Research Statement Guidelines
ACADEMIC CAREERS IN ENGINEERING AND THE SCIENCES (ACES)
Overview
A common component of the academic job application is the Research Statement (or Statement of Research Interests). Normally, a academic job posting provides a very broad statement regarding what to send in; in terms of research statements: "Please provide a statement explaining your research and teaching interests."
To quote Peter Fiske, in "The Truth about Teaching and Research Statements":
This statement provides a summary of your research accomplishments and current work and discusses the future direction and potential of your work. The statement can discuss specific issues such as funding history and potential, requirements for laboratory equipment and space, and potential research and industrial collaborations. It should be technical, but should remain intelligible to any member of the department. Because it has the potential to be read by people outside of your subdiscipline, the "big picture" is important to keep in mind. The strongest research statements present a readable, compelling, and realistic research agenda that fits well with the needs, facilities, and goals of the department. Research statements can be weakened by overly ambitious proposals, by lack of clear direction, by lack of big-picture focus, or if inadequate attention is given to the needs and facilities of the department or position.
Additional tips gathered from U of M faculty and students:
- Each field and type of school has different expectations for teaching and research statements. Obtain examples of statements from people in your department. You may try to ask a faculty member who conducted a recent search in your department.
- Have someone read your statement and provide feedback before you apply!
- Be sure that your statement is easily scannable. You may want to provide an overview of your research, and then go into more detail later in the document.
- Include an overview of your research, background info to show you are on top of your field, key issues remaining in the field, where you think you'll get funding, and why you are motivated to do it.
- The research statement should convince the search committee not only that you are knowledgeable, but that you are the person to carry out the research.
- Sell yourself and your ideas.
- Include specific plans… I actually went so far to include "work plans" for students.
- If you have something that sets you apart, (e.g. a publication in Science, Nature, or a very prestigious journal in your field) you may want to include it.
- In addition to my research statement my "extra" activities really set me apart. The department which I ended up joining was turned on by my motivation to seek out activities and how well that those activities fit into the department.
- Research statements can also include teaching initiatives, industrial collaborations, etc.
- Be sure to include potential funding partners! Be creative!
- It will be helpful to point out how some faculty at the department/university that you are applying to could be your collaborators in research and/or teaching.
