Slide #1
Writing the Successful Science
Resume/CV for the
Biotech/Pharmaceutical Industry
▪ The UCSF Career Center is located in the Medical Sciences Building, Room S-140.
▪ We are open from 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday.
▪ Should you have questions or want to schedule an appointment
with a counselor, please call the administrative assistant at 476-4986.
Slide #2
1. The purpose of a resume/CV (slide 3)
2. How a resume differs from a Curriculum Vitae (slide 3)
3. How and when to write a combination CV/Resume (slide 3)
4. The structure/format of a combination resume/CV (slide 4)
5. The Address (slide 5)
6. The Summary of Qualifications (slide 6)
7. The Experience Sections (slide 7-10)
8. The Education Section (slide 11)
9. The Presentation & Publication Sections (slide 12)
10. Your Document’s Appearance (slide 13)
11. Finally, view our resume/CV sample (slide 14)
12. Resources Available in the Career Center. (slide 15)
Slide #3
A Resume is a marketing tool. It briefly highlights to a potential employer
the relevant experiences and skills in your professional, academic and
personal background that qualifies you as a strong candidate for the
position vacancy in their organization.
There are times when scientists need to craft a combination Resume/CV.
It is longer (2-3 pages) than a 1 page, because it includes detailed
information about your research. Yet like a resume, it still only includes the
information relevant to the position. Also, you have more flexibility in
defining and ordering your headings.
Since You Asked…
How does a Resume differ from a Curriculum Vitae?
CVs are usually a comprehensive listing of your accomplishments, can continue for 8-10 pages, and
are usually for positions in academe. Resumes only include information relevant to a specific position
or field, and are usually limited to 1-2 pages, and are used for positions other than faculty openings
in academe.
Slide #4
The skeleton of the resume/CV is made up of headings that highlight your
relevant training, background and skills in order of importance to the
employer. As a recent graduate, you might begin with the Education section
first, but a more experienced professional could choose Research
Experience first. Headings include:
Address
Summary of Qualifications
Education
Research Experience
Technical Skills
Teaching/Mentorship
Grants
Presentations/Seminar Talks
Professional Affiliations
Publications
Since You Asked….
As a non-US citizen, should my resume/CV state that I can legally work in the US?
It is not required, but in some cases it can prevent you from being selected out early in
the vetting process. Our suggestion is that if you are a not a US citizen and do have
permission to work within the United States, include it under a heading "Additional
Information" at the end of the resume/CV. If you have questions, make a counseling
appointment.
Slide #5
The Address section has your contact information, and includes:
1.
Your full name
2.
Address where you can receive mail, which could be both at home a
university.
3.
Home phone; office or cell if appropriate; fax
4.
Email address.
Ch’en Shu
Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Box 0448
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 111-2222 (H)
(415) 333-4444 (W)
E-mail: shu@mail.edu
Slide #6
A Summary of Qualifications section, is also known as a Profile,
Highlights, Summary or Qualifications section. Like an abstract, it
quickly summarizes the your academic training and professional skills
based on qualifications as stated in the job announcement. Very helpful
if you have a 2-3 page document.
Ch’en Shu
Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Box 0448
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 111-2222 (H)
(415) 333-4444 (W)
E-mail: shu@mail.edu
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Protein biochemist with 13 years of experience in academia and industry. Studied several different proteins and peptides
employing a wide variety of biophysical and biochemical methods.
• Strong publication record in major journals.
• Productive independent researcher with excellent communication & team skills
• Can interact effectively with chemists and structural biologists
• Experience managing research groups/projects.
Slide #7
 By "Experience" we mean professional, academic and volunteer
experiences relevant to the position.
 "Experience" or "Relevant Experience" is a nice catch-all phrase that
allows you to list all related experience together. You can also specify
your headings: "Research Experience“, “Project Management
Experience” or “Consulting Experience” will illuminate your different skill
sets and background to a reader.
 How to decide which heading to use? Read the qualifications section of
the job description, and ask colleagues who are familiar with the
position’s responsibilities. Create a skeleton that uses whichever
headings will highlight the majority of your relevant qualifications for a
specific position under one heading.
Slide #8
What text should you include in each listed experience?
Positions are listed in reverse chronological order (most recent experience
first) and include:
1. Employer/Organization, years of employment.
2. Job Title.
3. Job Description:
1-2 line overview of position and organization.
1-2 bullets describing specific responsibilities.
1 or more accomplishment statements.
Let’s look at the next two slides to see samples….
Slide #9
Ch’en Shu
Dept. of Biochemistry & Biophysics
Box 0448
University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, CA 94143
Phone: (415) 111-2222 (H)
(415) 333-4444 (W)
E-mail: shu@mail.edu
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Protein biochemist with 13 years of experience in academia and industry. Studied several different proteins and
peptides employing a wide variety of biophysical and biochemical methods.
• Strong publication record in major journals.
• Productive independent researcher with excellent communication & team skills
• Can interact effectively with chemists and structural biologists
• Experience managing research groups/projects.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of California at San Francisco, Post Doctoral Fellow
(Jan.1998-Present)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Kofi Annan
Biochemical and Structural Characterization of RNA Modifying Enzymes
RNA Uridine methyltransferase, RumA – Biochemical characterization of a RNA Uridine Methylatransfearse,
RumA was done. This Methyltransferase contains a 4Fe-4S cluster and we are currently studying the role of this
cluster. We have also solved the crystal structure of this protein.
Structural Genomics – Coordinating and managing a mini structural genomics project involving three different
RNA modifying enzymes. We have compiled and cloned 30 different genes encoding three enzymes from three
bacterial species and have purified and crystallized several of these. Structure determination of several of
these enzymes, in apo-form and in complex with RNA, are in progress.
Slide #10
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of California at San Francisco, Post Doctoral Fellow
(Jan.1998-Present)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Kofi Annan
Biochemical and Structural Characterization of RNA Modifying Enzymes
RNA Uridine methyltransferase, RumA – Biochemical characterization of a RNA Uridine Methyltransferase, RumA was
done. This Methyltransferase contains a 4Fe-4S cluster and we are currently studying the role of this cluster. We have
also solved the crystal structure of this protein.
Structural Genomics – Coordinating and managing a mini structural genomics project involving three different RNA
modifying enzymes. We have compiled and cloned 30 different genes encoding three enzymes from three bacterial
species and have purified and crystallized several of these. Structure determination of several of these enzymes, in
apo-form and in complex with RNA, are in progress.
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Scientific Chemicals, Bangalore, India
(Jan. 1994-Aug. 1997)
Founder
• Established and managed a specialty chemicals company. Principal activity included manufacturing amino acid
derivatives and unusual amino acids for peptide syntheses.
• Optimized and scaled up syntheses of several derivatives
• Responsible for growing the company from 1 employee in an academic lab, with start up funding from
government of India, to a 5-employee operation in a commercial space.
• Customers included reputed peptide/amino acid manufacturers in India, U.S. and Europe such as Advanced
Chemtech, Anaspec and Senn Chemicals.
Slide #11
This section includes every degree earned or pursued, listed in reverse
chronological order (most recent first). There are various formats, but we
suggest:
1. The name of the university, and location on the first line
2. The Degree, Field/Major, Year of degree or Expected year
EDUCATION
Indian Institute of Science, Molecular Biophysics Unit, Bangalore, India
Ph.D., Biochemistry, 1986-1992
University of Pune, India
M.S., Biotechnology, 1984-1986
B.S., Biology, 1980-1984
Slide #12
You can list all or a selected portion of your presentations and publications, to
help potential employers understand more about the nature of your research,
the range of your science, your presentation and writing abilities.
PRESENTATIONS
• The Impact of the Characterization of the 23S rRNA m5U1939 Methyltransferase from
Escherichia coli. Panelist, National Association of Biochemists Conference, June 2002.
• Finding A novel dCMP Methylase by Engineering Thymidylate Synthase. Poster
Presenter, Annual AAAS Biochemistry meeting, Sept. 1999.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
1. 2.2 Å crystal structure of RumA, a RNA m5U methyltransferase.
Hume D, Shu C, Annan K. Manuscript in preparation
2. Characterization of the 23S rRNA m5U1939 methyltransferase from Escherichia coli.
Shu C, Mendeleyev I, Annan K. J Biological Chemistry (2000) 277 8835-8840
3. A novel dCMP methylase by engineering thymidylate synthase.
Shu C, Annan K, Mendeleyev I. Biochemistry (1995) 36 15909-17
Slide #13
 Use White Paper or off-white or cream paper. It’s easier to read than
marble, grey or other colors.
 Use Inexpensive Bond Quality Paper (the slightly heavier, watermarked
paper available to office supply stores and the bookstore), if you can, but it’s
not a must.
 Try to Control the Reader's Eye: use bold, bullets, capitalization,
underlining and white space to direct the eye to the most important
information.
 Your Job Title and Organization Should be Listed First. Less
important information (like the dates) should come last, so put it on the right
margin. Not the left!
 Yes, it is impossible to proofread "too much" – so have a friend reread it
for those typing errors!
Slide #14
So, reminding ourselves of the resume format, with Address, Summary,
Education and Experience sections, what could it all look like?
 Look at Ch’en Shu’s final combination CV/resume.
Slide #15
 If you want help writing your CV, or your materials reviewed, we can
help! Schedule an appointment with a career counselor by calling
415.476.4986.
 The UCSF Career Center is located on the Parnassus Campus in the
Medical Sciences Building, Room S-140.
 We are open from 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday.