The ultimate guide to writing a medical researcher resume
Medical researchers play a vital role in the health of people around the world by helping to study and document new diseases, treatments, and other medical discoveries. To earn a position as a medical researcher, you must not only dedicate your time to gaining education and experience but also to creating an optimized and job-winning resume.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 key steps you need to know to write an effective medical researcher resume. Keep reading to learn how to:
- Pick the right resume format as a medical researcher
- Write a strong medical researcher resume summary
- Select key medical researcher skills to include on your resume
- Describe your work experience with specific and quantifiable detail
- List your educational credentials correctly and accurately
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. Pick the right resume format as a medical researcher
Generally speaking, a role as a medical researcher will require you to opt for a longer-form resume, such as the Curriculum Vitae.
A Curriculum Vitae, or CV, is a multi-page resume that describes each section in great and thorough detail. This format is well suited for medical researchers, as it allows for the inclusion of publications, presentations, and more elements that a standard resume does not typically include.
Along with the classic work experience, education, and skills sections, a CV might also include:
- Publications and Research
- Presentations and Conferences
- Professional Associations
- Awards and Accolades
- Languages
Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.
2. Write a strong medical researcher resume summary
A resume summary is an essential component of any resume that is placed at the beginning of the document. In this summary, the applicant will include as many key details about themselves as possible, including awards and major publications.
To help illustrate how to write a strong resume summary, we have provided a weak example followed by a correction and explanation:
Incorrect medical researcher professional profile example
Medical Researcher that studies disease origins and mutations. Specialized in the containment and analysis of dangerous substances. Published findings in many major peer-reviewed journals.
What's wrong with this example? Any time you write a resume summary, it is crucial to remember that specificity is key. This is your biggest opportunity to hook the attention of employers and compel them to read the rest of your resume or CV – thus, you should use your summary as effectively as possible by including more exact details and information.
Corrected medical researcher professional profile example
Medical Researcher with 6+ years of experience studying infectious diseases, with a concentration on their origins and mutations. Specialized and certified in safe laboratory practices for handling dangerous biological compounds. More than 30 published articles in major peer-reviewed journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine and The American Journal of Medicine.
Why is this better? In this corrected example, the applicant goes into greater detail regarding their specialization and publications. These specific details will go a long way in terms of catching the attention of and impressing employers, as it reveals the applicant is not only highly experienced but also extremely passionate about their work.
3. Select key medical researcher skills to include in your resume
As a medical researcher, completing major studies and clinical trials is no small feat – and it will require you to have a wide range of both technical and interpersonal skills.
Technical skills are learned abilities gained through training and education. They include things such as having a deep knowledge of medical standards and understanding how to use medical equipment.
Interpersonal skills can be both learned and inherent, dealing more with your personality and communication style. This includes abilities such as public speaking or collaboration.
To help you brainstorm ideas for your resume, here are 10 examples of both technical and interpersonal medical researcher skills:
The best medical researcher technical skills to put on your CV
- Conducting Research
- Data Analysis
- Designing Investigative Studies
- Recruiting Support Staff (Other Researchers, Assistants, etc.)
- Writing Grant Proposals for Funding
- Preparing and Analyzing Medical Samples
- Deep Knowledge of Biohazardous Materials
- Medical Safety Standards (Operating Equipment, Handling Biohazards, etc.)
- Developing Treatments
- Managing and Monitoring Clinical Trials
Interpersonal skills for your medical researcher resume
- Critical thinking
- Verbal and written communication
- Collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Determination
- Passion
- Time management
- Multi-tasking
- Leadership
- Negotiation
4. Describe your work experience with specific and quantifiable detail
A work experience section is a crucial element on any effective resume. In this section, you should list your previous jobs, employers, and dates of employment. Once this is complete, you should follow it up with 3 to 5 descriptive bullet points detailing your key responsibilities and accomplishments.
Like with the resume summary, the details you include should be specific and quantifiable whenever possible. By doing so, you provide employers with more exact information that gives a better overall picture of you as an applicant.
Here is an example of a work experience entry from a medical researcher resume
Greenville Regenerative Medicine, Greenville, SC
Medical Researcher
June 2018 to October 2021
- Performed molecular biology research on cells from human bodies with autoimmune disorders.
- Assisted in the discovery of a new treatment for Still’s disease using a complex bioengineered compound.
- Presented research and findings at the annual medical conference held in Washington D.C., earning new funding from 3 attending sponsors.
5. List your educational credentials correctly and accurately
To become a medical researcher, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to begin earning entry-level positions. However, for higher-level academic positions, you will likely need to obtain a master’s degree or Ph.D. first.
As you list your educational credentials, make sure to include:
- The title of your degree
- The name of your school or university
- Your date of graduation
- Notable academic accomplishments
Here is an example of a well-crafted education section on a medical researcher resume
Education
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
M.A. in Clinical Research
- Graduated: 2016, Summa Cum Laude
- Chief Editor of the University Medical Research Journal
University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
B.A. in Biology
- Graduated: 2013, Magna Cum Laude
- Honors Program
![How to Write a Professional Resume Summary? [+Examples]](https://d2xe0iugdha6pz.cloudfront.net/article-small-images/i-Profile.svg)
