How to Write a Science Resume (With Template and Example)

Science is a broad field of study that involves the pursuit and advancement of knowledge. The field encompasses a wide range of careers, each of which may offer unique advancement opportunities and a good earnings potential. If you hope to apply for a job in the field of science, you may benefit from learning how to write a compelling resume that outlines your skills, expertise, and qualifications accurately. In this article, we explain what a science resume is, describe how to write one, offer helpful tips for writing one, and provide a template and an example to use as guidance.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions, or organizations mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.

What is a science resume?

A science resume is a document that accompanies a job application and details a person's experience working in a scientific profession. It may also list their skills, educational credentials, certifications, and accomplishments. A resume is typically a requirement for individuals applying for jobs in a broad range of scientific professions, and it allows them to better appeal to employers and encourages them to consider arranging an interview.

Related: A Guide to High-Paid Science Jobs (With Salaries and Duties)

How to write a resume for science jobs

Crafting a detailed resume can help you demonstrate your understanding of the position to employers in the scientific field and share why you're the ideal candidate. Before you begin writing your resume, spend some time researching the role and what it entails. In addition, try to research the company offering the position to learn more about the employer's expectations and preferences. Once you understand the employer's requirements, you can complete the following five steps:

1. Outline your document

Outlining your resume can make it easier to input your information into the document. A resume for a science job typically uses either a chronological or a functional format. A chronological format begins with your relevant work experience and the lengths of your employment. This format can be beneficial if you're progressing in your scientific field and you hope to demonstrate your experience to employers. A functional format begins with your skills and education. This format can be beneficial if you're applying for an entry-level role or you have gaps in your employment history.

Regardless of which format you choose, make sure to separate each section of your resume with a formatted header. At the top of your document, add your contact information and bold your name so employers can verify your identity quickly. You may also want to include a link to a professional profile if it's relevant to the position to which you're applying.

Related: How to Create a Resume Outline in 3 Steps (With Tips)

2. List your work experience

Many employers in the scientific field value individuals who have a background that's directly relevant to the position they're advertising. You can demonstrate that you have the experience they need by highlighting your previous jobs and describing what your duties were. Be sure to list all relevant positions, including any research jobs, internships, paid positions, and volunteer jobs you held.

To be more precise, add the full title of the position you held, along with the month and year of your employment. Use five bullets to describe your duties in your current or most recent position and three for every successive position that you list. You can then use action verbs and numbers to describe your responsibilities. For example, if you previously worked as a biology lab assistant, you might discuss how you supervised 15 lab students and prepared 20 samples during each lab session.

Related: How to Describe Your Work Experience on a Resume (With Example)

3. Provide relevant skills

Including a list of skills offers employers insight into your scientific abilities and knowledge. Consider your most relevant skills and review the job posting to determine if you have any skills that align with the employer's requirements. List at least five of your most relevant skills and try to include both hard and soft skills. Soft skills refer to your ability to work with others, while hard skills include any scientific knowledge and technical abilities you might have that are directly relevant to the position. Some important skills for individuals in a science job might include:

• research skills

• critical thinking

• problem solving

• data analysis

• mathematics

• project management

Related: Top 11 Essential Skills Employers Look For

4. Address your educational background

Education can be especially important in the scientific profession, especially for more advanced or specialized careers. When listing your educational background, include the names of any relevant degrees you earned and the names of the institutions you attended. Including this information allows employers to further verify your qualifications and determine whether you meet the minimum educational standards for the job.

Related: How to List Education on Your Resume (With Examples)

5. Add additional sections

After describing your experience, skills, and education, consider including additional sections to further highlight your qualifications. If you have any valid certifications that relate to the role, include the year you earned each one and the name of the institution that awarded them. Highlighting your certifications can help you distinguish yourself from candidates who might have a similar background to you. You may also want to add any achievements or awards you've earned in your field.

If you're applying for a role that requires research and you have significant research experience, you may also want to include a separate section that lists any academic or scientific publications that have published your research. This can help you further differentiate yourself from your competition. It can also offer employers a more in-depth overview of your expertise and skill set.

Tips for writing a resume for a scientific profession

Here are some tips to help you write a more compelling resume when applying for a job in a scientific field:

• Add a professional summary. A professional summary is a short introduction that explains why you're applying for the position and outlines what you're able to offer employers. You can add this summary after your contact information and use it to encourage hiring managers and recruiters to review your resume in greater detail.

• Tailor your resume. Adapt your resume based on the requirements outlined in the job posting. Using keywords from the job posting may increase your chances of an applicant tracking system (ATS) accepting your resume.

• Include specific details. Being as detailed as possible in your resume can let employers know that you care about attention to detail and you're able to produce high-quality work. Try to replace generic terms with more descriptive words in your work experience section.

Related: A Guide on How to Enhance Your Resume (With 12 Tips)

Resume template for a scientific job

Here's a resume template that you can use when applying for a science job:

[First name] [Last name], [Degree or certification if applicable]
[Phone number] | [E-mail address] | [City], [Province or Territory]

Professional Summary
[Two to three sentences that highlight your years of experience, relevant skills, education or certifications, and achievements as a professional.]

Experience

(For the most recent role, list 5 experience items. For previous roles, list 3.)

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [Province or Territory]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

[Job Title] | [Employment dates]
[Company Name] | [City], [Province or Territory]

• (strong verb) + what you did (more detail) + reason, outcome, or quantified results

• [job duty]

• [job duty]

Skills

[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

[Category]: [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill] | [Skill]

Education

[Degree and Major] | [Name of School or University]

Certifications (optional)
[Certification Name], [Host Organization] - [Year completed or expiration date]

Example resume for a scientific job

You can use the following resume template to prepare your own document:

Annalise Smith
123-456-7890 | annalisesmith@email.com | Vancouver, British Columbia

Professional Summary
Research Scientist with over 10 years of experience in the earth sciences field and an interest in advancing my career and providing quality research to geological laboratories. Skilled in geological maps, databases, geochemical techniques, and advanced research.

Experience
Research Scientist | June 2021–Current
Empensa Laboratories | Vancouver, British Columbia

• Design field experiments involving natural resources and study natural formations

• Identify research methods and help interpret geological data from a variety of sources

• Create and lead geological training exercises

• Collect samples and present research findings to Geologists and other Scientists in the field

• Research the prevalence of earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters in British Columbia

Assistant Research Scientist | May 2015–June 2021
The Natural Science Centre of Calgary | Calgary, Alberta

• Helped write a total of 15 research papers each year detailing the effects of natural disasters

• Prepared 40 research proposals to secure funding for the centre

• Researched scientific and technical developments within the natural sciences field

Research Assistant | May 2012–May 2015
The Natural Science Centre of Calgary | Calgary, Alberta

• Helped plan scientific experiments and recorded data from those experiments

• Attended five progress meetings each month to discuss new findings

• Collected over 500 soil samples and wrote reports to summarize new data

Skills
Research: Data collection | Report writing | Statistical analysis | Lab procedures
Soft skills: Collaboration | Teamwork | Communication | Critical thinking | Organization

Education
Bachelor of Science in environmental science | Eastmount University