Free Downloadable Sciences Resume Templates and Expert Writing Tips

9 Sciences Resume Examples

You shouldn’t think of a resume as a document with a rigid structure. There are different ways you can format your resume to suit your needs. The three resume formats are chronological, functional and combination, and they organize your sections to highlight your strengths and minimize your limitations.

Here you’ll find three examples for each resume format to understand which one you should use depending on your years of experience, amount of skills and career situation.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume displays the applicant’s work history in reverse chronological order. Scientists with more than10 years of experience in the field will benefit from this resume which shines a light on their accomplishments through the work history section.

Economists, epidemiologists and other research scientists study and practice their skills. Chronological resumes allow you to showcase your long and consistent career in the following ways:

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  1. Anthropologist: This resume showcases the work history and skills required for an anthropologist, like research, presentation skills, and analytical and investigative skills. With an emphasis on accomplishments in the work history section, employers will know you've been exposed to all the challenges that may come up in your position.
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  2. Biochemist: For a biochemist’s role, you need to showcase your expertise in conducting research and experiments to analyze biochemical substances such as proteins, fats and DNA in the work history section. For example, organizing your work history in reverse-chronological order also shows employers how your career has progressed from research assistant to lab director.
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  3. Geologist: A geologist studies the earth beneath our feet; therefore, you need to have relevant experience collecting, reviewing and implementing research data in field investigations. Your work history section should include more than 10 years of geology experience where you can mention unique accomplishments and the skills you used to accomplish them.

Functional Resume

The functional resume focuses on your skills section and downplays your work history, which is why scientists who are just starting out should opt for it. However, you should know that because this is the least common resume, some applicant tracking systems (ATS) tend to have trouble scanning functional resumes. Try to apply with this format when you know a person will read it first.

Despite its cons, the functional resume is a fantastic option for entry-level research assistants or junior economists, for example. The following resume examples will show you how different sciences roles approach the functional resume:

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  1. Conservationist: A conservationist works toward protecting and improving the natural resources on earth. This applicant highlights three core skills in research, conservation and communication, and within each skill they mention accomplishments that reflect their skill proficiency. An additional bulleted skills section and summary of qualifications provide the employer with more than enough information to disregard the limited work history.
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  2. Economist: This junior economist mentions job-specific skills like statistical modeling, market monitoring and data visualization. They elaborate on their professional experience by categorizing their accomplishments under the three core skills of economic support, research and statistical analysis. In the elaborated skills section, you can mention how you analyzed multiple variables to accurately predict forecasts, created graphs and tables by arranging and analyzing economic data and how you created reports and performance indicators based on the data you analyzed.
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  3. Epidemiologist: This functional resume describes key epidemiologist skills, like a good knowledge of medical and biological processes, strong data analysis and excellent presentation and communication skills. Don't fret about the reduced work history since you'll be able to share your career accomplishments in the expanded skills section.

Combination Resume

A combination resume is a mix of a functional resume and a chronological resume. It combines their best features and provides the option to highlight both your work history and your job skills equally. This format allows you to mention some of your relevant professional experience and complement it with an equally strong skill set.

Career changers, midlevel candidates or scientists applying for a promotion can use the combination resume to prove they can cover all the bases in their desired role. Check out the following examples to see how other science professions go about their combination resume:

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  1. Forensic science technician: You need to display your investigative and lab analysis skills when applying for the role of forensic science technician. Use the detailed work history to mention your career achievements which in turn prove your proficiency on the skills you mention.
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  2. Research analyst: Research analysts need a resume that communicates their experience in collecting and analyzing data to create visual graphs or reports that other scientists and professionals can verify and use. Complement your work history section with multiple skills sections that show your diverse skill set and a compelling professional summary.
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  3. Survey Researcher: As a survey researcher, your resume needs skills like survey design, data verification and statistical analysis. You can include these and other skills in your summary of qualifications and skills section, while you elaborate on your career accomplishments in your work history section.