Biologist CV Example & Template
A complete two-page CV for a molecular and cell biologist moving from a postdoc into an industry R&D role in the UK, followed by what lab heads and hiring managers check first. Use the structure, then replace the techniques, samples, outputs and publications with your own, since scientists read for methods and results before anything else.
Last reviewed October 2026
Example Biologist CV
Dr Priya Nair
Molecular and Cell Biologist, cancer biology and assay development
Cambridge, UK
Profile
Cell biologist with a PhD and four years of postdoctoral research on drug resistance in breast cancer models. I design and validate cell-based assays, run CRISPR screens and analyse data in R. I have six publications, supervised four students and worked with a pharma partner on a joint project. Looking for a scientist role in an oncology R&D team that wants robust assays and clear reporting.
Experience
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Oct 2021 – Present
Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge · Cambridge
- Led a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in three breast cancer cell lines and identified 14 candidate genes linked to resistance to a PARP inhibitor.
- Validated six of the 14 hits by western blot, qPCR and clonogenic survival assays, with three biological replicates for each experiment.
- Developed a 384-well viability assay with a Z-prime above 0.7, now used by two other groups in the department.
- Managed a joint project with an industry partner, sending monthly data packs and presenting at four steering meetings.
- Supervised two MSc and two PhD students on a day-to-day basis and trained 12 lab members on flow cytometry.
PhD Researcher
Oct 2017 – Sep 2021
Institute of Cancer Research · London
- Studied how loss of a DNA repair gene alters drug response, using patient-derived organoids and CRISPR editing.
- Wrote a pipeline in R for RNA-seq differential expression and pathway analysis, cutting analysis time from days to a few hours.
- Published four first- or co-author papers and presented a poster at two UK conferences.
- Taught practical classes in cell culture to 30 undergraduates each year as a demonstrator.
Research Assistant
Jul 2016 – Sep 2017
School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading · Reading
- Prepared and imaged tissue sections for a study of cell migration, using confocal microscopy and ImageJ for quantification.
- Maintained cell lines to a strict schedule, testing for mycoplasma monthly with no unreported contamination in 14 months.
- Kept lab inventories and ordered consumables for a group of eight people.
Education
PhD Cancer Biology
2017 – 2021
Institute of Cancer Research, University of London
Thesis on DNA repair and drug resistance in breast cancer
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, First
2013 – 2016
University of Reading
Skills
Mammalian cell culture · CRISPR-Cas9 screening · Assay development and validation · Flow cytometry · Confocal microscopy · qPCR and western blotting · RNA-seq analysis in R · Statistics and experimental design · Project reporting · Student supervision · Good laboratory practice
Publications and funding
- Six peer-reviewed papers, four as first or joint first author; full list available on request
- Awarded a travel grant for an international conference, 2023
Memberships
- Member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
Why this Biologist CV works: what shortlisters check first
Techniques named, and used at depth
Scientists read for methods first. Name the techniques you ran yourself, such as flow cytometry, qPCR or CRISPR editing, and say what question each one answered. A long list of every method you have ever seen is less convincing than six you can discuss for ten minutes in an interview.
Results and your own contribution
State what you found and what part was yours. Numbers help: samples, replicates, cell lines, hits validated, assay quality. On shared projects, say whether you designed, ran or analysed the work. Hiring managers will check your claims against your publications, so keep both consistent.
Data analysis and statistics
Most biology roles now involve analysis, so name the software and the type of analysis: R, Python, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ or Seurat. Mention how you plan experiments, such as replicates and controls. Show that you understand variation, not just how to run a test.
Publications, patents and presentations
In academic CVs list the papers, with your role. In industry, a short line is enough, plus any patents or conference talks. Do not pad with posters from ten years ago. If the work is unpublished, describe it as a manuscript in preparation only if that is true.
Teamwork, supervision and compliance
Employers want people who work to good laboratory practice, keep clear records and can train others. Mention supervision, training sessions, safety roles and any quality systems you used, such as an electronic lab notebook. For industry moves, show projects with external partners or timelines.
Key skills recruiters look for
How to write each section of a Biologist CV
Profile
Name your field, level and most useful techniques in the first line. Add a number or two, such as publications or students supervised, and finish with the role you want. For a move into industry, say what you can offer the company, not what you hope to learn.
Experience
List the lab and institution, then three to five bullets that pair a method with a result. Put the most relevant project first. Keep thesis detail short on a two-page CV and refer the reader to the publications section.
Education
Give the degree, university, years and the topic of your PhD in one line. A first or 2:1 can be shown for the undergraduate degree. If your PhD title is long, shorten it to the subject area so it fits.
Skills
Group methods by type: cell culture, molecular biology, imaging, analysis. Put the ones asked for in the advert first and use the same names. Skip generic items such as 'Microsoft Office' unless the job lists them.
Publications
Show a count and keep the full list for an appendix or a link in the application form. Bold nothing, and mark your role. In industry applications, pick the two or three papers that match the job and explain them in a line each.
More example bullet points
Strong Biologist CVs lead with measurable impact. Here are examples of the kind of bullets that make recruiters stop scrolling:
Designed and executed 3-year longitudinal study on marine invertebrate populations, resulting in 2 peer-reviewed publications in impact-factor 6+ journals
Developed optimised cell culture protocol reducing reagent cost by 22% with no reduction in cell viability across 18 months of experiments
Secured £45K research grant as lead applicant to fund environmental DNA monitoring program for protected wetland sites
Common Biologist CV mistakes
- Listing duties such as 'carried out experiments' instead of the method, the sample and the outcome.
- Giving a long skills list with no sign of which techniques you have used independently.
- Overstating your part in a shared paper, which is easy to check against the author list.
- Sending an academic CV of five or more pages to an industry employer.
- Leaving out analysis and statistics, which many biology roles now expect.
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How to tailor your Biologist CV for each application
Every Biologist job posting is different. The skills they prioritize, the seniority they expect, the setting — all of it shapes what your CV should emphasize. A CV that gets an interview at one employer can miss at another, even for the same job title.
The fastest way to tailor your CV is to paste the job description into NextCV. The AI reads the posting, maps it to your experience, and rewrites your bullets to match what the employer is scanning for. 1 free preview, no signup required — you only pay when you want a clean PDF download. Sign up free for 3 more.
Biologist CV FAQ
What should a biologist CV include?
A short profile, your research or lab experience with methods and results, education, a skills list grouped by technique, and publications or presentations. Add professional memberships such as the Royal Society of Biology. Keep it to two pages for industry.
How long should a biologist CV be?
Two pages for most industry, public sector and early-career posts. An academic application for a fellowship or lectureship can run longer, with a publication list. Match the length to the advert, and put the most relevant experience on page one.
Is Royal Society of Biology membership worth listing?
Yes, if you hold it. The Royal Society of Biology awards MRSB to biology graduates with a few years of experience, and Chartered Biologist (CBiol) is open to members who meet its competencies. Write the grade and the year, and leave it out if you only applied.
How do I move from academia into industry as a biologist?
Cut the CV to two pages, lead with techniques and results, and drop long lists of posters. Show teamwork, timelines and any work with industry partners. Use the words in the job advert, and explain what the company gains from your skills.
What if I have few publications?
Focus on what you did: methods, data handled, assays built and people trained. Say if papers are submitted or in preparation, only when that is accurate. Employers outside academia care less about paper counts than about reliable, well-documented work.