Adding Research to a Resume

Working as a research assistant is an extremely valuable experience that gives you skills you can carry with you into other professional settings. Use this two-step process to add those experiences to your resume or CV. First think through what skills you gained by doing research, then create power statements based on those skills that you can add to your job materials. 

Identify the skills you gained through research 

When you’re thinking about the work you performed as a research assistant, think outside your tasks and day-to-day duties, and consider the skillsets you have gained during this experience. It’s always helpful to consider the eight top skills employers are looking for in their employees, known as the NACE Competencies. These skills, things like critical thinking, the ability to communicate clearly, and to work well as part of a team, are essential in almost any job.
It can be helpful to identify the task you are doing in the lab and then connect it to corresponding NACE competencies to help you think through your skillsets. If you had an OSU student job, you may notice in the job posting a section labeled “Transferable Skill Development,” which lists the top skills you gain during the position.  

An example of a position duty:
Processing soil samples (sieving, drying, weighing)  

An example of the skills you might gain through this position duty:
Critical thinking, technology, attention to detail  

Add research skills and experiences to your resume with power statements

Once you know your skills, you can write power statements around each of them. Power statements create compelling resume bullet points, because they clearly convey your skills and their connection to the position you are applying for.

A Power Statement is a strong resume bullet point that communicates your:

• Skill/Action (what you did)
• Context/Task/Methods (where or under what circumstances, and how you did something (methods or technologies you used))
• Results/Impact (how well you did it; what were the measurable outcomes from your work, or why it mattered)  

It combines what you did, how you did it, and the value it created — often using quantifiable or specific results. The great news is that there’s a formula you can use to create these:
Result/Impact/Outcome [+] Task/Project/Responsibility [+] Action Verb

How to Write Your Power Statements

1. Start with a strong action verb (e.g., led, created, developed, analyzed) - a list of action verbs
2. Add what you did – be specific and clear
3. Include how or why – using methods, tools, or a goal
4. End with a result or outcome, especially something measurable

An example of a weak statement:
“Worked on a research project about water quality.”

An example of a Power Statement:
“Collected and tested water 37 samples from 8 local streams using EPA protocols; contributed findings to a report that informed local watershed management practices.”

For more information on Power Statements Visit:  Power Statements 

Presenting your research is another valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge, and can help demonstrate your communication abilities. There are two main ways you can describe this work on your documents: in a “Presentations” section, or in your “Experience” section.
 

Adding research poster presentations to a “Presentations” section (CVs or resumes)  

The “Presentations” section is common in CVs, but it can also be included in an industry resume,especially for positions where “research,” “presentations,” or “technical writing” are key components of the role. To add your poster presentation, consider the following steps:  

1. Add a “Selected Presentations,” “Conference Presentations” or simply “Presentations” section to your CV or resumes. Consider adding other professional presentations to this section if applicable and relevant for the position you are applying for.  
2. Use the following format to display information regarding your poster research presentation.
   [“Name of your presentation”]. [Name of the conference in italics]. [Location]. [Month and Year].  

Consult the example below:  
“Balancing production and fisher attraction on artificial reefs: model analysis (poster),” Spring Poster Symposium, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, May 2025.
 

Adding research poster presentations to an “Experience” Section (CVs or resumes)  

Using the Power Statement formula above, make sure to include where you presented your research, and to approximately how many people.

Undergraduate Research Assistant – Department of Biology, Oregon State University Project: Impacts of Urban Heat on Pollinator Activity
Sept 2024 – May 2025

• Presented research findings at Spring Poster Symposium to approximately 50+ other OSU students

Undergraduate Researcher – College of Health
Project: Access to Mental Health Resources Among First-Generation College Students
Jan 2024 – June 2024

• Recorded 5 minute research findings talk to Fall Virtual Symposium, amassing 100+ views and answering 15+ questions over Canvas message board