Postdoc Cover Letter & Writing Guide

A postdoc cover letter is a document to use when you’re applying for a postdoctoral research position. It’s an academic role where those with PhDs can continue their work, using it to transition from being students to full-time professionals.

A well-written postdoc cover letter should showcase your highly specialized knowledge in the field of interest, along with your motivation and passion for research. In this article, we’ll show you how to achieve that in a concise and information-packed letter to land an interview and, afterward, a postdoc fellowship. 

Let’s dive right in!

Postdoc Cover Letter Format

A postdoc cover letter format should be the same as for a standard cover letter, which is the business letter format. This is an established way of writing letters in professional circles, ensuring an organized and easy-to-follow structure.

Here’s what that format should look like and how you should arrange the parts of your cover letter:

In addition to optimizing the format of your letter, you also need a strong layout to create an enticing visual experience.

Here are some guidelines to help you achieve that:

While following these guidelines is a simple way to get a professional postdoc cover letter, it’s entirely possible that you don’t want to bother formatting your document from scratch. In that case, you can use our cover letter builder to simplify the process and ensure maximum accuracy.

You’ll find a number of expertly made postdoc cover letter templates that you can fully customize. With preset formats and layouts, all you need to do is add your writing and download a finished product.

Postdoc Cover Letter: 7 Fundamental Parts

Let’s learn how to write a postdoc cover letter by examining each of the seven fundamental parts. You’ll discover what each section of your cover letter should have and how you can make it perfect.

#1. Heading

A cover letter heading should showcase contact information and the date of writing.

You should start with your details and include:

Following that, you should specify the location and date of writing the cover letter before listing the recipient’s details, such as:

Let’s see all that in an example:

#2. Greeting

Every postdoc cover letter should start with a polite greeting. You want to address the reader and introduce them to your writing cordially. For the most impact, you want to include the recipient’s name.

This creates a personalized experience, builds rapport with the reader, and maximizes the chances of them focusing on your writing.

Here’s an example:

If you researched the company or institution and didn’t find the name of the recipient, you can include their job title, department, or similar information. Avoid using generic greetings, like “To Whom It May Concern,” as they are too impersonal.

#3. Introduction

The introduction of your postdoc cover letter should be catchy while explaining its purpose. To start your cover letter, you should state why you’re writing it and what position you’re applying for.

After that, you want to highlight a couple of your most notable strengths to outright convince the reader that you’re a strong candidate. This is also the place to include a professional reference if you have one.

Let’s see that in an example:

#4. Summary of Your Research

The central part of your postdoc cover letter should represent the summary of your research. You want to talk about your work and efforts and, through that, emphasize your skills and qualifications.

You can mention relevant information, such as your field of study or dissertation topic. However, keep the details relevant to the position that you’re applying for. You want to make sure you’re emphasizing those abilities that the reader wants in candidates.

Here’s a good example:

#5. Reasons for Applying

When you state the specific reason for applying to the particular institution or company, you demonstrate in-depth knowledge of its organization.

This allows you to get ahead of the competition, as members of the hiring committee often look for more in candidates than just their skills and qualifications. For instance, familiarity with the goals and aspirations of the organization that you want to join indicates that you’ll likely be a good cultural fit.

Let’s see that in an example:

#6. Call to Action

A call to action in the final paragraph of your postdoctoral cover letter draws on human psychology to increase your chances of getting a response. You can use it to mention your CV or emphasize that you’d be happy to discuss your application further over an interview.

Here’s an example:

#7. Conclusion & Sign-Off

A conclusion and sign-off—much like a greeting—should be polite and to the point. You should use any of the cordial closing phrases followed by your name.

Check out the following example:

Here’s a complete example of a chemistry postdoc cover letter:

Postdoc Cover Letter Example

Use this example

With a postdoc cover letter example out of the way, let’s finish this comprehensive guide with a couple of expert tips that will help you take it to the next level:

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to write a compelling postdoc cover letter for Harvard, Caltech, or any other institute or organization. Formats and layouts remain the same, regardless of the position or the institution that you’re applying to.

Moreover, the writing rules don’t change based on the field of study, so a postdoc cover letter in the humanities and social sciences will be rather similar to a physics or biology one. Your goal is to concisely explain what you’re applying for, highlight your strongest qualifications, and emphasize your motivation.

Now, all you need to know is how to write a CV, and you’re ready to apply for a postdoc and get your new role in academia. Best of luck in your future efforts!