Research Statement

A research statement may form a part of an application for college admission, a fellowship program, or a scholarship. It is typically required for an academic position (e.g., a postdoctoral or a faculty position) in a research-intensive institute/university. A research statement highlights the prior research experiences and future plans of the candidate. Importantly, a research statement helps the evaluation committee assess the suitability of the candidate and potential for success in a specific position or program. Furthermore, the presentation of the research statement demonstrates the candidate’s ability to think critically and communicate effectively.

A research statement typically includes information about the following:

• Broad description of the candidate’s research area
• Candidate’s academic research trajectory
• Short-term and long-term research vision and goals
• Resources required to achieve research goals

The evaluation committee may provide instructions on what to include in the research statement. Carefully read these instructions and create an outline of your research statement. Thereafter, expand your outline into descriptive paragraphs. It is important to also write within the word/page limits, if these instructions have been provided. It is also recommended to request your colleagues or faculty mentors to review your research statement. They may provide valuable insights that can help support your application. 

The following are resources on writing a research statement for positions at different career stages, i.e., for post-graduate school or an academic (postdoctoral and faculty) position.

For Post-Graduate School

• Carnegie Mellon University, Global Communication Center, Writing a Research Statement 
• Cornell University, Graduate School, Writing Your Research Statement 
• Purdue Online Writing Lab, Graduate School Applications: Writing a Research Statement 

For an Academic Position

Articles

• Austin, J. (2002). Writing a Research Plan, Sciencemag.org
• Ball, C.E. (2014). Research Statements. Inside Higher Ed.
• Gillmore, J.G. (n.d.). Writing the Research Plan for Your Academic Job Application. American Chemical Society. 
• Taylor, C. (2020). How to Write a Research Statement, WikiHow. 

Websites

• University of Pennsylvania (n.d.). Research Statements for Faculty Job Applications. 

Videos

• Boothroyd, J. (2020). How to Prepare a Compelling Research Statement for R1 Faculty Applications, Stanford University. 
• Hadjiargyrou, M. (2012). How to Write a Research Statement, Stony Brook University. 
• White, A., and zue Loye, H-C. (2015). How to Write your Research Statement, University of South Carolina.