Research Internship CV Example
For students and early-career researchers applying for research internship positions in academic or industry labs. Highlights your research methodology skills, analytical thinking, and academic accomplishments.
Recommended template: MinimalPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Describe your research experience in detail, including methodology, techniques used, and outcomes achieved.
- Mention specific laboratory equipment, software, or analytical tools you are proficient with.
- Include any publications, poster presentations, or conference participation related to your research.
- Demonstrate your understanding of research ethics and any institutional review board experience.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Research Internship CV
A research internship CV should demonstrate your practical research skills, academic curiosity, and ability to contribute meaningfully to a research team. Supervisors and principal investigators look for candidates who combine strong academic foundations with hands-on laboratory or fieldwork experience. Your CV should highlight specific techniques, methodologies, and software you are proficient with, alongside evidence of your analytical thinking and attention to detail.
CV Structure
Lead with your profile and education, followed by research experience, additional work experience, and skills. Treat each research placement as a detailed work entry with responsibilities and achievements. Include a section for publications, posters, or conference attendance if applicable. If you are an undergraduate, your academic projects can serve as research experience. Keep the CV to one page unless you have extensive research involvement.
CV Format
Use a clean, academic-style template with clear section headings and consistent formatting. Avoid creative designs — academic supervisors expect a focused, content-driven document. Include your institution, degree, and expected graduation date prominently. Save as a PDF for submissions unless specified otherwise.
CV Profile Examples
Biomedical Science Research Intern
Final-year BSc Biomedical Science student at the University of Manchester with hands-on research experience gained through a ten-week summer placement in a molecular biology laboratory. Skilled in PCR, gel electrophoresis, and cell culture techniques with strong data analysis capabilities using R and GraphPad Prism. Co-authored a poster presentation at the British Society for Cell Biology annual conference.
Social Science Research Intern
MSc Social Research Methods student at the University of Bristol with a first-class undergraduate degree in Sociology. Experienced in qualitative and mixed-methods research including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and thematic analysis using NVivo. Completed a research assistantship examining housing policy outcomes in inner-city communities, contributing to a report submitted to a local authority housing strategy review.
Environmental Science Research Intern
Enthusiastic environmental science undergraduate with a passion for field-based ecological research and conservation biology. Completed a six-week research placement with the RSPB, conducting bird population surveys and habitat assessments across three nature reserves. Proficient in GIS mapping software, statistical analysis using R, and ecological survey techniques. Eager to contribute to research addressing biodiversity loss and habitat restoration.
State your current programme, institution, and key research interests in two or three sentences. Mention specific techniques, software, or methodologies you are experienced with. Express your motivation for research and the particular area you wish to explore during the internship.
Key Skills for Your Research Internship CV
Research Design
Planning and structuring research projects with clear aims, hypotheses, and appropriate methodologies.
Data Collection & Analysis
Gathering primary data through experiments, surveys, or fieldwork and analysing results using appropriate statistical methods.
Laboratory Techniques
Performing standard laboratory procedures including PCR, cell culture, microscopy, and sample preparation.
Statistical Software (R, SPSS)
Using statistical software to conduct analyses, produce visualisations, and interpret quantitative research data.
Literature Review
Systematically searching and evaluating published research to identify knowledge gaps and inform experimental design.
Report Writing
Producing clear, structured research reports and academic papers that communicate methods and findings effectively.
Ethical Research Practices
Conducting research in compliance with institutional ethics requirements, informed consent protocols, and data protection regulations.
Presentation Skills
Communicating research findings through oral presentations, poster displays, and group discussions in academic settings.
Laboratory Notebook Keeping
Maintaining thorough, accurate records of experimental methods, observations, and results in laboratory notebooks.
Work Experience Examples
Describe each research placement with the detail of a professional work entry — include the institution, supervisor, project scope, your specific contributions, and any outputs produced. Use action verbs such as investigated, analysed, conducted, and prepared. Quantify where possible — number of experiments run, datasets analysed, or presentations delivered. Even brief placements can be presented impressively with the right detail.
Summer Research Intern
University of Manchester — School of Biological Sciences
Completed a ten-week funded research placement investigating the role of microRNA in breast cancer cell proliferation, supervised by a principal investigator in the molecular oncology group.
Responsibilities
- Performed RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and quantitative PCR to measure microRNA expression levels across cancer cell lines.
- Cultured and maintained human breast cancer cell lines in sterile laboratory conditions, following strict biosafety protocols.
- Analysed experimental data using R and GraphPad Prism, producing figures and statistical comparisons for group presentations.
- Conducted systematic literature searches using PubMed to inform experimental design and contextualise findings.
- Maintained detailed laboratory notebooks, recording methods, observations, and results in compliance with institutional standards.
Achievements
- Co-authored a poster presentation at the British Society for Cell Biology annual conference, presenting findings on microRNA expression patterns.
- Identified a previously unreported correlation between two microRNA species, contributing to a manuscript currently under preparation for journal submission.
Research Volunteer
RSPB — Saltholme Nature Reserve
Volunteered for six weeks as a research assistant supporting annual breeding bird surveys and habitat condition monitoring at a nationally important wetland reserve.
Responsibilities
- Conducted dawn and dusk bird point-count surveys using standardised BTO methodology across four survey transects.
- Recorded and entered survey data into a GIS database, mapping species distribution and abundance patterns.
- Assisted the reserve ecologist with vegetation quadrat surveys to assess habitat condition following management interventions.
- Prepared weekly data summaries for the reserve team, highlighting notable species records and survey coverage.
Achievements
- Survey data contributed to the reserve's annual conservation report, providing evidence for continued management of a key scrape habitat.
- Received an invitation to return as a paid seasonal surveyor based on the quality and reliability of fieldwork contributions.
Education & Qualifications
Include your degree programme, institution, classification or predicted grade, and relevant modules. Highlight your dissertation or final year project with methodology and key findings. List any additional courses, summer schools, or workshops that provided relevant research training.
BSc / MSc (Relevant Subject)
Undergraduate or postgraduate degree providing the academic foundation and subject knowledge for research work.
Laboratory Safety Training
Certified training in laboratory health and safety procedures, chemical handling, or biosafety levels.
GIS Certificate
Geographic Information Systems qualification demonstrating competence in spatial data analysis and mapping.
Research Ethics Certificate
Training in research ethics covering informed consent, data protection, and institutional review board procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find research internship opportunities?
What should I emphasise if I have limited research experience?
Should I include non-research work on my CV?
How important are publications for a research internship application?
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