Biology Cover Letter Example

Studying anything from the smallest viruses to the biggest ecosystems, biologists apply their knowledge to research, policy, teaching, and more. Use our biology cover letter example and list of top biology skills to guide you toward landing your next position.

January 1, 2024

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A black and purple biology cover letter that includes the applicant's contact information, addresses the hiring manager, shows interest in the position, and highlights the applicant's relevant qualifications

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Biology Cover Letter Template

Make sure you use proper cover letter format to ensure that your cover letter is readable and professional.

Copy-paste Biology Cover Letter (Text Format)

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]

301 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD, 21218
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
hiring.manager@gmail.com

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

As a detail-oriented professional, I’m pleased to apply for the position of Senior Associate Scientist (Biology) at Gilead Sciences, which I discovered through LinkedIn. With 6+ years of experience in virology, I believe my expertise and record of delivering high-quality data for drug and vaccine development projects will be highly valuable to the Product Development team at Gilead Sciences.

My sharp critical thinking skills, significant experience in experimental design, and technical execution of pharmacological assays more than qualify me for this role’s responsibilities.

Highlights of my qualifications include the following:

Coupled AlphaFold with rapid gene cloning and protein synthesis to better understand Coronaviridae spike protein evolution in short time scales
Liaised with a global team of scientists to produce 4 peer-reviewed studies on SARS-CoV-2 viral load kinetics and community transmission
Trained a team of 24 junior research associates in virology and molecular biology benchwork, collection, and data analysis

With my considerable industry expertise, I’m seeking a challenging environment where I can fully use my organizational and problem solving skills, so a relationship with your organization would be mutually beneficial. I look forward to meeting with you soon to discuss my qualifications further. You can contact me via cecilia.suarez@gmail.com or 410-204-5342 at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

22 skills for your biology cover letter

Many positions in biology, such as for biological technicians or microbiologists, are expected to show faster than average growth from 2021 to 2031. As a result, now is a good time to apply your biology degree to a position in the biological sciences.

While there are many roles in biology, general areas of expertise include:

laboratory biology
macrobiology (e.g., natural resource management, wildlife biology, ecology)
computational biology
biology instruction

Customize your biology cover letter to the general area and to the specific job posting to show the hiring manager you’re genuinely interested in working for them.

Rather than repeating the skills on your resume, your biology cover letter should complement or provide more detail and evidence for those skills.

You should give specific examples or achievements in your biology cover letter that highlight some general hard skills (those learned through training) needed for many biology positions:

Microsoft Office skills
Computer skills
Data analysis
Database research
Literature review
Recordkeeping/documentation
Quality control procedures
Aseptic technique
Biosafety level (BSL) training
Laboratory equipment maintenance and use

But biologists also need a range of soft skills (personality traits that affect how you work) for collaborating on teams, doing research, and presenting findings. So highlight some of these soft skills in your biology cover letter: