Introduction

Your academic CV is often the first impression you make on admission committees, scholarship boards, or potential supervisors. A well-structured CV should communicate your research focus, academic achievements, and professional potential clearly and concisely. The following clues highlight essential elements to include and best practices to follow when preparing an academic CV.

Key Sections to Include

1. Contact Information – Full name, professional email, phone number, institutional affiliation, and academic profiles (e.g., ORCID, LinkedIn, Google Scholar).
2. Research Interests – Clearly defined areas of inquiry presented as bullet points.
3. Professional Summary – A 2–3 sentence statement highlighting research focus and academic goals.
4. Education – Degrees in reverse chronological order, with thesis/dissertation titles if relevant.
5. Research and Professional Experience – Projects, grants, collaborations, and methodological contributions.
6. Teaching and Mentorship – Courses taught, labs supervised, or student mentoring roles.
7. Awards and Scholarships – Academic honors, fellowships, and distinctions.
8. Publications and Presentations – Selected peer-reviewed articles or conference papers, cited in a professional format.
9. Professional Memberships – Membership in academic societies or professional networks.
10. Skills – Technical, analytical, and research competencies (e.g., software, lab techniques).
11. References – Contact details for 2–3 referees (If required. It is adviseable to include their organizations, institutional email address and capacity in which they know you).

Best Practices

• Use clear section headings and maintain consistent formatting.
• Be concise and selective, emphasizing relevance to your academic trajectory.
• Tailor the CV to specific opportunities (programs, scholarships, or roles).
• Use action-oriented language (analyzed, supervised, developed).
• Keep your CV updated with recent achievements.