A research CV shows where you worked. A useful recommender packet shows what you did, what you learned, and which parts of the record the writer directly supervised.
Lead with the official instructions
Include the opportunity number, deadline, review criteria, required identifiers, referee eligibility rules, and submission route. For a fellowship, verify whether the sponsor may also serve as a reference and whether the letter must be submitted separately.
Map contribution accurately
- Research question and project context
- Applicant-owned tasks and decisions
- Methods learned or improved
- Obstacles, failed approaches, and response
- Outputs such as posters, code, abstracts, or manuscripts
- Training goals and next research step
Separate record from observation
A CV, statement, and publication list provide context. Label them as applicant-supplied. The writer should decide which contributions they can verify and how those observations support the final assessment.
Put the official requirements first, then make the applicant’s independent contribution and research development easy to verify.
Keep the research positions requirements in view.
For NIH programs, a reference letter evaluates the candidate and is submitted directly by an eligible referee; a letter of support documents institutional or collaborator commitment and follows a different process. Funding opportunities can specify exact numbers, eligibility, identifiers, deadlines, and submission routes.
Return to the Research positions cluster →