Academic CV example: Master's/PhD applicant in Biology

Biology · Master's / PhD applicant · APA citations · Modern template

This academic CV example shows how a biology student applying to Master's or PhD programmes can present their profile. It highlights Education, Research experience (lab rotations, undergraduate thesis), technical and statistical Skills, Poster presentations, Awards and scholarships, and a note on references — the sections that matter most when publication output is still limited.

For life sciences at this career stage, conventions favour a chronological education section first, followed by hands-on laboratory research experience. Publications and posters are listed honestly (preprints or conference abstracts labelled as such). The APA citation style is used throughout, and the Modern template gives the CV a clean, reader-friendly layout suitable for both digital and printed submissions.

Illustrative example. Mia Engström is a fictional researcher and the publications below are fabricated for demonstration — any resemblance to a real person or work is coincidental.

Mia Engström, BSc

Biology graduate and Master's/PhD applicant — Molecular & Cell Biology

Department of Biological Sciences, Lakeview University · Uppsala, Sweden

Education

  • BSc in Biology (Honours), Lakeview University, Uppsala, Sweden — 2021–2024. Graduated with First-Class Honours (GPA 3.9/4.0). Thesis: 'Differential expression of stress-response genes in Arabidopsis thaliana under UV-B irradiation.'
  • International Exchange Semester, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Maastricht University, Netherlands — Spring 2023. Coursework in Advanced Cell Biology and Bioinformatics Tools.

Research experience

  • Undergraduate Thesis Researcher, Plant Molecular Biology Lab (Prof. K. Lindqvist), Lakeview University — Sep 2023–Jun 2024. Designed and carried out RT-qPCR experiments to quantify expression of seven stress-related transcription factors in UV-B-stressed Arabidopsis seedlings. Established the lab's standard RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis protocol; analysed data with R (DESeq2, ggplot2).
  • Research Assistant (voluntary), Ecology & Evolution Lab (Dr. P. Söderström), Lakeview University — Jun–Aug 2023. Assisted with field sampling of freshwater macroinvertebrates in three lakes; conducted morphological identification and entered data into a shared PostgreSQL database.
  • Student Internship, Biomedical Research Institute, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm — Jun–Aug 2022. Supported cell-culture maintenance (HEK 293, primary mouse hepatocytes) and Western blot assays under supervision of a postdoctoral researcher. Attended weekly journal clubs.

Publications & posters

  • Engström, M., & Lindqvist, K. (2024, June). UV-B-responsive transcription factors in Arabidopsis: a quantitative gene-expression study [Poster presentation]. Nordic Plant Science Meeting, Gothenburg, Sweden.
  • Söderström, P., Henriksson, J., & Engström, M. (2024). Seasonal shifts in macroinvertebrate community composition across oligotrophic Swedish lakes [Preprint]. bioRxiv. doi:10.0000/bio2024.03.12

Awards & scholarships

  • Lakeview University Dean's List — 2022, 2023, 2024 (top 5% of cohort).
  • SULF Travel Scholarship (Swedish Association of University Teachers and Researchers) — 2024. Awarded to support attendance at the Nordic Plant Science Meeting.
  • Best Undergraduate Thesis Prize, Department of Biological Sciences, Lakeview University — 2024.
  • Erasmus+ Mobility Grant, European Commission — 2023. Funded exchange semester at Maastricht University.

Skills

  • Molecular biology: RNA extraction, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, gel electrophoresis, cell culture (mammalian and plant systems), aseptic technique.
  • Bioinformatics & statistics: R (DESeq2, ggplot2, tidyverse), Python (pandas, biopython, basic scripting), BLAST, MEGA (phylogenetic analysis), ImageJ.
  • Field & ecology methods: freshwater macroinvertebrate sampling, morphological identification using dichotomous keys, GPS data logging.
  • Laboratory management: chemical safety (COSHH-equivalent Swedish regulations), equipment calibration logs, electronic lab notebook (ELN).
  • Languages: Swedish (native), English (fluent — C2), German (intermediate — B1).

Presentations & outreach

  • Oral presentation: 'Gene regulation under light stress in Arabidopsis' — Lakeview University Undergraduate Research Symposium, May 2024.
  • Science communicator, Lakeview University Open Day — 2022, 2023. Delivered guided lab demonstrations for prospective students and the public.
  • Volunteer, Pint of Science festival, Uppsala — 2023. Assisted with event organisation and public engagement activities.

References

  • References available on request.

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