Application Materials for Careers in Academia 46
Research Statement Template
What is it?
A research statement is usually a single-spaced 1-2 page document that describes your research
trajectory as a scholar, highlighting growth: from where you began to where you envision going in the
next few years. Ultimately, research productivity, focus and future are the most highly scrutinized in
academic faculty appointments, particularly at research-intensive universities. Tailor your research statement to the
institution to which you are applying – if a university has a strong research focus, emphasize publications; if a university
values teaching and research equally, consider ending with a paragraph about how your research complements your
teaching and vice versa.
When is it Used?
A research statement is used when applying for academic faculty positions, and sometimes for research-intensive positions
in think tanks or government. Because the academic job market is increasingly competitive, a common trend for hiring
committees is to ask only for a cover letter and CV. If this is the case, you will need to condense your research statement
to 1-2 paragraphs to include in the cover letter. Visit page 44 to see more tips on condensing the research statement.
Structure One: Varies by Discipline
Introduction The first paragraph should introduce your research topic and interests in the context of your field.
A version of the introduction to your dissertation/thesis abstract could be adapted, but here it should set up a
framework for future research.
Summary Of Dissertation/Thesis This paragraph should give more detailed information about your doctoral
research project. Condensing your abstract could be one strategy for developing this paragraph. Expanding
the dissertation paragraph of the cover letter to address methods and more specific findings/arguments could
be another. Try not to have too much language repetition across documents.
Contribution To Field And Publications Describe the significance of your projects for your field. Detail any
publications initiated from your independent doctoral or postdoctoral research. Additionally, you can include
plans for future publications based on your thesis. Be specific about journals to which you would submit or
university presses that might be interested in the book you would develop from your dissertation (if your field
expects that). If you are writing a two-page research statement, this section would likely be more than one
paragraph and cover your future publication plans in greater detail.
Second Project If you are submitting a cover letter along with your research statement, then the committee
may already have a paragraph describing your second project. In that case, use this space to discuss your
second project in greater depth and the publication plans you envision for this project. Make sure you transition
from your dissertation to your second project smoothly – you want to give a sense of your cohesion as a
scholar, but also to demonstrate your capacity to conceptualize innovative research that goes well beyond your
dissertation project.
Wider Impact Of Research Agenda Describe the broader significance of your work. What ties your research
projects together? What impact do you want to make on your field? If you’re writing a research statement for
a teaching-oriented institution, you still can address some of the above questions, but make sure to connect
them with your teaching.
Research Statement
Template
Helpful Tip
For Humanities and
humanistic Social
Sciences, only
describe one future
project. Pacing is
different for Sciences,
so those in STEM
fields may be able to
include more than
one project.