Tailoring Your CV For Research Opportunities

Figuring out your research interests is an exciting process of curiosity and discovery. Think of it as a puzzle, each piece helps you better understand what excites you, what motivates you, and where you might want to contribute as a researcher. You don’t need to have everything figured out yet, but having a general sense of direction will make tailoring your CV and reaching out to supervisors much more effective.

Start With What You Know

One of the best places to begin is by reflecting on what you’ve already learned.

Ask yourself:

• Which subjects or courses have interested me the most?

• What specifically made those courses engaging?

• Were there questions I still had after the course ended?

• What skills did I enjoy developing or using (e.g., lab techniques, data analysis, writing, coding)?

• What types of problems or questions do I find most interesting to explore?

As you reflect, consider the wide range of scientific research areas, including life sciences, health sciences, data science, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Many fields overlap, and it’s completely normal for your interests to sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines.

Look for Inspiration

Beyond what you already know, inspiration can come from seeing what others are working on.

You might:

• Read abstracts or papers in areas you’re curious about to see if you enjoy the types of questions being asked

• Follow scientists, research groups, or science organizations online

• Explore undergraduate research journals or attend research talks and poster sessions

• Browse science news outlets to learn about emerging discoveries and breakthroughs

As you explore, ask yourself whether the research questions excite you and whether you can imagine working on similar problems. Many of the big questions in science, from understanding disease and consciousness to advancing technology or addressing global challenges, are exactly what research labs are trying to answer.

Is There Anything You Already Know You’re Not Interested In?

Identifying what you’re not interested in is just as important as identifying what excites you. Being honest about your preferences early can save you time, prevent frustration, and help you focus on research opportunities that are a better fit.

Ask yourself:

• Are there types of tasks I consistently avoid or dislike?

• Do I prefer hands-on experimental work, or data analysis and theory?

• Do I enjoy coding and statistics, or do I find them draining?

• Do I prefer structured, repetitive tasks, or open-ended problem solving?

For example:

• If you strongly dislike coding, a dry or computational lab may not be the best fit.

• If you enjoy data analysis and modeling, you may find repetitive wet lab protocols less engaging.

• If you value independence and flexibility, highly regimented lab environments may not align with how you work best.

Knowing these preferences allows you to apply more intentionally and to present your interests honestly in your CV and outreach emails, something research supervisors genuinely appreciate.

Consider Impact

Research interest is often connected to impact. Personal experiences, values, or challenges you’ve seen in the world can shape what motivates you to pursue a particular area of research.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of impact do I hope my work could have?

• Who or what could benefit from this research?

• Does this topic connect to something I care about on a personal level?

Thinking about impact can help you narrow your focus and identify research topics that resonate with you beyond academic curiosity.

Why This Matters for Your CV and Cold Emails

Having a clear, even if broad, sense of your research interests will help you:

• Tailor your CV to highlight the most relevant coursework, skills, and experiences

• Target labs that align with your interests and working style

• Write more specific and genuine cold emails

• Avoid applying randomly or feeling discouraged by a lack of responses

Once you’ve identified your general research direction, the next step is tailoring your CV to reflect that focus.

Unlike industry employers, research supervisors care most about:

• Your scientific coursework

• Your research-relevant skills (wet lab, dry lab, computational)

• Your academic performance (if relevant)

• Your motivation and alignment with their research area

• Your ability to work independently and learn quickly

• Your transferable skills such as time management, problem solving, organization, communication, and reliability

Make sure your CV clearly highlights the above in the first half of the page. 

If you have prior research experience (e.g., lab volunteering, Work Study, ROPs, summer research, thesis projects), make this a central part of your CV.

Use Accomplishment Statements

Avoid vague descriptions. Instead, clearly describe what you did, how you did it, and why it mattered. 

Weak:

• “Helped with lab techniques.”

Strong:

• “Prepared and imaged fluorescently stained samples using confocal microscopy to assess protein expression differences.”

• “Analyzed experimental data using Excel and Python to identify trends in calcium imaging recordings.”

• “Performed PCR and gel electrophoresis to genotype mouse samples with 95% accuracy.”

Whenever possible:

• Quantify your work

• Name specific techniques

• Describe outcomes or purpose

Even small contributions matter when they’re clearly described.

If you don’t yet have formal research experience, you are not behind. Many supervisors expect undergraduates to start with little or no lab experience.

Instead, use your HMB course-work strategically and emphasize course-based and skill-based experience, including:

• Laboratory work from BIO130, BIO230, CHM labs, or similar courses

• Statistics and coding from courses such as STA220/288

• Major literature-based assignments or research papers

• Independent projects or group projects

• Technical or analytical skills developed in non-lab courses

Focus on showing that you:

• Understand the research environment

• Have a strong academic foundation

• Are capable of learning new techniques

Supervisors value trainable, motivated students far more than exaggerated experience.

Use your Human Biology coursework and skills strategically depending on the type of lab you are contacting. For example,

If emailing a neuroscience lab, emphasize:

• Neuroscience-related coursework and third-year lab courses

• Projects involving neurobiology, electrophysiology, imaging, or behavior

• Python or MATLAB data analysis skills

If emailing a cell or molecular biology lab, emphasize:

• Relevant coursework (e.g., BIO230, BCH210, HMB265, CHM247, CHM220, third-year lab courses)

• Wet lab techniques such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, microscopy, and tissue work

If emailing a global health, epidemiology, or public health lab, emphasize:

• Statistics coursework (e.g., STA220/288)

• Python or R, data cleaning, and analysis

• Literature review, critical analysis, and data visualization skills

Your CV should change slightly depending on the type of lab you are contacting. Even small adjustments can significantly improve alignment.

For research positions, the most effective CV structure for HMB students is:

1. Name and contact information

2. Skills summary

   • Wet lab, dry lab, data analysis, scientific writing, professionalism

3. Education

   • Include relevant coursework

4. Research experience (if applicable)

5. Academic experience

   • Course projects or lab projects

6. Work or volunteer experience

   • Include only if skills are transferable

7. Certifications

   • WHMIS, lab safety, first aid, etc.