Academic Cover Letter Example

After years of working towards an advanced degree, you've probably written enough pages for a lifetime. It's time to relax a bit and let us help you write your academic cover letter to accompany that academic CV. Check out our free downloadable example (and writing tips) below.

September 2, 2024

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Postdoctoral Fellow

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Assistant Professor

An academic cover letter example with red header text to make the applicant's name stand out

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Professor

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Academic Cover Letter Template

Copy-paste Academic Cover Letter (Text Format)

Postdoctoral Fellow
Assistant Professor
Professor

FIRST AND LAST NAME

Email: your.email@email.com

Phone: (123) 456-7891

Address: Street, City, State

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the Postdoctoral Fellow position in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Center for Brain Science, Riverdale University. As a research assistant with two years of experience at the Cognitive Processes Lab at Eastbrook College, I am eager to take the next step in my academic career and contribute to the cutting-edge research in memory and attention at your esteemed institution.

During my time as a research assistant, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Laura Chen on several projects investigating the neural correlates of selective attention. This experience has allowed me to develop advanced skills in fMRI data analysis, experimental design, and scientific writing. I have co-authored two publications in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience and presented our findings at the annual Cognitive Neuroscience Society meeting.

My current research focuses on the interaction between attention and working memory, specifically examining how attentional load affects memory encoding and retrieval. This work has not only deepened my understanding of cognitive processes but also sparked my interest in exploring the potential applications of this research in clinical settings, particularly in relation to attention deficit disorders.

In addition to my research experience, I have served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in cognitive psychology and research methods. This experience has reinforced my passion for academia and my desire to pursue a career that combines research with teaching and mentoring future scientists.

I am eager to bring my skills, creativity, and collaborative spirit to your team and to continue growing as a researcher in this next phase of my career. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how I can contribute to the innovative research at the Center for Brain Science.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Dr. Jane Smith
American State University
Palo Alto, California, 94301
professor.smith@email.com

October 30, 2015

Dear Professor Jane Smith,

I am writing to apply for the position of Assistant Professor of Anthropology: Evolutionary Social Science, as advertised on the American State University website. I am a graduate from Hayward University, and am currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Osford where I am due to complete my PhD requirements by May 2016. I am working on a dissertation under the direction of Dr John Jacobs. I believe that my previous teaching experience, partnered with my research in human behavior and signaling theory make me a strong candidate for the position.

As my Curriculum Vitae demonstrates, I have taught a variety of ethnographic writing courses. My doctoral dissertation examines human cognitive ability and the socio-ecological underpinnings of behavioral variation, using qualitative survey-based research methods. I also run an ethnographic writing course at the University of Osford, mentoring undergraduate students in ethnographic data collection, analysis and writing. I seek to engage students by examining ways they can actively participate in class discussions, often using app technology and new collaborative platforms. I look forward to individual conferences with students, ascertaining their research direction and assisting in the composition of their theories and experiments.

Prior to my academic career I worked as a photographer and filmmaker for various organizations for 5+ years. In 2012 & 2013, I taught a Visual Anthropology International Exchange program in Bangladesh using sound recording, photography and film. I believe these skills provide me with a broad perspective of ethnography, enhancing my research methodology and passion for student engagement.

I have enclosed my resume, statements of teaching philosophy, research interests and reference letters. I would enjoy discussing this position with you in the weeks to come. If you require any additional information, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Sally Davis

[Today’s Date]

[Hiring Manager’s Name]
[456 Company Address]
[Company City, State XXXXX]
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
[hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear [Mr./Mrs./Ms./Mx.] [Hiring Manager’s Name],

I am writing to apply for the position of Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at Westfield University. With ten years of experience as a faculty member and researcher, I am excited about the prospect of contributing my expertise in memory and learning processes to your department.

My research program focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying episodic memory formation and retrieval, with a particular emphasis on how these processes are affected by aging. At Riverdale University, I have established a productive lab that combines advanced neuroimaging techniques with innovative behavioral paradigms to investigate memory representations in the human brain.

Over the past decade, my work has resulted in 35 peer-reviewed publications, including papers in journals such as Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, and Psychological Science. I have been successful in securing external funding, including an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health and support from the National Science Foundation. Our recent work on the role of sleep in memory consolidation has garnered significant attention in the field and has potential implications for understanding age-related cognitive decline.

As an educator, I have developed and taught a range of courses, from large undergraduate lectures to specialized graduate seminars. I am particularly proud of the advanced course I created on Computational Approaches to Memory, which has become a popular elective in our program. I have supervised six Ph.D. students to completion, with three more currently in progress, and have mentored numerous undergraduates in research projects.

I am drawn to Westfield University because of its strong interdisciplinary approach to cognitive science and its recent investments in neuroimaging infrastructure. The collaborative atmosphere in your department, as evidenced by cross-cutting research initiatives, aligns well with my belief in the power of interdisciplinary work to drive scientific progress.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to the possibility of joining your faculty and contributing to the continued success of the Department of Psychology at Westfield University.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Writing tips for an academic cover letter

Have you comfortably written countless papers over the years but are at a loss for words when it comes to outlining academic skills and experience in a cover letter?

You’re not alone. Show institutions you’re the perfect person for a research or faculty position by showcasing your academic skills and accomplishments in a well-written cover letter.

Follow these three tips to write an academic cover letter that gets you shortlisted:

1. Highlight academic skills

A strong academic cover letter should highlight a variety of hard and soft skills, along with your teaching experience or involvement in research activities. To make yourself a more compelling candidate, be sure to also mention any professional affiliations and academic achievements early on in your cover letter — either in the introduction or body paragraphs — such as fellowships or grants.

To show employers you have the right skills to excel, highlight job-specific skills when detailing your work experience in the body paragraphs. For example, if you’re applying to a teaching position, communication skills and collaboration are key soft skills for mentoring students and establishing strong professional relationships to facilitate learning.

Here’s an example of how to emphasize these skills in your cover letter:

I seek to engage students by examining ways they can actively participate in class discussions, often using app technology and new collaborative platforms.

Here’s a list of key academic skills to highlight in your cover letter:

Research skills
Involvement with publications or books
Awards and fellowships
Teaching methods
Preparing course materials
Course management system software
Google Drive and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
Online library databases
Scientific software (IBM SPSS Statistics, StataCorp Stata, and SAS)
Computer-based education software (Desire2Learn, Blackboard Learn, and Turnitin)

In addition to your technical skills, here are some academic soft skills institutions look for:

Organizational skills
People skills
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Time management skills
Attention to detail
Adaptability
Problem-solving skills
Decision-making

2. Open with a strong introduction

Whether you’re applying for a temporary job or a full-time, tenure-track position, the job market for a university faculty position is highly competitive. Instead of presenting your qualifications as-is, knowing how to craft a strong cover letter opening ensures your job application best resonates with hiring committees stuck reviewing many qualified applications each day.

Here’s how to write a strong academic cover letter introduction:

Convey enthusiasm for the job so employers know you have the skills and passion to handle the workload and stress of being a researcher or educator. For example, “I look forward to individual conferences with students, ascertaining their research direction and assisting in the composition of their theories and experiments.”
Lead with an impressive accomplishment to highlight key academic skills
Quantify your achievements to make your contributions sound more impactful. For example, “I ran an ethnographic writing course at the University of Oxford, mentoring 150+ students in ethnographic data collection, analysis, and writing.”
Analyze the opening to uncover what skills the hiring committee is specifically seeking, and emphasize these skills in your cover letter

3. Research the academic institution (or company) where you want to apply

Because you’ll be vying against many other candidates with similar qualifications, you need to tailor your cover letter to the job so the hiring committee recognizes you’re a perfect match for what they’re seeking.

In addition to analyzing the job description, research the institution to gain more insight on how to align your talents with their needs. Most importantly, pay attention to any recent headlines that might be worth mentioning in your cover letter.

For example, if you’re applying to a research role with the social science department, talk about your expertise in this research area and how you would have contributed to a recent study they published.

Or, if the job description emphasizes teaching ability, mimic the language used in a teacher cover letter more closely to describe your experience as an educator.

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Written by

Corissa Peterson

A dedicated member of the Resume Genius team with a passion for the career space, Corissa is always looking for ways to create useful resources for job seekers, from writing job-specific resume samples to crafting in-depth articles on how to ace interviews. Corissa graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. Corissa’s articles have been published on Diversity Jobs, Recruiter.com, Teachstone, and Jobillico, among others, and her career advice has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, GOBankingRates, and UpJourney. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.