Application Materials for a Faculty Job Search

The cover letter is a 1-1.5 page letter on MIT letterhead, addressed to the search committee. The academic cover letter has a very specific format which includes the following:

• A brief first paragraph introducing yourself (“your research identity”), identifying the specific position you are applying to, and highlighting why you are interested in the specific position
• One to two paragraphs describing the highlights of your past and future research (these are organized in various ways depending on how you feel it best summarizes your “research identity”), emphasizing outcomes and achievements in the past like grants and high-impact publications. For future research, provide a “high-level” description of the key research goals you propose (which you will describe further in the research statement), and the impact you believe this research will bring to the institution
• One paragraph summarizing, on a “high-level,” your teaching and mentoring experience. For example, you might note the number of courses or semesters you have taught, or mentees you have supported, and the publications they have produced. Describe how you see this commitment to teaching and mentoring aligning with institutional and department priorities
• A brief concluding paragraph summarizing what makes you stand out, and why you are particularly excited to apply.

See a visual breakdown of an academic cover letter provided by MIT’s Nuclear Science & Engineering Comm Lab

In the U.S., the CV is different from the resumé. A resumé is a 1-2 page tailored document for industry roles, while a CV is a comprehensive document that lists your scholarly record. This includes but is not limited to:

• Education
• Research experience (such as your postdoc) with brief descriptions
• Grants, fellowships, and funding you’ve earned and helped earn
• Patents if you have any
• Publications
• Conferences and talks (these can be tailored if you have a lot)
• Relevant industry experience
• Teaching experience
• Mentoring experience
• Leadership and service (ex. serving as judges and reviewers, outreach and community work)
• Skills (often optional but helpful if you bring particular extensive or unusual say, such as programming/computation or language and research skills that not everyone in your field has)
• List of references (names and contact information)

Refer to the PhD & postdoc career document library (see academic dossiers) for example CVs

You can also find additional CVs in CAPD’s career handbook

The research statement summarizes your distinct research identity, your past research accomplishments, and your proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member. Length varies, but the research statement is typically 3-5 pages, not including citations. In the STEM disciplines, you typically 2-3 concrete projects (“research thrusts”) for your group for the first 3-6 years. For humanities and social science disciplines, you often describe how you will accomplish the key project expected of you for tenure (for example, 3 articles or a book).

Research statement structures vary by discipline. For example, some disciplines and departments tend to focus more on past projects and achievements, while others want to know more about your future research vision. Across all disciplines, you should describe the methodology and techniques you will use to help a committee imagine how you conduct research. You might consider asking colleagues who have successfully received first-round interviews to share their research statements in order to identify the standard structure in your field.

To think about your “research identity” and see a diagram of the components of a research statement, refer to this post from the MIT EECS Comm Lab. Note that this research statement diagram is typical for Electrical Engineering and Comp Sci and may not be typical for your discipline.

A teaching statement represents your approaches and philosophy regarding teaching and learning. Include specific examples to illustrate your approaches from your past teaching experience, and propose specific ideas for how you would teach future courses. It is typically 1-2 pages. Include a statement of the broad courses you are qualified to teach, as well as any courses you would like to develop.

See more advice on writing teaching statements on the Teaching + Learning Lab’s website

Typically, you will be asked to list 3-4 references in the application portal. For faculty applications, these are typically your PhD PI, your postdoc PI (if you are a postdoc), and another reference who can describe your accomplishments in the field. While this last reference is typically a faculty member, it can also be someone who can speak to your teaching (if you are applying to a teaching-centric institution) or an industry collaborator who can attest that they would look forward to supporting your research when you become a faculty member.

Make sure to ask reference letter writers earlier rather than later, and be proactive. Do they need a Make sure to ask reference letter writers earlier rather than later, and be proactive. Do they need a quick bullet-pointed list of your key achievements that you would like them to emphasize? Do you want them to know a few particular schools are your top choice?

Make sure to communicate clearly and provide as much information as possible to your reference letter writers. Should you provide a quick bullet-pointed list of your key achievements that you would like them to emphasize? Do you want them to know a few particular schools are your top choice? Make sure to communicate clearly and provide as much information as possible to your reference letter writers.

Refer to this page for information on requesting effective reference letters through Stanford’s Academic Advising Office (this is for undergrads, but the same principles apply here)

Diversity/Community Values/Broader Impact Statement

This a statement typically consists of 1 page and describes your past, present, and future contributions to promoting diversity and equity, building community, or committing to department- and university-level engagement in your professional career. Provide concrete examples of how you have demonstrated this commitment and specific examples of how you would do so at the institution to which you are applying.

Mentoring Statement (separate from teaching statement)

This statement typically consists of 1 page and describes your experience mentoring students. Consider how you have supported mentees in the lab and in the wider scientific community. Provide concrete examples of how you have done this type of mentoring work and how you plan to continue doing so. about how you have supported mentees in the lab as well as the wider scientific community. Provide concrete examples of how you have done this type of mentoring work and concrete examples of how you plan to continue to do so.