PhD CV Example
Updated 22 June 2026
A PhD CV is not one document, it's two. An academic CV for postdoc and faculty roles runs 2-4 pages and leads with publications, teaching, and grants. An industry CV compresses the entire doctorate into a short paragraph under Education and leads with transferable skills. Sending the wrong version is the classic fatal mistake. This guide shows you how to write both.
Phd CV examples
PhD Candidate (Industry-Focused)
entryCompresses research into transferable skills and leads with impact metrics that industry recruiters understand.
Postdoctoral Researcher (Academic)
midFull academic format with dedicated sections for publications, teaching, and grants that hiring committees expect to see.
Senior Lecturer / Research Fellow (Academic)
seniorDemonstrates research leadership, substantial publication record, grant capture, and teaching portfolio expected for permanent academic positions.
How to write a phd CV
Decide which CV you're writing
Before you touch the keyboard, answer one question: academic or industry? The structure, length, and emphasis are completely different.
Academic CV (2-4 pages): Research Interests, Education, Publications (subdivided by type: peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, under review, in preparation), Conferences/Presentations, Teaching Experience, Grants & Funding, Awards, Professional Memberships, Referees (three academic referees, listed by relevance). Order these sections by what matters most for the post you're targeting, a teaching-focused lectureship puts Teaching Experience high; a research fellowship leads with Publications and Grants.
Industry CV (1-2 pages, default is one page in 2026): Personal statement, Skills, Experience, Education (with PhD compressed into one paragraph), optional Awards if directly relevant. Cut the publication list entirely or reduce it to a single "Selected publications" line. Industry recruiters care about the skills your PhD built, not the thesis topic.
| Section | Academic CV | Industry CV |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 2-4 pages | 1-2 pages (default: 1) |
| Publications | Full list, subdivided by type, reverse-chronological, with DOIs | Single line or omit entirely |
| PhD detail | Thesis title, supervisor, aims, methods, results in Education section | One paragraph: discipline, what it achieved, transferable skills |
| Personal statement | Research interests and academic goals | Two sentences framing PhD as asset for this specific role |
| Referees | Three named academics with contact details | Omit ("available on request") |
Personal statement
For academic CVs, open with Research Interests: a short paragraph naming your research area, methods, and the questions you're pursuing. Tailor this to the post, if applying for a lectureship in environmental chemistry, mirror the department's research themes.
For industry CVs, write a two-sentence summary that frames the PhD as an asset, not a liability. Signal why the doctorate strengthens your candidacy for this specific role rather than over-qualifying you. Lead with the sector keywords and the value you bring. Avoid generic "committed, detail-oriented researcher" lines.
Experience and achievements
Academic CVs list research posts, teaching roles, and supervision separately. Industry CVs merge everything into one Experience section and translate academic phrasing into business language.
For industry, quantify research the way recruiters expect: action-problem-result with numbers. "Conducted research on enzyme kinetics" becomes "Executed and managed complex projects analysing biochemical data from 50,000+ samples, identifying three viable candidates and shortening Phase I research by six months." Strip the jargon and mirror the target sector's vocabulary.
Pre-empt the two main industry hesitations about PhDs, "can they collaborate?" and "can they ship fast, not chase perfection?", with concrete bullets showing teamwork (cross-lab collaborations, co-authored work, supervising students) and deadline-driven delivery (grant submissions, conference deadlines, teaching loads run alongside research).
Publications and conferences
Academic CVs carry a dedicated Publications section, subdivided by type: peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, conference proceedings, under review, in preparation. Format in a consistent academic citation style, reverse-chronological within each subsection. Bold your own name in every author list and include the DOI for published items. Listing "in preparation" work is acceptable and shows an active pipeline.
For industry CVs, cut the publication list or reduce it to one line: "Published four peer-reviewed articles in leading journals; full list available at orcid.org/...". Most hiring managers don't care about the topic, they care about the skills.
Conferences and presentations get their own section on an academic CV (name the event, location, year, and whether you gave an oral or poster presentation). On an industry CV, compress this into a single bullet if it's relevant: "Presented findings at three international conferences to audiences of 200+ researchers."
Education and thesis detail
State your PhD status explicitly: in progress (with expected completion date), thesis submitted, viva pending, or awarded/conferred. Recruiters and supervisors need to know exactly where you are.
On an academic CV, put the thesis title and supervisor directly inside the PhD entry, alongside aims, methodology, and key results stated concisely. The thesis is a credential, not a footnote. Example:
PhD in Environmental Chemistry, University of York (2019-2023) Thesis: Occurrence, fate and ecological risk of pharmaceutical residues in UK river systems. Supervisor: Professor A. Thompson. Investigated the distribution and environmental impact of 25 pharmaceutical compounds across six river catchments using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. Developed risk assessment framework adopted by the Environment Agency for prioritising contaminants of emerging concern.
On an industry CV, compress the entire PhD into a short paragraph: name the discipline, one line on what the research achieved, and the transferable skills it built. Don't reproduce the thesis abstract.
Skills
Academic CVs often omit a separate Skills section because the research and teaching entries demonstrate competencies. If you include one, list technical methods, software, and languages.
Industry CVs need a dedicated Skills section with 8-12 items mixing hard skills (Python, R, project management, statistical analysis) and named soft skills (stakeholder communication, cross-functional collaboration). Mirror the job advert's keywords.
Grants, awards, and professional activity
List grants and funding with the awarding body, your role (PI, Co-PI, Co-I), amount, and project period. Even a single line like "AHRC-funded studentship (2016-2019)" signals you were competitively selected. Keep a separate Awards/Honours section for prizes and scholarships; these carry weight in academia.
Professional memberships, peer review activity, and external examining belong in an "Other" or "Professional Activities" section on an academic CV. On an industry CV, drop these unless directly relevant.
Referees
Academic CVs list three referees by name with full contact details (title, institution, email, phone). Order them by relevance to the post, not alphabetically. Industry CVs say "Referees available on request" or omit the line entirely.
Personal statement examples
PhD researcher in computational biology with four years' experience managing complex datasets and translating technical findings for non-specialist audiences. Proven ability to deliver results under tight deadlines while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
Highly motivated and detail-oriented researcher with a passion for science. Committed to excellence and eager to apply my skills in a challenging new role. Strong work ethic and excellent communication skills.
Writing your experience
Write achievement bullets that show impact
Academics rarely quantify because publications are the currency, but a PhD industry CV needs metrics on scale, scope, and impact in every bullet. Use the action-problem-result pattern with numbers.
Before (academic phrasing): Conducted research on enzyme kinetics and published findings in peer-reviewed journals.
After (industry phrasing): Sequenced 25 proteins to identify a viable candidate for an HIV treatment, shortening Phase I research by six months and publishing results in two high-impact journals.
Before: Responsible for teaching undergraduate students.
After: Delivered 120 hours of undergraduate teaching in analytical chemistry, supervising 15 lab sessions per semester and achieving student satisfaction scores of 4.6/5.
Before: Collaborated with other researchers on a multi-site project.
After: Coordinated data collection across five research sites, managing a team of eight researchers and delivering results two months ahead of schedule to secure continued funding of £120,000.
Translate academic language into business language
Industry recruiters don't recognise academic jargon. Strip it out and mirror the target sector's vocabulary.
| Academic phrasing | Industry phrasing |
|---|---|
| Conducted research on enzyme kinetics | Executed and managed complex projects analysing biochemical data |
| Published in peer-reviewed journals | Produced high-quality written reports and presentations for diverse audiences |
| Presented findings at conferences | Communicated technical results to stakeholders and senior decision-makers |
| Supervised master's students | Managed and mentored junior team members through project delivery |
| Secured competitive funding | Wrote successful proposals to secure £120,000 in project funding |
Pre-empt industry concerns about PhDs
Recruiters worry about two things: "Can they collaborate?" and "Can they ship fast, not chase perfection?" Address both with concrete evidence.
Collaboration bullets:
- Co-authored four publications with researchers from three institutions, coordinating data sharing and manuscript revisions across time zones.
- Supervised two master's students through their dissertation projects, both of whom published their work and progressed to PhD study.
- Partnered with clinical teams at two NHS trusts to design patient-facing materials, incorporating feedback from 30+ stakeholders.
Deadline-driven delivery bullets:
- Delivered quarterly progress reports to funding body on time across four years, maintaining 100% compliance with grant conditions.
- Submitted conference abstracts to six international meetings, meeting tight deadlines and securing acceptance for four oral presentations.
- Managed teaching load of 120 hours per year alongside research, delivering all lectures and assessments on schedule with no missed deadlines.
Action verbs for PhD CVs
Academic: Investigated, analysed, evaluated, synthesised, validated, characterised, elucidated, demonstrated, published, presented, supervised, taught, examined.
Industry: Executed, managed, delivered, coordinated, built, designed, optimised, reduced, improved, secured, led, partnered, translated, communicated.
Key skills & ATS keywords
Hard skills
Soft skills
ATS keywords
Education & certifications
How to present your PhD
State your status explicitly. "PhD candidate" with an expected completion date reads very differently from "PhD (awarded 2025)". Use one of these:
- PhD in [discipline], [University] (in progress, expected completion [month/year])
- PhD in [discipline], [University] (thesis submitted [month/year], viva pending)
- PhD in [discipline], [University] (awarded [year])
On an academic CV, include the thesis title, supervisor, aims, methodology, and key results directly in the education entry. The thesis is a credential, name it rather than hiding it in a separate research paragraph.
On an industry CV, compress the PhD into one paragraph: discipline, one line on what the research achieved, and the transferable skills it built. Most hiring managers don't care about the topic, they care about the skills. Example:
PhD in Computational Biology, University of Manchester (2022-2026) Thesis: Machine learning approaches to predict antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. Developed a predictive model with 92% accuracy, validated across three hospital datasets. Executed and managed a four-year research programme involving data collection, statistical modelling, and cross-disciplinary collaboration with clinical partners. Built expertise in project planning, data analysis, and communicating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Applying FOR a PhD (not as a holder)
If you're applying for a PhD place, tailor the Research Interests or personal profile to the specific project and supervisor, lifting keywords from the project advert. A CV for a PhD application leans on your undergrad or master's dissertation, research methods, and any lab or fieldwork experience. Supervisors are betting on research potential, not a track record you don't have yet.
Dissertation detail belongs front and centre: name your master's or undergrad dissertation, its research question, methods, and outcome. List relevant modules with marks. This is the closest evidence of research aptitude a supervisor can assess before you've published anything. Example:
MSc in Bioinformatics, University of Edinburgh (2020-2021) Distinction. Dissertation: Comparative genomic analysis of drug-resistant tuberculosis strains (Mark: 78%). Used phylogenetic methods to identify genetic markers associated with resistance, analysing whole-genome sequencing data from 150 clinical isolates. Relevant modules: Advanced Statistics (82%), Research Methods in Genomics (76%), Computational Biology (80%).
Certifications and professional development
Most PhD-level roles don't require certifications, but some disciplines do. List these in an Achievements or Professional Development section:
- Chartered status (e.g. Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist)
- Professional body membership (e.g. Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry)
- Specialist training (e.g. Good Clinical Practice, Advanced Research Methods courses)
For industry CVs, include certifications that translate directly to the target role (e.g. project management qualifications, data science bootcamps, coding certifications). Drop academic-only credentials unless the job advert asks for them.
Common mistakes to avoid
Sending an academic CV to an industry recruiter (or vice versa). The academic version is too long and research-heavy for industry; the industry version looks thin and skills-light for academic posts.
Decide which document you're writing before you start. Academic CV: 2-4 pages, full publication list, teaching and grants sections, three named referees. Industry CV: 1-2 pages (default one page), PhD compressed into Education, no publication list, skills-led.
Reproducing the thesis abstract in the Education section. Industry recruiters don't care about the research topic in detail; academic hiring committees want the thesis named but not summarised at length.
Academic CV: Thesis title, supervisor, one-sentence aim, one-sentence method, one-sentence result. Industry CV: One paragraph naming the discipline, what the research achieved, and the transferable skills it built.
Listing duties instead of impact. "Responsible for teaching undergraduate students" or "Conducted research on X" tells the reader nothing about what you achieved.
Use action-problem-result with numbers. "Delivered 120 hours of undergraduate teaching, achieving student satisfaction scores of 4.6/5" or "Analysed genomic datasets of 50,000+ samples, identifying three novel biomarkers that reduced diagnostic error rates by 18%."
Leaving PhD status ambiguous. "PhD candidate" without a completion date makes recruiters wonder if you're finishing this year or in three years.
State your status explicitly: in progress (with expected completion month/year), thesis submitted, viva pending, or awarded/conferred. Be precise.
Using academic jargon on an industry CV. "Conducted research on enzyme kinetics" or "Published in peer-reviewed journals" doesn't translate to business value.
Translate into business language. "Executed and managed complex projects analysing biochemical data" or "Produced high-quality written reports and presentations for diverse audiences." Strip the jargon and mirror the target sector's vocabulary.
Omitting evidence of collaboration and deadline-driven delivery. Industry recruiters worry PhDs can't work in teams or ship fast.
Pre-empt both concerns with concrete bullets: co-authored work, cross-lab collaborations, supervising students (collaboration); grant submissions, conference deadlines, teaching loads run alongside research (deadline-driven delivery).
Junior vs senior: what changes
| Aspect | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| Personal statement / Research Interests | PhD candidate or recent graduate: leads with thesis topic, methods, and research potential. Frames PhD as foundation for next step. | Postdoc or senior researcher: leads with established research programme, funding secured, and leadership. Frames track record and future research agenda. |
| Publications | 0-4 publications, often co-authored or from thesis chapters. May include "in preparation" or "under review" to show pipeline. | 10+ publications, mix of first-author and senior-author papers. Includes high-impact journals, book chapters, and evidence of sustained output. |
| Teaching and supervision | Demonstrating, tutoring, or guest lectures. May have supervised undergrad projects or assisted with master's students. | Module leadership, curriculum development, and independent PhD supervision. Evidence of teaching awards or consistently high student feedback. |
| Grants and funding | PhD studentship or small travel/conference grants (under £10,000). May list "eligible to apply for fellowships." | Principal Investigator on research grants (£100,000+), fellowships, or Co-I on large programmes. Track record of successful applications and budget management. |
| Professional activity | Conference attendance, poster presentations, student society membership. Limited peer review or committee work. | Invited talks, conference organising, editorial boards, peer review college membership, external examining. Evidence of leadership in the research community. |
| Industry CV length and focus | One page. Leads with transferable skills from PhD (data analysis, project management, communication). Education section is prominent. | One to two pages. Leads with leadership, scale, and commercial impact. PhD is one line; postdoc and industry roles carry the detail. |