Writing

Your CV is one of the most important documents you create and revise as a graduate student or postdoc. CVs are expected for Fellowship applications, when applying for a postdoctoral position, and for academic job searches. We will review features of effective CVs, and then we will work together to improve your CV. Bring your laptop and a printed copy of your CV. You will get feedback from peers and coaches.

I’m an engineering student, do I need a cover letter? Yes, your cover letter introduces you to the hiring committee and connects your skills, knowledge and abilities to their open positions. This session will review tips for writing stand out cover letters, as well as provide ample time to work on your cover letter(s). You will get feedback from your peers. Bring your laptop, drafts of letters, and the job announcements you are applying to. A Career Coach is available to answer your questions. Location: BEAM , 563 Salvatierra Walk, 1st Floor Conference Room

More and more institutions ask for a diversity statement as part of their faculty application package. An effective diversity statement gives a perspective on your past, present, and future aspirations and contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in your career. Experienced career coach Urmila Venkatesh, will help you articulate your commitment to inclusion and diversity in your work as a faculty member: through teaching, mentoring, outreach and research. We will look at examples of successful statements and start drafting your own.

When applying to faculty positions, your research statement must convince a hiring committee that your research is timely, important, feasible and fundable. Dr. Megan Shields Formato, of the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking, will review examples of successful research statements and lead exercises to help you explain your projects in concise, non-specialist language. This document is required at research-focused, and often also at teaching-focused universities. You will learn about what makes an effective statement and have the opportunity to get started on your own.

One of the written elements often requested for a faculty job application is a "teaching statement." What makes an effective teaching statement? You will review examples of statements from successful job seekers. You will begin to identify the points you want to make and the examples you want to use.

Learn about search strategies and key resources to help you identify funding opportunities and view grants awards for a research area.  This session includes a search tool that lets you search multiple funding resources at one time and set up alerts to notify you about new funding opportunities.  Attendees limited to current students, postdocs, faculty, and staff at Stanford University.  Free but advanced registration required.

Learn about search strategies and key resources to help you identify funding opportunities and view grants awards for a research area.  This session includes a search tool that lets you search multiple funding resources at one time and set up alerts to notify you about new funding opportunities.  Attendees limited to current students, postdocs, faculty, and staff at Stanford University.  Free but advanced registration required.

Your relationship with your faculty advisor is an essential part of your graduate school experience. Learn practical skills and discover resources to help you communicate effectively and resolve issues with your faculty advisor.

Helen J. Doyle, PhD, associate vice provost for graduate education, VPGE

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Working on fellowship applications this quarter? Facing a looming NSF or NIH deadline, or just want to get a jump start on future applications? Get a just-in-time overview of general principles and best practices for writing stellar fellowship applications from a Hume Center writing expert.

Zandra L. Jordan, director, Hume Center for Writing and Speaking

Find Zandra on LinkedIn