Cover Letters (for Faculty roles)
An academic cover letter can be part of the application package for faculty roles and it frames and introduces the rest of your application documents, such as your CV, research statement, and teaching statement/portfolio to the search committee. Your cover letter can demonstrate how your academic background fits with the description of the position, thus often includes a combination of your teaching, research, and service experiences.
A strong cover letter will be tailored to the institution to which you’re applying to. For the humanities and social sciences it is typically 2–3 pages long, and for STEM fields 1–2 pages, but this may vary depending on your specific discipline. The focus and content of your cover letter will also differ if it is a research vs. a teaching intensive role as well as if it is an R1/R2 institution or a small liberal arts college or community college.
If it is a research intensive cover letter your opening paragraph will be on your research area, dissertation (if applicable), and how your expertise fits the department’s research strengths. This will be followed with one to two paragraphs detailing your dissertation and future research trajectory, publication plans, grants, and collaborations. And another paragraph emphasizing teaching experience and philosophy as it is links to your research. There will also be a brief paragraph that demonstrates collegiality or DEI engagement within a research or mentoring contexts.
If it is a teaching intensive cover letter your opening paragraph will be on teaching philosophy and how it aligns with the institution’s mission or student population. This will be followed by one or two paragraphs detailing examples of teaching methods, curriculum design, and student engagement strategies. While your research interests/experiences will be condensed into a short paragraph showing how it informs your teaching or student involvement (e.g., research with undergraduates). You can dedicate another paragraph on highlighting mentorship, your approach to inclusive pedagogy, advising, and service to campus community.
Contents of an Academic Cover Letter
- Demonstrate scientific accomplishments and scholastic achievement
- Clearly define the vision and impact of your future research program and teaching plans
- Differentiate yourself from colleagues, e.g. your advisors and other faculty candidates
- Establish what your niche will be in the department
How to Write a Cover Letter?
Watch Beyond the Professoriate’s short video on the Academic Cover Letter and start drafting your own cover letter for academic roles by completing the activities found in the Apply for Faculty Jobs workbook (pg. 11-14). You will first have to draft your CV, research statement (if required), teaching statement (if required), diversity statement (if required), prior to writing your cover letter. Follow the format, steps, sample content information, and tips provided by Beyond the Professoriate to draft your own cover letter.
We can also guide you in drafting and editing your academic cover letter. You can make a PhD Specialty Appointment with us on Handshake.
Sample Cover Letters
You can also check out sample cover letters on the Imagine PhD platform. You can explore, connect, build skills, and apply to a number of Job Family Resources including Faculty Job Families Resources found on Imagine PhD’s Resources page.
