Narrative CV
The Narrative CV is a flexible CV format that describes a researcher’s contributions and achievements and their contexts, impacts and significance.
On this page
What is a 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
- 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)
How do I get started?
- 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
Tips
- 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
Resources
- Tri-Agency CV instructions (SSHRC)
- NSERC Guidelines on the assessment of contributions to research, training and mentoring
- 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 Calgary – Decelaration on Research Assessment (DORA)
- University of Oxford webinar – How to write a narrative CV for funding applications
- University of Oxford – Developing a narrative CV: guidance for researchers
- University of Glasgow – Narrative CVs
- University of Glasgow – Narrative CVs for funding and job applications
- University of Dundee – Writing a narrative CV
- Luxembourg National Research Fund – Narrative CV Workshop
- Giovanna Lima & Sarah Bowman – Researcher Impact Framework (RIF)
- DORA Building Blocks for Impact
- Letitia Henville – How to write a narrative CV
- Agent majeur – Comment rédiger un CV narratif
- Nature article – Time to rethink the scientific CV