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How to Write a Good Cover Letter for a Research Position

Writing a cover letter can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be!

Some people believe cover letters are a science. Others seem to think they are more akin to black magic. Regardless of how you feel about cover letters, they are one of the most important parts of the job application process. Your resume or CV may get you an interview, but a good cover letter is what ensures that the hiring manager reads your resume in the first place.

Writing a cover letter for any job is important, but the art of writing a good cover letter for a research position can make or break your application. While writing a cover letter for a research position, you have to walk a fine line of proving your expertise and passion while limiting jargon and dense language.

In this post, we will explain cover letter writing basics, and then dive into how to write a research specific cover letter with examples of both good and bad practices.

What Is A Cover Letter and Why Do Cover Letters Matter?

A cover letter is your opportunity to tell a story and connect the dots of your resume. Resumes and curriculum vitae (CVs) are often cold and static—they don’t show any sort of character that will give companies a hint about if you will fit in with their culture. 

Your cover letter gives you the chance to demonstrate that you are an interesting, qualified, and intelligent person. Without proving that you are worth the time to interview, a company or research organization will set your application in the rejection pile without giving it a second look. 

So, what is a cover letter, exactly? It is an explanation (written out in paragraph form) of what you can bring to the company that goes beyond the information in your resume. Cover letters give a company a glimpse into the qualities that will make you the ideal candidate for their opening. 

Note that a cover letter is not the same as a letter of intent. A cover letter is written for a specific job opening. For example, if I got an email saying that the University of Colorado was looking for a tenure track faculty member to teach GEO 1001, and I chose to apply, I would write a cover letter. 

A letter of intent, however, is written regardless of the job opening. It is intended to express an interest in working at a particular company or with a particular group. The goal of a letter of intent is to demonstrate your interest in the company (or whatever type of group you are appealing to) and illustrate that you are willing to work with them in whatever capacity they feel is best. 

For example, if I loved the clothing company, Patagonia and wanted to work there, I could write a letter of intent. They may have an opening for a sales floor associate, but after reading my application and letter of intent, decide I would be better suited to a design position. Or, they may not have any positions open at all, but choose to keep my resume on hand for the next time they do. 

Most organizations want a cover letter, not a letter of intent, so it is important to make sure your cover letter caters to the specifics of the job posting. A cover letter should also demonstrate why you want to work at the company, but it should be primarily focused on why you can do the job better than any of the other applicants.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter: The Basics 

Writing a cover letter isn’t hard. Writing a good cover letter, a cover letter that will encourage a hiring manager to look at your application and schedule an interview, is more difficult (but certainly not impossible). Below, we will go over each of the important parts of a cover letter: the salutation, introduction, body, and conclusion, as well as some other best practices.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter Salutation

Don’t start with “Dear Sir/Ma’am” (or any iteration of a vague greeting, including “to whom it may concern”). Avoiding vague greetings is the oldest trick in the book, but it still holds a lot of weight. Starting a cover letter with the above phrase is pretty much stamping “I didn’t bother to research this company at all because I am sending out a million generic cover letters” across your application. It doesn’t look good. 

The best practice is to do your research and use your connections to find a name. “Dear Joe McGlinchy” means a lot more than “Dear Hiring Manager.” LinkedIn is a great tool for this—you can look up the company, then look through the employees until you find someone that seems like they hire for the relevant department. 

The most important thing about the salutation is to address a real human. By selecting someone in the company, you’ve demonstrated that you’ve done some research and are actually interested in this company specifically. Generic greetings aren’t eye-catching and don’t do well.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter Introduction

Once you’ve addressed your cover letter to a real human being, you need a powerful introduction to prove that this cover letter is worth the time it will take to read. This means that you need a hook. 

Your first sentence needs to be a strong starter, something to encourage the hiring manager not only to continue reading the cover letter, but to look at your application as well. If you have a contact in the company, you should mention them in the first sentence. Something along the lines of “my friend, Amanda Rice (UX/UI manager), suggested I apply for the natural language processing expert position after we worked together on a highly successful independent project.” 

The example above uses a few techniques. The name drop is good, but that only works if you actually have a connection in the company. Beyond that, this example has two strengths. First, it states the name of the position. This is important because hiring managers can be hiring for several different positions at a time, and by immediately clarifying which position you are applying for, you make their job a little bit easier.  Next, this sentence introduces concrete skills that apply to the job. That is a good way to start because it begins leading into the body, where you will go into depth about how exactly your experience and skills make you perfect for the job. 

Another technique for a strong lead-in to a cover letter is to begin with an applicable personal experience or anecdote. This attracts more attention than stereotypical intros (like the example above), but you have to be careful to get to the point quickly. Give yourself one or two sentences to tell the story and prove your point before you dive into your skills and the main body of the cover letter.

A more standard technique for introductions is simply expressing excitement. No matter how you choose to start, you want to demonstrate that you are eager about the position, and there is no easier way to do that than just saying it. This could take the form of “When I saw the description for X job on LinkedIn, I was thrilled: it is the perfect job for my Y skills and Z experience.” This option is simple and to-the-point, which can be refreshing for time-crunched hiring managers. 

Since we’ve provided a few good examples, we will offer a bad example, so you can compare and contrast. Don’t write anything along the line of: “My name is John Doe, and I am writing to express my interest in the open position at your company.” 

There are a few issues here. First, they can probably figure out your name. You don’t need that to be in the first sentence (or any of the sentences—the closing is an obvious enough spot). Next, “the open position” and “your company” are too generic. That sounds like the same cover letter you sent to every single employer in a hundred mile radius. Give the specifics! Finally, try to start with a little more spice. Add in some personality, something to keep the hiring manager reading. If you bore them to death in the first line, they aren’t going to look over your resume and application with the attention they deserve. 

How to Write a Good Cover Letter Body

So, you’ve addressed a real human being, and you’ve snagged their attention with a killer opening line. What next? Well, you have to hold on to that attention by writing an engaging and informative cover letter body. 

The body of a cover letter is the core of the important information you want to transmit. The introduction’s job was to snag the attention of the hiring manager. The body’s job is to sell them on your skills.  There are a few formatting things to be aware of before we start talking about what content belongs in the body of the cover letter. First, keep the company culture and standards in mind when picking a format. For example, if I want to work for a tech startup that is known for its wit and company culture, I can probably get away with using a bulleted list or another informal format. However, if I am applying to a respected research institution, using a standard five paragraph format is best. 

In addition, the cover letter should not be longer than a page. Hiring managers are busy people. They may have hundreds of resumes to read, so they don’t need a three page essay per person. A full page is plenty, and many hiring managers report finding three hundred words or less to be the idea length. Just to put that into context, the text from here to the “How to Write a Good Cover Letter Body” header below is about perfect, length-wise. 

Now, on to the more important part: the content. A cover letter should work in tandem with a resume. If you have a list of job experiences on your resume, don’t list them again in the cover letter. Use the valuable space in the cover letter to give examples about how you have applied your skills and experience. 

For example, if I have worked as a barista, I wouldn’t just say “I have worked as a barista at Generic Cafe.” The hiring manager could learn that from my resume. Instead, I could say “Working as a barista at Generic Cafe taught me to operate under pressure without feeling flustered. Once…” I would go on to recount a short story that illustrated my ability to work well under pressure. It is important that the stories and details you choose to include are directly related to the specific job. Don’t ramble or add anything that isn’t obviously connected. Use the job description as a tool—if it mentions a certain skill a few times, make sure to include it!

If you can match the voice and tone of your cover letter to the voice of the company, that usually earns you extra points. If, in their communications, they use wit, feel free to include it in your letter as well. If they are dry, to the point, and serious, cracking jokes is not the best technique.

A Few Don’ts of Writing a Cover Letter Body   

There are a few simple “don’ts” in cover letter writing. Do not: 

• Bad: I am smart, dedicated, determined, and funny.
• Better: When I was working at Tech Company, I designed and created an entirely new workflow that cut the product delivery time in half. 
• Bad: When I was seven, I really loved the monkeys at the zoo. This demonstrates my fun-loving nature. 
• Better: While working for This Company, I realized I was far more productive if I was light-hearted. I became known as the person to turn to in my unit when my coworkers needed a boost, and as my team adopted my ideology, we exceeded our sales goals by 200%. 
• Bad: I would love this job because it would propel me to the next stage of my career.
• Better: With my decade of industry experience communicating with engineers and clients, I am the right person to manage X team. 
• Bad: I know I’m not the most qualified candidate for this job, but…
• Better: I can apply my years of experience as an X to this position, using my skills in Y and Z to… 
• Bad: I am a thirty year old white woman from Denver…
• Better: I have extensive experience managing diverse international teams, as illustrated by the time I…  

The most important part of the cover letter is the body. Sell your skills by telling stories, but walk the razor’s edge between saying too much and not enough. When in doubt, lean towards not enough—it is better for the hiring manager to call you in for an interview to learn more than to bore them.

How to Write a Good Cover Letter Conclusion

 The last lines of a cover letter are extremely important. Until you can meet in-person for an interview, the conclusion of your cover letter will greatly affect the impression the hiring manager has of you. A good technique for concluding your cover letter is to summarize, in a sentence, what value you can bring to the company and why you are perfect for the position. Sum up the most important points from your cover letter in a short, concise manner. 

Write with confidence, but not arrogance. This can be a delicate balance. While some people have gotten away (and sometimes gotten a job) with remarks like, “I’ll be expecting the job offer soon,” most do not. Closing with a courteous statement that showcases your capability and skills is far more effective than arrogance. Try to avoid trite or generic statements in the closing sentence as well. This includes the template, “I am very excited to work for XYZ Company.” Give the hiring manager something to remember and close with what you can offer the company. 

The final step in any cover letter is to edit. Re-read your cover letter. Then, set it aside for a few hours (or days, time permitting) and read it again. Give it to a friend to read. Read it aloud. This may seem excessive, but there is nothing more off-putting than a spelling or grammar error in the first few lines of a cover letter. The hiring manager may power through and ignore it, but it will certainly taint their impression. 

Once the cover letter is as flawless and compelling as it can be, send it out! If you are super stuck on how to get started, working within a template may help. Microsoft Word has many free templates that are aesthetically appealing and can give you a hint to the length and content. A few good online options live here (free options are at the bottom—there is no reason to pay for a resume template).

How to Write a Cover Letter for a Research Position

Writing a cover letter for a research position is the same as writing any other cover letter. There are, however, a few considerations and additions that are worth pointing out. A job description may not directly ask for a cover letter, but it is good practice to send one unless they specifically say not to. This means that even if a cover letter isn’t mentioned, you should send one—it is best practice and gives you an opportunity to expand on your skills and research in a valuable way.

Format and Writing Style for a Research Position Cover Letter

Research and academics tend to appreciate formality more than start-ups or tech companies, so using the traditional five paragraph format is typically a good idea. The five paragraph format usually includes an introduction, three short examples of skills, and a concluding paragraph. This isn’t set in stone—if you’d rather write two paragraphs about the skills and experience you bring to the company, that is fine. 

Keep in mind that concise and to-the-point writing is extremely valuable in research. Anyone who has ever written a project proposal under 300 words knows that every term needs to add value. Proving that you are a skilled writer, starting in your cover letter, will earn you a lot of points. This means that cover letters in research and academia, though you may have more to say, should actually be shorter than others. Think of the hiring manager—they are plowing through a massive stack of verbose, technical, and complex cover letters and CVs. It is refreshing to find an easy to read, short cover letter. 

On the “easy to read” point, remember that the hiring manager may not be an expert in your field. Even if they are, you cannot assume that they have the exact same linguistic and educational background as you. For example, if you have dedicated the last five years of your life to studying a certain species of bacteria that lives on Red-Eyed Tree Frogs, all of those technical terms you have learned (and maybe even coined) have no place in your cover letter. Keep jargon to an absolute minimum. Consider using a tool like the Hemingway Editor to identify and eliminate jargon. While you want to reduce jargon, it is still important to prove that you’ve researched their research. Passion about the research topic is one of the most valuable attributes that a new hire can offer. 

Use your cover letter to prove that you have done your homework, know exactly what the institution or group is doing, and want to join them. If you have questions about the research or want to learn more, it isn’t a bad idea to get in touch with one of the researchers. You can often use LinkedIn or the group’s staff site to learn who is working on the project and reach out.

What Research Information Should be Included in a Cover Letter

A research position cover letter is not the place for your academic history, dissertation, or publications. While it may be tempting to go into detail about the amazing research you did for your thesis, that belongs in your CV. Details like this will make your cover letter too long. While these are valuable accomplishments, don’t include them unless there is something  that pertains to the group’s research, and your CV doesn’t cover it in depth. 

If you do choose to write about your research, write about concrete details and skills that aren’t in your CV. For example, if you have spent the last few years working on identifying the effects of a certain gene sequence in bird migration, include information about the lab techniques you used. Also, try to put emphasis on the aspects of your resume and CV that make you stand out from other candidates. It is likely that you will be competing with many similarly qualified candidates, so if you have a unique skill or experience, make sure it doesn’t get lost in the chaos—a cover letter is the perfect place to highlight these sorts of skills. 

Industry experience is a great differentiator. If you have relevant industry experience, make sure to include it in your cover letter because it will almost certainly set you apart. Another valuable differentiator is a deep and established research network. If you have been working on research teams for years and have deep connections with other scientists, don’t be afraid to include this information. This makes you a very valuable acquisition for the company because you come with an extensive network

Include Soft Skills in Your Cover Letter

Scientific skills aren’t the only consideration for hiring managers. Experience working with and leading teams is incredibly valuable in the research industry. Even if the job description doesn’t mention teamwork, add a story or description of a time you worked with (or, even better, lead) a successful team. Soft skills like management, customer service, writing, and clear communication are important in research positions. Highlight these abilities and experiences in your cover letter in addition to the hard skills and research-based information. 

If you are struggling to edit and polish your letter, give it to both someone within your field and someone who is completely unfamiliar with your research (or, at least, the technical side of it). Once both of those people say that the letter makes sense and is compelling, you should feel confident submitting it.

Cover letters are intended to give hiring managers information beyond what your resume and CV are able to display. Write with a natural but appropriately formal voice, do your research on the position, and cater to the job description. A good cover letter can go a long way to getting you an interview, and with these tips, your cover letters will certainly stand out of the pile.

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Home » Job Tips » Resume Writing Tips » Research Assistant Cover Letter

How to Structure a Research Assistant Cover Letter?

A meticulously crafted cover letter for a research assistant position allows you to effectively showcase your skills and qualifications to prospective employers. Your cover letter should be compelling, professional, concise, and engaging, demonstrating your suitability for the role. Additionally, incorporating insights into research analysis strengthens your application, highlighting your ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data effectively. In this blog, you will learn how to craft an effective research assistant cover letter. You will find a sample, template, along with expert tips for creating an impressive cover letter .

Table of Contents

Who is a Research Assistant?

A research assistant is someone who is employed to assist in a research project. Some of their duties involve conducting reviews of relevant literature, gathering data, analyzing data, and performing administrative tasks related to the research.  As a research analyst, you will work under the guidance of an investigator or lead researcher and play a critical role in furthering knowledge in their field of study. Research assistants can be found in a variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, government offices, and private businesses.

Steps to Craft a Research Assistant Cover Letter

You can create an effective research assistant cover letter that will impress potential employers and increase your chances of securing the desired research assistant position by following these tips. Here are effective ways to craft a cover letter for a research assistant position.

1. Start with a Professional Introduction 

When writing your letter, it is important to personalize it by addressing the researcher or hiring a professional directly. You can find the personal details of the recruiter or hiring manager in the job description.  However, if you are unable to find a specific name, using a general greeting such as, “ Dear Hiring Manager, ” is acceptable. Introduce yourself at the beginning of your letter and provide relevant details like your field of study and current academic endeavors.

2. Highlight Your Contact Information 

It is important to include your relevant contact information when composing an application letter for a research assistant. This section should include all necessary contact details in case the hiring manager wishes to invite you for an interview.  It’s important to include your full name, email address, and mobile number on the cover letter as well as on your resume. If you are submitting your cover letter electronically, consider using plain text and hyperlinks so recipients/recruiters can easily contact you.

3. Highlight Skills & Experience 

In the following paragraph of your letter, outline your qualifications and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position. Detail any previous research projects or fields of study that you have participated in.  Additionally, if you possess relevant degrees, experience, or technical and soft skills related to the role, be sure to mention them here as well. This will showcase your competence as a potential researcher. 

4. Conclude Professionally & Add a CTA

At the end of your research assistant job cover letter, it is important to express gratitude to the reader for considering your application. You can convey your interest in further discussion by stating something along the lines of, “I would be grateful for a chance to discuss my qualifications, experience, and passion for this role with you.” Additionally, adding a phrase like “I eagerly await your response” can also be helpful.

5.  Evaluate and Review

Before submitting your letter, it is crucial to thoroughly review and proofread it. This will not only ensure that your message is clear and professional, but also free from any grammatical or spelling errors. It may be helpful to have a friend or trusted individual read over your writing as well. They may catch mistakes or confusing sentences that you may have missed in the editing process.

6. Submit Your Letter

To ensure that your motivation letter for a research assistant is well drafted, it is important to carefully read and understand the submission guidelines provided. Different companies have varying methods for receiving applications, some prefer online portals while others prefer email submissions.  If you are emailing your application, be sure to attach all required documents in an accessible format. This is necessary so that the documents can be easily accessed by the recipient. It would also be beneficial to include a brief message specifying which position you are applying for.

Cover Letter Template for Research Assistant

Here is a professional research assistant’s cover letter template for crafting a cover letter. 

Cover Letter Example for Research Assistant

Below is a sample of a cover letter for a research assistant position.

Tips to Craft an Effective Research Assistant Job Cover Letter 

Below are practical tips for crafting a professional job application letter for a research assistant position.

1. Customize Letter

When writing a cover letter for a research assistant job, address it directly to the individual reviewing applications. Personalize the salutation with their name, if possible, after researching the company and role. This demonstrates genuine interest and effort, which shows the recruiters that you have an adequate understanding of the organization and the job opportunity.

2. Demonstrate Enthusiasm 

Expressing genuine enthusiasm in your cover letter is an effective way to make a personal connection with the recruiter. To achieve this, you can include positive tones in your writing and highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job requirements. Additionally, emphasizing your strong motivation for contributing to the company’s goals can also demonstrate enthusiasm towards the organization. 

3. Be Clear and Concise

When creating a cover letter, it is important to pay attention to its readability. One way to enhance the readability of your cover letter is by making good use of white space, refraining from overcrowding the page with excessive text, and keeping it brief and precise. Also, keep in mind that your cover letter should not exceed one page, so focus on including relevant information that highlights your skills and achievements.

4. Include Keywords 

Keywords in a cover letter are samples of essential skills, competencies, and traits that employers seek when evaluating applications. Therefore, it is important to include relevant skills, experience, and qualifications stated in the job description in your cover letter. The keywords also enable you to increase your chances of getting noticed by potential employers who are using applicant tracking software. 

5. Format Properly 

Proper formatting is crucial when creating a research assistant cover letter. To make your document stand out, it is essential to follow appropriate formatting guidelines. The recommended formatting standard is to use readable fonts such as Arial or Times New Roman in sizes 11-12pt for better readability and a polished appearance. 

Crafting a research assistant cover letter involves careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of the specific job requirements. It is important to highlight relevant skills and experiences, demonstrate enthusiasm for the role, and adhere to proper formatting guidelines to increase your chances of securing an interview. By following these steps, you can create an impactful cover letter that effectively showcases your potential as a valuable member of any research team. We hope this has been helpful to you. Leave us your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below. You can check out this quick guide on the best resume formats with samples as a reference to make a great CV.

Answer: While it may not be explicitly requested in the job description, it is recommended to include a cover letter specifically for the role unless instructed otherwise. Submitting a cover letter allows you to further elaborate on your qualifications and expertise.

Answer: It is necessary to provide a concise statement of research interests within 1-3 pages. This should include an engaging introduction, specific plans for future and ongoing research projects, relevance to the research role, and a concluding paragraph.

Answer: Yes, you can secure a position within your university or college’s undergraduate or graduate program.

Answer: The recommended length for a cover letter ranges from half a page to one full page. It is typically advised to keep your word count between 250 and 400 words, divided into three to six paragraphs.

Answer: You can pursue an honors degree in any field including, science, arts, biomedical science, health science, commerce, or psychological science to become a research assistant.

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Shailja Kaushik has been an Editor with Internshala since March 2023. She loves creative writing and experimenting with different forms of writing. She has explored different genres by working with journals and radio stations. She has also published her poems and nano tales in various anthologies. She graduated at the top of her class with Bachelor's in English and recently completed her Master's in English from the University of Delhi. Her experiments with writing continue on her literary blog.

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• Cover Letter

Research Assistant   Cover Letter

Research assistant cover letter (with examples).

If you’re vying for a rewarding and educational position as a research assistant , a compelling and properly structured cover letter will bring you one step closer to getting a job and reaching your biggest career goals .

Research assistant cover letters are a great platform for illustrating your expertise in conducting interviews, collecting data, and completing experiments and research reports. In your cover letter, your ultimate goal is to emphasize your interest and portray how you’ll be the best researcher for the job .

Whether you’re interested in becoming a researcher assisting in psychology, biochemistry, biology, atmospheric studies, biophysics, zoology, climate change, or any other scientific or academic field, you’re more than likely to encounter a lot of competition during the hiring process .

Writing a perfect cover letter to submit along with your professional resume and job application will help you stand out among a large pool of applicants and up your chances of getting hired and having a smooth employee onboarding experience.

The best research assistant cover letters reiterate and emphasize the skills and experiences listed in a standard resume or CV while also conveying a job applicant’s passion, personality, and career goals. Research assistants should aim to highlight their proficiency using laboratory equipment, experience conducting researching projects, and collecting and analyzing data.

By following a cover letter template you’ll stand-out to hiring managers and make a great first impression on renowned researchers and prospective employers.

Looking for a job? These position are hiring now near you:

• Research Assistant
• Student Research Assistant
• Research Internship
• Assistant Research Scientist
• Graduate Research Assistant

Parts of a Research Assistant Cover Letter

A research assistant cover letter should heavily focus on an applicant’s education and practical job experience. Cover letters that highlight key qualifications as well as strong communication and analytical skills , in particular, are more often selected to advance in the application process.

Since the majority of successful research assistants hold a bachelor’s degree, highlighting education, especially from a top-tier college or research university, is essential to getting hired. Almost equally as important as relevant education, is practical work experience.

When hiring research assistants, hiring managers are searching for applicants who know how to use and maintain lab equipment, have contributed towards a variety of research projects , can collect data with minimal insight for statistical analysis, and are experienced in conducting literature reviews and documenting and interpreting research findings.

When writing your cover letter , it is imperative that you illustrate your competency with handling research-based assignments and the job-specific skills and previous experience you have that qualify you for the gig.

Tackling each part of your cover letter is a great way to ensure your most desirable skills and qualifications are explicitly highlighted and the document is properly structured and professionally written.

A research assistant cover letter is typically composed of:

A professional header.

A compelling introduction paragraph.

A dense body paragraph that focuses on education, previous experience, research and analytical skills, resume achievements, and interest in the position .

A conclusion that offers a proposal or shows why you’re the best-suited candidate for the role.

A professional signature.

Professionals applying for employment opportunities as research assistants should always double-check their cover letter before submitting their job applications. You definitely don’t want to squash your chances of getting an internship because of a few typos.

Generally, cover letters should be between three and four paragraphs long — and definitely less than one page . The business document should also be formatted with standard one-inch page margins, written in a generic font, like Times New Roman, and organized into well-structured and grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs.

Research Assistant Cover Letter Opening

The opening lines of your research assistant cover letter are your opportunity to pique a hiring manager ’s interest and make a great first impression.

Hiring managers and prospective employers usually read your cover letter before ever meeting or speaking to you, unless you're applying for a promotion , so it’s important to let your personality come across the paper and put your best foot forward.

The first paragraph of your cover letter should be impressionable and to the point.

In the opening paragraph of your research assistant cover letter, you should aim to professionally introduce yourself , state your interest in the role that you’re applying to, convey your enthusiasm, and illustrate your skill level by mentioning your degree of education or previous relevant work experience.

In addition to perfectly crafting the first few lines of your cover letter, you should also be sure to include a professional header, just as you would in any other business document, and appropriately address the hiring manager .

Here’s a great example of how a successful research assistant cover letter might begin:

Max Alexander Lead Researcher BioWorks 102 Bentley Road Oceanside, CA 92058 Dear Mr. Alexander, As an early graduate of New York University’s accelerated biology master’s program, I was excited to learn about this job opening. I am very interested in the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant at BioWorks and I hope you will agree that I am a good fit for this position. My advanced schooling and previous role as a graduate research assistant have allowed me to gain hands-on experience developing strategic research plans and proposals, working with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, and analyzing complex data. I am confident that I have the necessary skills to find success in this role and help grow and enrich BioWorks’ mission.

Search For Research Assistant Jobs

Research assistant cover letter body.

The middle few paragraphs of your cover letter are where you can truly let your skills, knowledge, and qualifications shine.

In the body of your research assistant cover letter, you should highlight your key skills and abilities, discuss specific research projects you have worked on , explain your methods of conducting research and collecting informational data and statistics, and go into detail on your knowledge of working with lab equipment and conducting experiments.

Since research assistants are tasked with assisting professors and industry professionals with important and innovative research projects, job-seekers must be highly detail-oriented, organized, and dedicated to their careers. The body paragraphs of your cover letter are a great area to emphasize these skills and call attention to other important interpersonal skills .

Before writing the body of your cover letter you should closely read the specific job posting you're applying to, and work to tailor your cover letter to the skills, qualifications, and work responsibilities listed in the ad.

Here’s a great example of what the body of a research assistant cover letter might look like:

During my previous position as a graduate research assistant at New York University, I was responsible for managing an undergraduate research team focused on conducting experiments and performing research projects in the fields of molecular biology, biosynthesis, and gene editing. This experience has given me a strong foundation in conducting critical biology research projects — including performing molecular experiments, conducting statistical tests, and overseeing ethical experimental procedures on mice. My research efforts and accomplishments as a graduate research assistant directly improved research efficiency and virtually eradicated lab errors.

Research Assistant Cover Letter Closing Lines

To wrap up your cover letter, you’ll want to tie up any loose ends, summarize your experience, skills, and passion, and close the document with a professional salutation. The conclusion of your cover letter should be clear and concise.

The best cover letters end by asking for a phone or in-person interview or showing interest in continuing the hiring process. The closing lines of a research assistant cover letter are also a great place to share a proposal you hope to implement if hired. Sharing a research proposal that’s too good to pass up can be a surefire way to pique a potential employer’s interest.

Conveying your enthusiasm for the role and thanking the hiring manager for their time spent reviewing your cover letter and job application will up your chances of getting a callback and landing an in-person job interview.

Lastly, make sure you close your research assistant cover letter with an appropriate sign-off and a professional signature that includes your contact information .

An excellent way of closing your research assistant cover letter is like this:

As a trained professional with high-level skills in researching the field of biology, I am excited at the opportunity to put my qualifications to use as a research assistant at BioWorks. If given the opportunity to join your research team, you can count on me to perform all duties with focus, integrity, and expert attention to detail . I welcome the chance to discuss this position and explain how I can offer my assistance on upcoming research projects. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Kind regards, Elaine Smith (760) 543-8876 [email protected]

Example of a Research Assistant Cover Letter

Here’s a great example of a professional and properly formatted research assistant cover letter:

Max Alexander Lead Researcher BioWorks 102 Bentley Road Oceanside, CA 92058 Dear Mr. Alexander, As an early graduate of New York University’s accelerated biology master’s program, I was excited to learn about this job opening. I am very interested in the opportunity to work as a Research Assistant at BioWorks and I hope you will agree that I am a good fit for this position. My advanced schooling and previous role as a graduate research assistant have allowed me to gain hands-on experience developing strategic research plans and proposals, working with state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, and analyzing complex data. I am confident that I have the necessary skills to find success in this role and help grow and enrich BioWorks’ mission. During my previous position as a graduate research assistant at New York University, I was responsible for managing an undergraduate research team focused on conducting experiments and performing research projects in the fields of molecular biology, biosynthesis, and gene editing. This experience has given me a strong foundation in conducting critical biology research projects — including performing molecular experiments, conducting statistical tests, and overseeing ethical experimental procedures on mice. My research efforts and accomplishments as a graduate research assistant directly improved research efficiency and virtually eradicated lab errors. As a trained professional with high-level skills in researching the field of biology, I am excited at the opportunity to put my qualifications to use as a research assistant at BioWorks. If given the opportunity to join your research team, you can count on me to perform all duties with focus, integrity, and expert attention to detail. I welcome the chance to discuss this position and explain how I can offer my assistance on upcoming research projects. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Kind regards, Elaine Smith (760) 543-8876 [email protected]

Tips for Writing a Research Assistant Cover Letter

At the end of the day, writing a cover letter can be quite similar across a broad range of professional industries. For a research assistant cover letter in particular, though, there are a few things you need to keep in mind in order to write a professional and compelling cover letter.

Here are the top three tips all applicants should follow in order to write an effective cover letter and land a competitive and top-notch career as a research assistant:

Focus on education. Proper education is an important prerequisite for a variety of jobs and careers, but for research assistants, it’s even more important. Research assistants must have a highly specific skill set, which can not be entirely taught on the job, so education is essential to getting hired.

With more than half of all research assistants holding a bachelor’s degree, and nearly 40 percent holding some type of post-graduate diploma, hiring managers are expecting candidates to be properly educated. Failing to disclose your level of education and expertise could mean not getting your dream job as a research assistant.

Highlight previous research experience. Although research assistants aren’t leading or independently conducting experiments and research projects, they still must be high-skilled in their craft. Since the work can be meticulous and requires very specific skill sets, hiring managers always look for previous professional research experience.

Highlighting previous research experience in your research assistant cover letter will convey your knowledge level and ability to perform well on the job.

Discuss your knowledge of lab equipment. A working and thorough knowledge of state-of-the-art laboratory equipment is one of the most sought-after skills hiring managers look for when interviewing job applicants.

Being well-versed in operating various types of laboratory equipment to ensure accurate results, preparing equipment for experiments, managing laboratory equipment inventories, allocating and maintaining proper equipment, and coordinating repairs and maintenance on laboratory equipment will help you stand out from other applicants.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to land a high-paying and rewarding position as an assistant researcher, a professional and well-written cover letter will help you put your best foot forward, get noticed, and make the hiring process a breeze.

You only get one shot at making a positive and impactful first impression in your research assistant cover letter. Conveying high-level communication, analytical, and job-specific skills — like handling lab equipment, analyzing facts and figures, managing research projects, and collecting data — is essential to getting hired as a research assistant.

Using the template and tips outlined in this article, and structuring your cover letter to emphasize your strengths and career goals, will allow you to make a solid first impression and land your dream job as a research assistant.

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Create Résumés and Cover Letters

Résumés and cover letters provide a critical first impression to potential employers and often are the only information an employer has to assess how qualified you are for a position and why you are interested in the position and company. Employers commonly spend 30 to 60 seconds reviewing each résumé/cover letter before making a decision, so having flawless and well-written materials can increase your chances of being invited to an interview.  

Review our training videos, sample documents and tips below for résumés, cover letters, references, and CV’s and make a career advising appointment to get feedback .  

• Résumé Tips + Samples
• Cover Letter Tips
• Reference Tips
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) Tips
• Sample Undergraduate Résumés
• Sample Master’s Résumés
• Refer to our Resume Writing Guide  and short video tutorial on Writing Résumés to ensure you are following standard résumé writing practices.
• Do not include any false or misleading information on your résumé.
• Check for typos! Many employers will immediately disqualify a candidate who does not proofread. Have a trusted person review for errors.
• Tailor your résumé to the job. Include information about your skills, experiences and education that is relevant to the position.
• Use action verbs to begin your experience descriptions (bullet points). Do not use the phrases, “responsible for” or “duties include.”  Learn more about How to Write an Effective Bullet Point .
• Demonstrate your accomplishments and use numbers when applicable . For example, explain how you improved a process, how much money you saved, or how many students you tutored.  
• Avoid using acronyms , unless they are specifically defined. Do not use highly technical jargon. If possible, have an industry professional critique your résumé.
• Do not include personal information (such as age, gender, marital status), photographs, or references on the résumé. References are provided to employers on a separate document if they are requested.
• Do not include information about high school unless you are a college freshman, if your experiences or accomplishments are highly relevant to the role or if your high school has a strong alumni network.

Your cover letter is an opportunity to show the employer  HOW your skills, experiences, and education make you the perfect candidate for the position, WHY  you are interested in that role and organization and is a SAMPLE of  your written communication abilities

• Review our video tutorial on Writing Effective Cover Letters and our Cover Letter Packet to learn structure and content basics.
• A cover letter should not exceed 1 page (typically 3-4 paragraphs).
• Use the same font and style as your résumé for consistency.
• Do not send the same cover letter for every position . Tailor the content of your letter to the position, otherwise the employer will be able to tell it’s a generic letter.
• Do not simply repeat the information on your résumé in the cover letter. The cover letter should connect your experiences and skills to the needs of the position or organization.  
• Get your cover letter reviewed by an Economics Career Advisor to make sure you are marketing your skills and experiences in a compelling way!
• Review The Right (and Wrong) Way to Ask Someone to be a Reference to learn basic resume etiquette.
• Create your references list , which typically includes 3 individuals who can positively speak about your professional or academic accomplishments – supervisors, colleagues, and professors who know you well are a good starting point.

Curriculum Vitae’s (CV’s) are typically only used in academia or when applying to Master’s or PhD-level graduate programs.  Some companies utilize the term CV interchangeably with a résumé, but they usually are looking for more of a standard résumé format.

• View our guide to writing a CV
• Review the   “Credentials” section on Graduate School website

Next steps: Find Internships or Jobs

Now that you have a flawless résumé and cover letter, time to start finding and applying for opportunities!

4 Research Assistant Cover Letter Examples

4 Research Assistant Cover Letter Examples for your job search inspiration. Copy, edit, and modify with ease.

It is tricky to write about your extensive research experience in a short email. Especially, when you’re writing your research assistant cover letter to compete against several other researchers.

But, you can elaborate a little on your research without worrying about the length of your cover letter. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t go beyond 300 words.

Although your reviewers want to read as little as they must, they do like to read when your research experience seems valuable to them. Elaborate, but be precise and crisp.

To help you write your cover letter, here are some samples to take inspiration from.

Research Assistant Cover Letter Example - IT

Dear Dr. Amelia Stark,

I wish to apply for a research position in One Virtual Network project in order to continue pursuing my research ambition in network virtualization and software-defined networking. I have previously worked in Software Defined Networking and Virtualization of Network function for 10 months. I would like to continue my work in these areas with Technospirit firm.

I have completed my Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with distinction and an award from the state. My award-winning work was around Hadoop MapReduce. I worked on improving the resistance to malicious and arbitrary faults and cloud outages. I have also published several research papers, 2 of which were published in IJNTR and JIT. I have appeared at related conferences to shed light on this area of work as well as my own research.

I’m currently serving Texas University’s Computer department by teaching programming languages, distribution systems, network protocols, and architecture patterns part-time and working at an engineering firm to develop solutions utilizing my knowledge in Software-Defined Network & Network Virtualization.

As a researcher, I have raised funding for new projects in Virtual Networking by proposing solutions to long-existing problems in the area. My previous experience has taught me to conduct timely analysis and thorough research validation throughout the process. I’ll bring to the table my experience of working with Software-Defined Network projects and knowledge of my unpublished in-depth research in the area to help progress research at Technospirit firm.

I’ll follow up in the next week to see if I can provide any further information to proceed with my application. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon for a personal interview.

Thank you for the time to review my resume.

Sincerely, John Beesly

Research Assistant Cover Letter No Experience Example

Dear Patrick,

This is to apply for the position of Research Assistant position you have published on your website. I’m a final year student of M.Sc. from Saint Joseph University, currently carrying out internship research on pre-schoolers' behavior with video games at the Kids Care Centre in California.

My previous internships have been in laboratory settings assisting in medicinal research and maintaining lab safety protocols and setting up experimental apparatus and obtaining required chemicals and drugs for the experiments. In addition, I recorded the readings to analyze the findings and report the errors and interpretations while documenting the entire process. I have also been assigned to assess the cost for the upcoming experiments and make purchase orders accordingly. My best skills are record analysis, documentation, and strict adherence to safety protocols.

I will be graduating in the Fall of 2020 and that is when you will begin the drug testing for Covid19 where my lab etiquette will be a huge plus in handling the contagion. I would very much like to assist the team with data analysis, record-keeping, and documentation work. I will also be able to learn and set up the new experimental infrastructure for the testing of Covid19 drugs.

I look forward to speaking with you and sharing more about how I can contribute. Thanks for taking the time to review my application.

Sincerely, Jim Simons

Research Assistant Cover Letter Example - Pharma

I recently found your job posting inviting applications for the Research Assistant position at Innovative Drug Testing. I recently completed my MBA in clinical research, and I have two years of prior experience with the Finding Research Lab. Naturally, I’m very interested in the job. The job description mentioned that you’re searching for a candidate with at least a Master’s degree, 1-year experience, and professional references. I satisfy all of these requirements, and more importantly, I’m an excellent fit.

I specialize in research for Psychotropic clinical traits and I understand that Innovative Drug Testing conducts similar work on-site. While I understand that the research assistant position does not handle these tasks directly, I hope to advance my career in the company and eventually get involved in this part of the process.

My prior experience, degree, and sheer enthusiasm lead me to believe that I would be an asset to your team. I have a flexible schedule to accommodate work that must be done during odd hours. Other relevant qualities include my attention to detail, precision with documentation, and proficiency in all programs required for the position.

I appreciate the time you have taken to review my application.

Sincerely John Dalton

Research Assistant Cover Letter Example - Oncology

Respected Sir,

I’m a recent graduate from Ohio State University with a B.Sc degree in Biology. I have 18 months of experience researching ovarian cancer cells in mammals. My experience as a Science Coordinator demonstrates my passion for STEM education. I believe my experience will be complementary to the cancer research team at the University Health Network.

I’m familiar with bio-lab safety protocols since I’ve done WHMIS-2 and biosafety courses at my previous employer. I have worked with Western blotting, SDS page, UV-Vis Spectrophotometry for RNA quantification, lentivirus transduction, cell proliferation assays, and counting planting cells. Working in a research environment has helped me develop self-directed learning and critical inquiry skills. I also have developed leadership and communication skills as a research coordinator for a volunteer-based organization, where I trained 60 new volunteers, planned on-campus events hosting 700+ students, and managed a budget of $50,000.

In this role, I communicated professionally and local educators and science faculties to create partnerships for our science outreach projects.

I would be happy to discuss further the value I can bring to University Health Network Cancer Cell in a personal meeting. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Sincerely, Ashley Parker

Research Assistant Cover Letter Example - Psychology

Dear Dr. Andrez,

I have lived doing experiments throughout my school life and concluded it with a college degree of M.Sc. in Neuroscience and environmental studies from Trinity College, Dublin.

My experience as a Research Assistant has been around coral health and gustatory disgust for the past 2 years. As an intern, I was involved in the study of the health of coral, growth, disease identification, and treatment. Observation and maintenance of sanitization and controlled environment for coral growth were of primary focus. I carried out a risk assessment by conducting water quality, nitrogen concentration, oxygen saturation, and salinity tests on coral for various lab research. I followed the safety protocols precisely for all instruments and control of the lab.

Prior to this, I worked as a Research Assistant for Prof. Jackon on his study of ‘Gustatory disgust influencing mental judgment’. I collected and analyzed data of over 50000 samples and put them in readable form by running them over SPSS for analytics. I also recruited participants for this research. The time I spent working on this research helped me develop analysis skills and efficiently run analytics software.

The above research is a valuable addition to pursuing further research work in animal psychology with your laboratory. I see this opportunity as a stepping stone for enrollment in the Ph.D. program in the future. I’m very excited to be considered to work on this project and study animal psychology.

I hope to hear from you soon and learn more about this opportunity and how I can contribute. Please expect my call in the next 5 days to follow-up and set up a meeting with you in this regard.

Thank you for reviewing my application.

Sincerely, Shamsha Lopez

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Cover letter for a faculty position

Criteria for success.

• Demonstrate scientific accomplishments and scholastic achievement.
• Clearly define the vision and impact of your future research program.
• Differentiate yourself from colleagues, e.g. your advisors and other faculty candidates.
• Establish what your niche will be in the department.
• Clearly display excitement and passion.
• Keep the cover letter to 1 to 2 pages . The optional second page may contain a list of publications/presentations or a list of references.

The faculty cover letter, as with cover letters for other positions , is the first part of your application to be read by the Faculty Search Committee. Therefore, the primary purpose of a faculty cover letter is to summarize your application by connecting your Research and Teaching Statements, CV, and references.

Analyze your audience

Knowing what the Faculty Search Committee is looking for will help you tailor your application.

Searches for new hires may focus on specific research areas ( e.g.  nanomaterials, systems engineering, therapeutic science, renewable energy). In this case, you should customize your application to highlight your work in the specified research area.

Alternatively, departments may concentrate solely on the best candidates regardless of pre-selected scientific disciplines, in which case you have more flexibility in how you present yourself.

In addition, academic employment opportunities differ based on whether positions are tenure-tracked or require teaching, and the type of institution (university, medical school, research institute). Research the responsibilities associated with each of these positions, and include only information relevant to the specific position – don’t waste valuable space on irrelevant experiences.

Structure of a Cover Letter

• Critical contact information: name, degree, current position, email, and phone number
• Your professional profile or webpage ( e.g.  LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Academia.edu)
• Date, department, and university name and address .
• Salutation – “Dear [Faculty Search Committee / Department Head],”
• Brief introduction – Display excitement. State specific terms related to the faculty position, department and university. For example, if you are applying to a “cluster” hire that includes faculty across multiple departments, such as Systems and Synthetic Biology , then state this directly. State the position for which you are applying ( i.e. tenure-track appointment, assistant faculty position).
• Strong opening statement – Declare your targeted research areas. Establish the foundation on which you will base your research. Emphasize novel interfaces and applications within your proposed research.
• Scientific achievements – Summarize successes highlighted in your CV that demonstrate the breadth and depth of scientific expertise. Demonstrate your productivity, as well as key scientific or technical strengths, with supporting details.
• Motivation & impact – State areas of expertise and indicate specific aims of your future research program. Clearly describe how these aims align with current research initiatives in the department or university.
• Teaching & mentorship – Highlight your experience in the classroom and as a research mentor, and service in the profession or community.
• Wrap-up – “Additional documents are enclosed. Please feel free to contact me if supplemental information is required.”
• Follow-up & thank you – Be clear that you expect to hear back (e.g. “I look forward to your reply”). Thank the committee for their time and consideration.
• Closure – Maintain professionalism. “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” and “Kindest regards” are appropriate closing phrases. Include your electronic signature.

Advocate for yourself

The faculty cover letter emphasizes your past and present academic career, while promoting your future potential. For many of us, exuding confidence in an open letter of introduction is challenging, but you have to believe in yourself before you can convince others to believe in you.

State your pedigree

In academia, the institutions and departments you have attended and the advisors for whom you have worked do matter. State this information in Scientific Achievements . Inform your audience if you have co-taught classes with distinguished professors in Teaching & Mentorship or emphasize existing collaborations in the Motivation & Impact section.

Quantify your productivity

Academia identifies scientific contributions by the following conventions: number of publications, quality, and impact. In addition to research articles, noteworthy contributions may also include opinion articles, book chapters, or your role as a journal reviewer. Emphasize alternative sources of scientific communication (and funding) such as distinguished merit-based fellowships.

Engineering students are likely to be co-authors of patents; state this information.

Describe your future potential

Beyond reiterating your past accomplishments, you must also show that you are prepared to handle the future challenges of being a Principal Investigator. By far, the most difficult paragraph to write in the faculty cover letter focuses on the Motivation & Impact of your future research program. Clearly articulate the vision of your future research program and describe how your leadership will facilitate an environment of scientific and teaching excellence. Demonstrate expert understanding of your field, and confidently state your qualifications as a leader in research, an educator, and a citizen of the university.

Define your niche

Your application will be one out of hundreds. You must differentiate yourself and your research program from other candidates, as well as previous or current advisor(s). Ask yourself what you will do that is unique compared to any of your past or future colleagues. How will you fit uniquely into the department — what is your niche?

The Motivation & impact section provides an opportunity to concisely define your niche. State specific aims of your proposed research that expand upon the department’s core strengths while simultaneously diversifying the university’s research portfolio ( e.g.  emerging research fields, state-of-the art technologies, novel applications). Carefully consider research centers, core facilities, affiliated institutes or medical centers at the university. In many cases, campus- or state-wide research initiatives may complement your research program.

Finally, take advantage of any experiences you’ve had outside of academia. Have you previously worked in industry or consulted? Would these former and future relationships lead to additional funding for your lab? If so, suggest more unusual avenues of additional funding. It may no longer suffice to focus primarily on traditional grants sponsored by government agencies. Think of creative alternatives and diversify your future financial portfolio. This, in turn, differentiates your research program from colleagues.

Finally, you will more than likely apply to multiple departments and universities. Therefore, modify your niche for every application!

Make important information concise and identifiable

Again, your application is one out of hundreds. Helping the Faculty Search Committee easily identify important information in your cover letter will only improve your chances of moving forward in the hiring process. A faculty cover letter should not exceed 1 page , so you must present your qualifications to the Faculty Search Committee in a concise manner.

Maximize impact of words. Use verbs that illustrate impact (“led,” “developed,” “innovated”) over verbs that make you sound passive (“participated”). Aim for verbs that are more specific to the actual contribution you made.

Minimize redundancy and wordiness. For every sentence, challenge yourself to remove as many words as possible without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Use keywords. Keywords cited by grant-funding agencies, easily recognizable by any faculty member, should be included in relevant sections of your faculty cover letter. Using field-specific vocabulary may demonstrate your understanding of the field and the department’s needs, but be aware that Faculty Search Committees with mixed expertise may require simpler vocabulary and/or explanations accessible to a broader audience.

Maintain abundant white space. In terms of formatting, inclusion of white space is easy on the eye while providing a precise transition from one section to the next.

Devote time!

Crafting your faculty application is a process that will continue indefinitely.

• Devote time to your faculty application, working in consistent increments over the course of weeks not days.
• Take time to brainstorm, reflect, write, edit, critique, and revise accordingly.
• Seek guidance in terms of technical content, emphasis of soft skills, as well as grammatical improvements and aesthetics from colleagues and friends.

Above all else, remember that the faculty application is a creative process. Enjoy it!

This content was adapted from from an article originally created by the  MIT Biological Engineering Communication Lab .

Resources and Annotated Examples

Annotated example 1.

Example Faculty Cover Letter 887 KB

Annotated Example 2

Example Faculty CV 85 KB

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Cover Letter Tips

Some would argue that it’s easier to write a novel than it is to craft an effective cover letter opening. In a cover letter, so much hinges on one paragraph: your intro needs to successfully hook the viewer and compel them to keep reading, market you as a brilliant hire right off the bat, and be original enough to make you stand out. And yet, you only have a few lines to achieve all of this, and you know little about the addressee and what appeals to them.

It’s no wonder that the mere mention of the task tends to paralyze job seekers. But we’re here to help you out of your frozen state. Below are our eight tips for writing a cover letter opening that’ll definitely get you noticed.

1. Avoid generic introductions

Whatever you do, don’t open your cover letter with a line like, “I’m writing to apply for the position of [job title], which I saw advertised on [job board name] on [date]”. It’s dull, it’s uninspiring, and every recruiter has already seen it far too many times. Yes, it’s important to cover key details, like the position you’re interested in and the company name, at the start of your letter, but try do so in a more original way. You could even consider putting these basics in the subject line of your email (if you’re applying digitally) or in a “RE:” header (if you’re sending a hard copy) so you can use your introductory element to get straight to the meaty details that’ll win recruiters over.

2. Let your personality shine through

Naturally, you want to come across as a professional, but don’t open your letter in a manner that’s so excessively formal and dry that you sound robotic. Right from the get-go, you should give hiring managers a sense of who you are—after all, the point is to convince them that you’re a person worth meeting. So, use the first person “I”, inject charisma, showcase your quirks (if appropriate), and generally make it clear that there’s a unique human being behind the words.

3. Express enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is a good predictor of a strong work ethic, so recruiters will be looking for signs of it from sentence one. For this reason, you can’t go wrong if you start your letter by communicating your passion for the field and/or your affection for this company, above all others. Just make sure your declaration of love sounds genuine. You could, for example, include an anecdote (more below) that captures your long-standing devotion to the industry or reference a recent development at the company (like a ground-breaking study they just published) that reaffirms your desire to work for them.

4. Tell a story

Stories tend to make a much bigger impression on people than dry facts do. To make your cover letter opening memorable, start with a short narrative that ties into your love for the subject area or relationship with the brand. For instance, maybe you liked the company’s advertising jingle so much as a child that you once performed it in your school’s talent show. Or perhaps you’re so passionate about sport that you used to fall asleep with a football in your hands when you were young. Or maybe there’s a story worth telling around how you first came across the company as a customer. Whatever the tale, tell it as succinctly and authentically as you can, and it should also help you achieve points 2 and 3 above.

5. Be bold (but first, know your audience)

The best way to make your opening paragraph stand out? Do or say something no one else is doing or saying. Of course, getting a little creative with your opening can be a risky move, so first consider the kind of business you’re dealing with, research the company culture, and take note of the tone of voice used in the job ad. If you’re applying for a job at a startup that’s turning tradition on its head, then there’s room for you to be a bit daring and irreverent, to prove that you, too, can think outside the box. If, however, you’re expressing interest in a position at a large corporate company, like a banking firm, and the job posting uses formal language, then it’s probably safer to go the more conventional route.

6. Lead with an impressive skill or accomplishment

If you possess a relevant ability that few others do or have a major career accomplishment under your belt, then absolutely do open your cover letter with a mention of this fact. Details like these set you apart from other candidates, so you want hiring managers to be aware of them from the outset.

7. Name a mutual contact

One sure way to grab attention in your first paragraph is to mention the name of a common acquaintance, especially if this person recommended that you apply for the role. By associating yourself with someone who’s respected at the company, you automatically improve your chances of getting an interview.

8. Keep it short, sharp, and clean

The job of a cover letter is to sell you and your skills to a prospective employer. So, approach your introduction like an advertiser would approach ad copy—keep it concise, get straight to the point, and try to capture readers in as few words as possible. One tight paragraph will do – after all, the whole letter should be no longer than a page. Also make sure that it’s free of spelling and grammatical errors—typos are the enemy of a successful cover letter opening.

Since 2005,  LiveCareer  has been helping job seekers create resumes and cover letters via its free  resume builder  and  cover letter builder  tools. Also available are collections of free, professionally written  resume templates  and  cover letter templates , all of which are organized by industry and job title.

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Dear Colleague Letter: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies (Hydrogen INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity

May 6, 2024

Dear Colleague:

Fostering the growth of a globally competitive and diverse research workforce and advancing the scientific and innovation skills of U.S. students are strategic objectives of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Supporting the development of a skilled workforce in energy efficiency and renewable energy is a strategic objective of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The NSF and DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) have established a partnership to support internship and training opportunities to meet these strategic objectives with a focus on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. A new generation of skilled workforce is needed to drive research and development of hydrogen production, delivery, infrastructure, storage, fuel cells, and multiple end uses across transportation, industrial, and stationary power applications. For more information on DOE-EERE's priorities for hydrogen energy research, please see the DOE's Hydrogen Program Areas and the U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy Roadmap .

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) describes this unique partnership with DOE EERE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) and is aligned with and conforms with the NSF INTERN opportunity described in the Dear Colleague Letter: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity . This DCL is referred to as the Hydrogen INTERN DCL.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

NSF will consider supplemental funding requests in the broad area of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies that enable PIs (or Co-PIs) to request supplemental support of up to $55,000 and six months for graduate students supported on active NSF grants with the following goals:

• To provide graduate students with the opportunity to augment their research assistantships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) fellowships with research internship activities and training opportunities that will complement their academic research training.
• To allow graduate students to pursue new activities aimed at acquiring professional development experience that will enhance their preparation for multiple career pathways after graduation.
• To encourage the participation of the full spectrum of diverse talent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED

The PI/co-PI of an active NSF award may request supplemental funding for one or more graduate students to gain knowledge, skills, training, and experiences in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and their application areas.

Internship hosts include, but are not limited to:

• Private sector companies, laboratories, or industry research and development groups.
• Start-up businesses such as, but not limited to, those funded through the NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
• Department of Energy Laboratories, other government agencies (all levels), and National Laboratories.
• Museums, science centers, and other informal learning settings that educate the public.
• Policy think-tanks.
• Non-profit organizations.

Prior to submission, PIs are encouraged to discuss possible INTERN supplements with the cognizant NSF Program Director Points of Contact listed in this DCL to ensure the proposed internship and its topic are a good fit for this DCL. It is expected that the graduate student and the PI on the NSF grant will work together to identify experiences that add the most educational value for the graduate student through activities that are not already available at the student's academic institution. Further, it is expected that the internship will be research-focused and will be on-site at the host organization unless a specific exception to this is granted by the cognizant Program Director due to extenuating circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for this opportunity, graduate students must have completed at least one academic year in their graduate program (master's or doctoral) prior to commencement of the proposed INTERN activity and be making satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

Information about requesting supplemental support is contained in the NSF PAPPG ), Chapter VI.E.5. In addition to the PAPPG requirements for supplemental support, the following materials must be included.

• A two-page summary that describes the internship
• A one-page personal statement from the graduate student describing career goals, accomplishments, and how the activity will better prepare the individual to enter the workforce.
• Research summary to include contribution(s) to research discipline
• Institution(s)
• Year of study (1st year, 2nd year, etc.)
• Completed coursework
• Employment and volunteer/outreach history
• Publications (accepted only)
• Other information relevant to the proposed internship
• A letter of collaboration from an authorized official at the host organization that describes the internship opportunity and mentoring the student will experience during the internship. The letter should include a statement confirming that neither the graduate student nor the PI has a financial interest in the organization hosting the internship.
• An endorsement letter from the PI that confirms that the student meets the eligibility requirements specified in this DCL. The letter must describe how the proposed internship activity will contribute to the student's graduate education experience and how it may impact time to degree.
• The NSF recipient and Host Organization must agree in advance as to how intellectual property (IP) rights will be handled. A signed agreement on IP (including publication and patent rights) must be submitted either as a supplementary document or, via email to the cognizant Program Director after submission of the supplementary funding request and prior to the award of the supplemental funding. NSF is responsible neither for the agreement reached nor the IP information exchanged between the NSF recipient and Host Organization.
• A budget and budget justification.

SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AMOUNT

The total amount of funding requested must not exceed $55,000 per student per six-month period. NSF plans to fund up to approximately 10 or more supplements in each fiscal year starting with FY 2024, depending on availability of funds.

ALLOWABLE COSTS UNDER THIS DCL

Funds may be used to support travel, tuition and fees, health insurance, additional stipend, and temporary relocation costs for the graduate student. Additional stipends are not allowed for GRFP fellows "on tenure" (currently receiving a GRFP stipend), but a stipend will be considered for fellows "on reserve" (not currently receiving a GRFP stipend) equal to the monthly rate of the GRFP stipend. Up to $2,500 may be used for the PI or the graduate research fellow's advisor to travel to work with the host organization in co-mentoring the student during the internship. Up to $2,500 may be used for materials and supplies to support the student during the internship. Travel costs must be allocated in the budget request for the graduate student to travel once to Washington DC, to present the outcomes of the INTERN project at the DOE's Annual Merit Review meeting. The recipient is permitted to request indirect costs in accordance with their approved/negotiated indirect cost rate. The total requested budget cannot exceed the limits listed under the "Supplement funding amount" section above. Note: Spousal and dependent travel are not supported.

PERIOD OF SUPPORT

The supplement funding will provide up to six months of support for an internship. Up to two supplemental funding requests may be submitted on a grant per student. This would allow the student up to two internship periods of up to six months each (i.e., a maximum of 12 months per student).

Supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time with a target date of June 15 for Fiscal Year 2024 and April 15 for future Fiscal Years.

SUBMISSION & REVIEW

Requests for supplemental funding must be submitted electronically via Research.gov. A PI or co-PI on an NSF award must contact his/her cognizant program director prior to submission. GRFP INTERN supplement requests are submitted by the GRFP PI, not by the GRFP fellow or the fellow's research advisor. Requests for supplemental funding submitted in response to this DCL will be reviewed internally by NSF Program Officers. All supplements are subject to (a) the availability of funds, and (b) merit review of the supplemental funding request.

• Dr. Prakash Balan, [email protected] - Directorate for Engineering
• Dr. Barbara Ransom, [email protected] - Directorate for Geosciences

SPECIAL AWARD CONDITION

Intellectual Property Rights: Internships under this DCL are considered equivalent to traineeships. The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its traineeship awards. However, trainees should be aware that NSF, another Federal agency, or some private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, trainees should note their obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.

POLICY OR CODE ADDRESSING HARASSMENT

Recipients are required to have a policy or code of conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault. The recipient should work with the Host Organization to ensure that the Host Organization also has a policy or code of conduct that addresses sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault including reporting and complaint procedures and to confirm that such policy both covers and protects INTERN students interacting with the Host Organization. The recipient should also coordinate with the Host Organization to provide orientation to graduate students to cover expectations of behavior to ensure a safe and respectful environment, and to review the recipient and host organization's policy or code of conduct addressing sexual harassment, other forms of harassment, and sexual assault, including reporting and complaint procedures. For additional information, see the NSF policies at https://new.nsf.gov/stopping-harassment .

Susan Marqusee, Assistant Director Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)

Dilma Da Silva, Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)

James L. Moore III, Assistant Director Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EDU)

Susan Margulies, Assistant Director Directorate for Engineering (ENG)

Alexandra Isern, Assistant Director Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)

C. Denise Caldwell, Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)

Alicia Knoedler, Office Head Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)

Kendra Sharp, Office Head Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)

Kaye Husbands Fealing, Assistant Director Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)

Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnership (TIP)

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‘It Feels Like I Am Screaming Into the Void With Each Application’

By Peter Coy

Opinion Writer

When I asked new college graduates last month to tell me about their job searches, I got back a ton of heartache. Unanswered applications. Lowered expectations. For some, a sense that college was a waste of time and money.

John York wrote that he was about to earn a master’s degree in mathematics from New York University. “I have submitted close to 400 applications. I have heard back from less than 40, all rejections,” he wrote. “I essentially cannot get any job, because there are no entry-level positions anywhere at all.” He has a patent, he passed the first-level exam for Chartered Financial Analysts and he’s getting his Series 3 license, another financial credential. Nevertheless, he wrote, “It is just so silent, it feels like I am screaming into the void with each application I am filling out.”

Mauricio Naranjo, who is seeking work as a graphic designer, wrote, “Over the past year, I have submitted more than 400 applications and consistently receive a response that appears to be A.I.-generated, stating that unfortunately, they have moved forward with another candidate who better fits their expectations. This is the exact phrasing every time. Very few respond, as most do not reply at all.”

“Exhausting. Utterly demoralizing,” wrote Beth Donnelly, who is graduating this month with a major in linguistics and minors in German and teaching English as a second language. “I’ve been searching since early August for full-time, part-time or internship positions after I graduate. I’ve started putting my ‘desired salary’ at $35,000 in hope that just one person will think, ‘Oh, I won’t have to pay this person a large wage, so they get a leg up in the hiring process.’”

I got some positive responses, too. Lucinda Warnke, who landed a job in journalism as a general assignment reporter, wrote: “I am optimistic and excited! I feel confident in my career trajectory and my ability to build a stable, satisfying career. The job I got out of school comes with a livable wage and benefits, so I can build savings in the event that I am laid off or have some other financially demanding emergency. I feel like I made a good investment in my education because I went to a school that was affordable and studied subjects that balanced my interests with my professional needs.”

A majority of responses were grim, though. That’s not too surprising, given that half of college graduates are underemployed a year after graduation, meaning that they are working in jobs that don’t require the degrees they earned, as I wrote in my April 29 newsletter.

There’s clearly something wrong when young graduates can’t find jobs at the same time that employers complain of not being able to find qualified workers. As of March, there were still fewer unemployed people than job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April the unemployment rate remained below average at 3.9 percent.

The responses I got aren’t a representative sample of all college graduates. It’s possible that unhappy people were more likely to write in. (I had to leave out some of the angriest and most dejected people because they didn’t want their names to appear.) Separately, my informal impression is that the people who wrote — happy or sad — were more likely to have attended a highly ranked school and to have graduated without student loans than the general student population.

Many students wrote that the jobs they were seeking or secured didn’t draw on what they learned in the classroom. “I will be using the skills I picked up in my data science minor, but nothing from my major (international relations),” Rain Orsi, a 2024 graduate, wrote. “A lot of the educational stuff could’ve been condensed to a 20-page PDF and I probably would be at the same knowledge level,” another student wrote. Jackeline Arcara wrote that if she had it to do over again, “I wouldn’t go to a four-year, fancy-pants school. I would take classes at a local college part-time and see where that takes me.”

Some students said that classroom learning was only part of what made college worthwhile to them. “College gives you four years to grow up — I have the maturity now to handle a full-time job. Before college, not so much,” wrote Caroline Lidz, who got a job in public relations after graduating in December with a degree in media studies and communications and a minor in art history.

Several said internships matter, a lot. “I wish I interned for a company outside of the school instead of being a research/lab assistant,” wrote Roger Vitek, who is graduating in June with a degree in product design and is still job hunting.

Economists have found that what you study in college is at least as important as where you study. As I wrote in my April 29 piece, there’s relatively strong demand for computer science, engineering, mathematics and math-intensive business fields such as finance and accounting.

But as I found out from the people who wrote in, that’s not always the case. Robert Vermeulen, a computer science major, wrote, “Out of the ~155 applications I haven’t had a reference on, I have gotten zero interviews.” Morgan Steckler wrote that he is looking for a software engineering or I.T. administration role paying at least $70,000 a year, but has had no luck so far. He said he’s thinking of bartending while continuing to send out applications. On the positive side, there are people like Warnke, who got a job as a reporter — not exactly a fast-growing profession.

As I read students’ responses, I had to remind myself that this is actually a relatively good year for finding a job. To a lot of members of the class of ’24, it doesn’t feel that way. Julia Brukx, who is graduating with a degree in history and art history, wrote, “I think I hit a new low just this morning when asked to write a cover letter for a retail position.”

Donnelly, the woman who described her job search as demoralizing, wrote: “I was told that if I was involved, active, kind, ready to learn, driven and intelligent, I would end up with a job out of college. This is evidently not true, and few older people seem to understand this.” She added, “I don’t have a backup plan besides working in the service industry.”

Elsewhere: Caps, Not Bans, for Short-Term Rentals

New York City’s Local Law 18, which was passed with the support of the hotel industry, tightens the rules on renting out rooms for less than 30 days. Supporters say renting rooms to tourists raises rents for New Yorkers. But an article published in Harvard Business Review by three scholars — one of whom used to work for Airbnb — calculates that Airbnb caused only about 1 percent of the aggregate increase in rents over the past decade or so. Hosts, guests and the businesses that serve them benefit. To keep certain neighborhoods from being overwhelmed by tourists, the authors recommend caps on how many nights per year a place may be rented out.

Quote of the Day

“The hedonistic conception of man is that of a lightning calculator of pleasures and pains who oscillates like a homogeneous globule of desire of happiness under the impulse of stimuli that shift him about the area, but leave him intact. He has neither antecedent nor consequent.”

— Thorstein Veblen, “Why Is Economics Not an Evolutionary Science?” (1898)

Peter Coy is a writer for the Opinion section of The Times, covering economics and business. Email him at [email protected] . @ petercoy