Science

Biologist CV: example and template

This example is for biologists working at research and diagnostic laboratories, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, research institutes and nature conservation, and for biology and biotechnology graduates looking for their first job.

The employer wants to know which lab techniques you know, which equipment you use, how you analyse results and whether you know quality rules. We show you how to describe this on your CV so that your practical skills are clear.

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Example CV: biologist

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Marta Szymańska

Molecular biologist

Krakow +48 123 456 789 marta.szymanska@example.com ORCID profile with publications

Professional profile

Molecular biologist with 6 years of experience at a biotech company laboratory and a research institute. I carry out DNA and RNA isolation, PCR and qPCR, cell cultures and result analysis in R. I work to good laboratory practice, write procedures and reports, and I am a co-author of 4 publications.

Work experience

Laboratory specialist

03.2021 - present

Biotech company, Krakow

DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, qPCR and electrophoresis, about 200 samples a week.
Cell line cultures and cell-based assays.
Analysing results in R and preparing reports for the project team.
Writing and updating standard operating procedures.
Training new staff in lab techniques and safety rules.

Research project assistant

10.2018 - 02.2021

Research institute, Krakow

Gene expression experiments in a publicly funded project.
Preparing results for publications and conference presentations.
Keeping laboratory records.

Education

Master's degree, biology, molecular biology specialism

2013 - 2018

Jagiellonian University

Skills

DNA and RNA isolation
PCR, qPCR and electrophoresis
Cell cultures
Data analysis in R
Good laboratory practice
Records and procedures

Training

Good laboratory practice training, 2021
Data analysis in R course, 2020
Training for work in a laboratory with a higher biosafety level

Languages

English: C1

Additional information

4 scientific publications, link to ORCID profile

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write a biologist CV

Professional summary

Write which field of biology you work in, for how long and which techniques you know best. Add equipment and data analysis software, because labs look for people who can start work right away. If you have publications, mention them briefly and add a link.

Biotechnology graduate with a placement at a diagnostic laboratory. I know DNA isolation, PCR and electrophoresis and have worked with lab records. I want to work at a research laboratory and grow in molecular biology.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe techniques, the number of samples, projects and your part in them. Show that you know quality and record-keeping rules, because at companies they are the basics. In research work add publications, grants and conferences.

Weaker: Lab work.

Better: DNA and RNA isolation, PCR, qPCR and electrophoresis, about 200 samples a week.

Weaker: Analysing results.

Better: Analysing results in R and preparing reports for the project team.

Weaker: Research.

Better: Gene expression experiments in a publicly funded project.

Skills worth listing

List techniques, equipment, software and quality rules. In your soft skills show accuracy and patience, because one mistake in a procedure can ruin weeks of work.

Professional skills

Molecular biology
Cell cultures
Data analysis
Good laboratory practice
Records
Biosafety

Personal skills

Accuracy
Patience
Independence
Teamwork
Critical thinking

Training and publications

List training in quality rules, biosafety and data analysis. Give publications in a short list or as a link to your research profile, so that they do not take up half a page.

Biologist CV with no experience

Describe your master's thesis, placements and the techniques you learned in the lab. Add a student research club, field trips and student projects.

Write which field you want to work in. Labs are glad to take on graduates who know the basic techniques and are accurate.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A biotech company looks for molecular techniques and quality rules, a diagnostic lab for repeatability and sample handling, and nature conservation for field research and species identification. Move to the top what the job ad is about.

The most common mistakes on a biologist CV

No lab techniques.
A list of publications taking up half a page.
Leaving out quality and record-keeping rules.
No data analysis software.
A general "research" with no project or role.
A CV longer than two pages.

Questions and answers

What should a biologist put on a CV?

The field, lab techniques, equipment, software, the number of samples, projects, quality rules, training and publications.

Should a biologist list publications on a CV?

Yes, but briefly. For a company job the number of publications and a link to your research profile are enough.

Can you find work as a biologist with no experience?

Yes. On your CV show placements, your master's thesis and the lab techniques you know.

Does a biologist need to know programming?

Not always, but R or Python for data analysis is required more and more often.

Create a biologist CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

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