How to write a cover letter for postdoc position application - (Sep/18/2011 )

Hi all,

How would you write a cover letter for a post-doc job? I need a template.

I know there are million types of cover letters, but I'm not a native English speaker and my job applications have been turned down many times recently. I thought maybe it is my cover letter that makes people reject me.

I'm looking for jobs in Vancouver, but Ottawa also ok.

Curtis on Sun Sep 18 08:04:54 2011 said:

Hi Curtis...I wonder how you could tailor your letter for post-doc positions in Vancouver ...."if you accept me in your lab, I promise to give my full support and watch every game of the Vancouver Canucks...and never to riot if they lose again in the Stanley Cup finals"

if you fashioned your letter based on the recommendations here: http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/previous_issues/articles/0000/the_commandments_of_cover_letter_creation/#2
then I think it's already pretty good and it's not your cover letter which is the problem...or perhaps you'd want to post a sample of YOUR cover letter here and the members can make some recommendations on how to improve it?

lol...yeah, I will mention Stanley Cup.

Thanks for the link, I have read that before.

Here's my cover letter to someone in UBC:

Dear Professor Sadowski,

I am a post-doc researcher in NUS University, Singapore.
I am looking for new opportunities and therefore, I was wondering if
your team needs any post-doc researcher to assist you in the projects.
I checked your recent papers and found that you study protein
interactions by yeast two-hybrid systems. I also work on protein
interactions although I usually go for co-IP.

Please find attached my CV. I would preferably like to work in UBC
because my family lives in Vancouver. I will be glad to give you more
info about me on request.

Sincerely,
Curtis Craig (PhD)
Post-doc researcher
address:....

Some thoughts:

I am a post-doctoral scientist at _____... working on .... (very brief statement on your field, such as "protein interactions")

I have been following the work of your team on ______... (use one or two sentences to list something specific - not a paper title - but the actual protein interactions or class of proteins).

I find this exciting because _____.... (one or two sentences or more; may mention the next step that could be taken to add to their research. Show that this is something your passionate about, interested in).

I am very interested in becoming a part of your team.... (Follow this with a statement on how your experience would benefit their work; include other facets of your skillset that would be of beneifit to their lab.)

I don't think you need to mention that you want to live in Vancouver -- present yourself as wanting to work in this specific lab because of the work they are doing. Does the PI want to hire someone who wants to live in Vancouver or someone who is excited to work in their lab?

Thanks David

How does this sound?

Dear Dr. X,

I am a post-doctoral scientist at NUS University, Singapore, working on cell death and apoptotic proteins.

I have been following the work of your team on autophagy and its relation with apoptosis. It is very interesting that your are developing high throughput assays to screen libraries for autophagy inhibitors and activators. I have been working on apoptosis since 2003 and honestly, anything related to that interests me. I have been working on Bcl-2 and Bax for years now and recently discovered a protein-protein interaction with viral proteins that I published in Virology Journal.


I am very interested in becoming a part of your team and assist you in your work since I am very familiar with the proteins and mechanisms that you are working on. In case you need a scientist with all the necessary skills for your work I will be glad to give you more info about me, although I have attached my CV to this email too.

Curtis on Wed Sep 21 02:30:41 2011 said:

I agree with what David says. Your first attempt was a bit weird.
Esp. the family part: leave that out.
Alsom: you need to sell yourself and explain why you are the best for the job (esp since its an open solliciation, not directly for a open job/vacancy.

I dont like the part where you write: "It is very interesting that your are..", it sounds weird.
I would rather use something like: I am very intersted in your work on the development of high throughput assays to screens libraries ... And maybe add a little note why you think its important or what you see in it (whats the potential, future use).

If you use the I am , you refer to yourself and state that you are very intersted in it.. the "it is.." is more a general sentence, less personal..

But maybe this depends on your personal point of view. But I think that a lot of professors out there like a more personal point of view.. if you show them that you are really intersted in their work and why. .. it shows you are really up to date with their work and intersted in it...Rather then using a general term like It is intersting ...


But over all: sounds nice, but I would remove the "honestly part.. I would rewrite it.
You could say that you have been working on apoptosis and that you developed a keen interest in it. (or something like that).

Something like: I have been working on apoptosis since 2003 and developed a keen interest in this proces with particular interest/experience on Bcl-2 and Bax which led to a discovery of a protein protein interaction about which I published in virology (title maybe? or see CV or something to refer to the that paper)...

This is why I am very intersted in becoming part of your team and esp. your work on the proteins/mechanisms you are working on.
I feel I have the right skills/interest for this work and I am very eager to do more research on this.


I just find it weird to use a word like honestly in this kind of letters..

I would also change the last part: for your work I will be glad to give you more info about me, although I have attached my CV to this email too.

==> leave the altough, it sounds weird (and it seems like you are telling him that he can check your CV and that he doesnt have to bother you with other questions... , thats how I would read this.. its weird to tell: if you have questions ask them, but really, just check my CV and fuck off... I mean: thats how some people would read/interpret it.

I would rather say something like:
I have attached my CV and in case you have any questions that you have about me/my experience/work/papers and developments I would be glad to answer all your questions in detail



Also make sure that the person you are sending this letter is a Dr. (if he/she is a prof.. make sure to put Prof! Because (sadly enough) some people are very harsh on his if you dont call them prof when they are one).



These are just some personal notes.. maybe others have a completely different point of view...
Its always hard to imagine how the recipient is.

wow Pito...thanks so much. you're very kind

pito on Wed Sep 21 10:37:23 2011 said:

)) I can't stop laughing

I keep getting rejected. do you guys know of any post-doc vacancy in Vancouver area?