages in length, single spaced.  And like the teaching statement, it needs to be in 11 or 12 point font (Times or Arial) and have decent one-inch margins. Put your name and the words “Research Statement” centered at the top.

 

Note Bene: I highly advise all job seekers to thoroughly research the norms of their respective areas and to heed the advice they get from professionals in their respective fields on this topic. Do not just make the assumption that a larger research statement or any other job document is preferable. Moreover, the research statement I'm referencing may be seen in many simple job applications. In order to be considered for fellowships or postdocs, you must submit a "research proposal." An outline should be followed while writing them, since the word count will be specified. Do not make the mistake of conflating this with another kind of document.

Organization of Research Statements

Think of the overarching theme guiding your main research subject area. Write an essay that lays out:

1. The main theme(s) and why it is important and what specific skills you use to attack the problem.
2. A few specific examples of problems you have already solved with success to build credibility and inform people outside your field about what you do.
3. A discussion of the future direction of your research. This section should be really exciting to people both in and outside your field. Don’t sell yourself short; if you think your research could lead to answers for big important questions, say so!
4. The Second Project
5. A final paragraph that gives a good overall impression of your research.

Writing Research Statements

Style:

Avoid jargon. Make sure that you describe your research in language that many people outside your specific subject area can understand. Ask people both in and outside your field to read it before you send your application. A search committee won’t get excited about something they can’t understand.

Get to the point. Write as clearly, concisely, and concretely as you can.

Show the details of your past research using specific examples, don't tell them vague platitudes. If you struggle with writing concrete evidence of your research, read our post on What do you Mean by Specific? Ask others to proofread it. Be sure there are no spelling errors. I strongly advise using a free spelling and grammar checker like Grammarly. I personally have a premium subscription, but the free version works well on the basics. Especially if English is not your native language, you definitely must use software or a professional editor to help you.

Content: 

(Choose 3-4 topics to discuss in 2 pages)

The GOLDEN RULE: focus on your research work, not yourself.

When applying for a position at a university, show that you are not just informed, but also that you are capable of carrying it out. What makes you unique should be included (e.g., publication in Science, Nature, or a prestigious journal in your field).

• What excites you about your research? Sound fresh.
• Include preliminary results and how to build on results.
• Point out how current faculty may become future partners.
• Use language that shows you are an independent researcher.
• Include potential funding partners and industrial collaborations. Be creative!
• Provide a summary of your research.
• Put in background material to give the context/relevance/significance of your research.
• List major findings, outcomes, and implications.
• Describe both current and planned (future) research.
• Communicate a sense that your research will follow logically from what you have done and that it will be unique, significant, and innovative (and easy to fund).
• Describe Your Future Goals or Research  
• Major problem(s) you want to focus on in your research.
• The problem’s relevance and significance to the field.
• Your specific goals for the next three to five years, including potential impact and outcomes.
• If you know what a particular agency funds, you can name the agency and briefly outline a proposal.
• Give broad enough goals so that if one area doesn’t get funded, you can pursue other research goals and funding.
• Identify Potential Funding Sources
• Almost every institution wants to know whether you’ll be able to get external funding for research.
• Try to provide some possible sources of funding for the research, such as NIH, NSF, foundations, private agencies.
• Mention past funding, if appropriate.

Be Realistic

Getting the right mix between a realistic research statement that commits you to tackling issues you believe you can solve and one that is too ambitious or interdisciplinary is difficult. Do not include any unrelated projects or ideas in your research statement. Everyone understands that you'll be working on a lot more than what you've said here. !Be Aware! Research statements can be weakened by overly ambitious proposals, lack of clear direction, lack of big-picture focus, inadequate attention to the needs and facilities of the department or position. 

Consider Also Preparing a Longer Version

A longer version (five–15 pages) can be brought to your interview. (Check with your advisor to see if this is necessary.) You may be asked to describe research plans and budget in detail at the campus interview. Be prepared. 

Include laboratory needs (how much budget you need for equipment, how many grad assistants, etc.) to start up the research. If you are unsure how to structure the RS or TS, use the 5-paragraph model above.

Here are a few more guidelines to consider:

A research statement (much like a teaching statement) isn't tailored to a certain educational institution. Even if you subtly adjust your project descriptions to reflect this, the statement itself makes no reference of any position, department, or application.

• • Utilize the active voice wherever feasible, but avoid depending on "I-Statements." You should avoid referring to your CV (e.g., "As you can see, I have written extensively").
  • Maintain strict adherence to the evidentiary level as is the case with all work documents. Please mention all of your results and publications if your work has had any influence on the field in which you work. You should not make any overblown claims about how essential this study is (e.g., "This research is crucial to...").
  • It is best not to mention any other academics or intellectuals in your paper. Take responsibility for what you've done. If you and another author collaborated on a project, you could be...
  • You should never refer to oneself as having been "taught" by anybody or anything.
  • Don't waste important document space on things that other researchers haven't been able to complete. Try not to be too pessimistic. Make sure to keep your attention only on your own acts and not on the actions of others.
  • Don't describe oneself as "expanding" or "adding to" or "building off of" anything, or as anything else along those lines. The following is edited content...
  • The central thesis of your investigation should be clearly expressed. To my astonishment, I am finding myself needing to remind pupils to complete tasks on a regular basis (in at least 80 percent of grad student documents).
  • It is important not to give the idea that you are a one-trick pony. The second big project must be distinguishable from the first in a number of ways...
  • Demonstrate the growth of a publishing career from its inception to its present stage...

 

Samples of Research Statements:

To find sample research statements with content specific to your discipline, search on the internet for [YOUR DISCIPLINE] + "Research Statement." Check out the University of Pennsylvania Sample Research Statement and/or Advice on writing a Research Statement (Plan) from the journal Science

~JTTT

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