If you want to participate in research, don't underestimate the power of a good research
assistant cover letter. Whether you're seeking to gain some research experience to bolster
your medical school applications, or seeking to get a coveted research assistant position, your
cover letter is one of the key components of your application. So in today's video I'm going
to discuss how to write a research assistant cover letter the right way.
Hi I'm Nadine Evans,
an admissions associate at BeMo Academic Consulting. Make sure that you subscribe now
on whatever social media channel you're watching this from so you don't miss any of our upcoming
videos. If you'd like us to help you get into Medical School click on the link either above
or below this video. As a quick tip check out the timestamps in the description of this video to
navigate to specific sections of the video that you're interested in. So why should you try and
gain research experience in the first place? Well research is certainly one of the ways to build up
your medical school applications and impress the admissions committees. As well most students have
clinical experience and shadowing experience, not all applicants have a research experience.
In addition, it's also your chance to build up professional skills and knowledge in the field of
your interest-base. Admissions committees appreciate applicants with a research background because
these students demonstrate interest in actively shaping medical and scientific progress. Since
the research process is challenging and enriching, these students develop critical thinking skills
and the confidence to challenge the status quo. Research experience is also highly valued by
some of the top medical schools in the world. For example over 90 percent of Ivy League medical
school matriculants have research experience. At Stanford Medical School 99% of matriculants
have research and lab experience. It's also highly valuable if you're looking at applying to MD PhD
programs. You can't really apply to these programs without this experience if you want a good shot at
admission. So to gain research experience start seeking research assistant positions early on
in your educational career. It's so much easier to find research positions while you're still a
student. While you're on campus and taking courses, you're part of the student body, it exposes you
to a lot of opportunities that graduates don't have so try to look for this research experience
as early as you can. Now what to include in your cover letter: firstly, you should we send a cover
letter in addition to your CV as part of your job or volunteer application unless otherwise
expressed by the recruiter. Even if you've had the chance to explain your motivation for applying in
the application form or email, you should still include a separate cover letter. This letter is
an additional opportunity to present yourself as a perfect candidate for the research position.
A perfect research assistant cover letter should include these following items: a clear
and compelling introduction, a summary of your background and experiences starting with the most
recent, a demonstration of past accomplishments using specific examples, articulation of enthusiasm
for the research or towards a particular research project, and your cover letter must compel the
reader to read your CV and other application components if applicable. In general your
cover letter should explain why you are the most suitable candidate for the position. So how can you
write it? First and foremost, when you write a cover letter for a research assistant position, you must
know exactly what the position entails, what the expectations that your potential colleagues have
of the new hire, and how this research position might develop in the future. If you found this
position as a job posting, it would certainly be wise to study the job description closely. It
usually will give you some important information. So start by studying the position summary, the
duties, the responsibilities, the qualifications, and of course the requirements. Next you'll need to
research the institution or department that you're applying to online. Have a look at their programs,
their research profile, and the research interest of their staff. Often you can find important
information about the institution's last research accomplishments and the research projects on their
website. Another way to find out more information about the position, is to contact the institution
or the department. There's usually someone who can answer your questions like an administrative
assistant, a recruiter, or someone directly involved in the research project. They're usually happy to
answer questions that you might have about the job, about the department, or the institution.
Just make sure that you're not asking specific questions that will be covered in the interview
such as how much does the job pay, because this obviously is going to send the impression that
you're only interested in the position for the pay, not because it's something that you
really want to do. Once you've conducted all your research and you're ready to start writing, it's
important to understand how to format your letter appropriately. To start with a research assistant
cover letter should be no longer than one page. Use a classic font such as Times New Roman or Calibri
sized 11 or 12 and make sure that you break your letter into paragraphs. The order of paragraphs
is not exactly set in stone but I want to give you an idea of how to structure your letter. So
you should start with an introduction. Be sure that you address the cover letter to the person or the
persons involved in the research project. Typically you address the head of the research group or the
principal investigator. If this person's name is not listed in the job description, then try
to find this information online or by emailing an inquiry to the institution. A personalised address
is always better than a general address. Next, your primary paragraph. This should be a brief
introduction explaining why you're applying to this research position, some brief background on
who you are in terms of your research interests and your education. Your body paragraphs: these
will be the most important sections of your cover letter. To write these paragraphs, choose the top
three or four responsibilities listed in the job description and provide illustrations of how your
research experience and achievements relate to these criteria. You need to prove that you meet
the top job expectations of the research position. If you can convince your employers that you have
the right experiences and credentials in the areas that matters most, then you have a better
chance of being invited to an interview. Remember it's always better to show instead of just telling.
So instead of simply saying that you have great communication skills, demonstrate this to them
by bringing up an example. In your final section you should explain why this resource position is
of interest to you and why it would be a good addition to the team and the institution. You
may also add how this position will help you grow as a professional. Finally your conclusion: remind
the reader why you're a good fit for this job and restate your interest in the position. Okay so that
will wrap up another one of our videos so please subscribe, like, and leave a comment if you have any
questions that I didn't cover in today's video. Are you struggling to find a research position
or are you wondering how to secure a position without previous research experience? Let me
know in the comment section and I'll get back to you with my recommendations. Lastly, if you'd
like us to help you get into medical school, click on the link either above or below this
video to schedule your free initial consultation. Thanks so much for watching, see you next time!