Narrative CV

• Narrative CVs can reflect a broader range of relevant skills, experiences and qualitative impacts that might be overlooked in traditional CVs
• Allows researchers to describe their research contributions across a diverse range of career paths and personal circumstances
• Encourages responsible, holistic use of article-based bibliometric measurements of scholarly publications and citations, while discouraging the use of journal impact factors
• Narrative CVs are typically focused on a specific project and are condensed (typically four to six pages) compared to traditional CVs
• The new Tri-agency narrative CV, and the new Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) CV, are maximum 5 pages in English, 6 pages in French and very focused on the research proposed
  • See resource section below to consult Tri-Agency CV and CV FRQ instructions
• Other funding agencies use different names (e.g. "biosketch" is used by the National Institutes of Health in the USA)
• Want to know more? Read about the history and creation of the narrative CV through the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA)

• Consult the Narrative CV workshop (in English) / Consultez l'atelier (en français)

• Read the Narrative CV FAQ (in English) / Consultez la foire aux questions (en français)

• Attend a narrative CV workshop by the Pathways to Impact team

• Allow time: it can take a day or more to get your first draft ready
• Know the audience for your funding application—is it a multidisciplinary committee in addition to peer reviewers?
• Read the reviewer evaluation guidelines to get to know the criteria. Don’t only read the instructions for applicants (though do read those too!)
• Think carefully: which of your research activities are most relevant to the present grant opportunity?
  • A very significant contribution may not be relevant for every application
• Collect evidence of impacts of your activities: every statement that you make in your narrative CV about the impacts and significance of your contributions should be backed up by evidence

Concordia Pathways to Impact Narrative CV support

• Narrative CV workshop
• Recording of Narrative CV webinar (English)
• Narrative CV FAQ (English)
• Atelier sur le CV descriptif
• Foire aux questions sur le CV descriptif (français)

Key external resources to consult

• Researcher Impact Framework (RIF) – Giovanna Lima & Sarah Bowman
• Narrative CV Support: Most Significant Contributions (MSC) Statements – University of Calgary
• Building Blocks for Impact – DORA

Narrative CV instructions from the Tri-Agency & Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ)

• Tri-Agency CV instructions (SSHRC)
• Tri-Agency CV instructions (CIHR)
• CV-FRQ (Fonds de recherche du Québec)
• CV-FRQ (English translation from Bishop’s University)
• Tri-agency CV introductory webinar
• NSERC Tri-Agency CV instructions (coming soon)

Narrative CV support from other Canadian universities

• University of Alberta – Baseline Competencies for Writing a Compelling Narrative CV
• Simon Fraser University Library – Narrative CVs: prioritizing impact and influence
• University of Winnipeg – Guidance for Narrative CVs for Canada Research Chair Applications
• University of Winnipeg – Narrative CV Template

Narrative CV references (international)

• University of Oxford –Developing a narrative CV: guidance for researchers
• University of Glasgow – Narrative CVs
• University of Dundee – Writing a narrative CV
• Luxembourg National Research Fund – Narrative CV Workshop
• Agent majeur – Comment rédiger un CV narratif