Vita and a Resume Defined

A resume is a 1-2 page summary of education and experience qualifications used to demonstrate qualifications for a position or type of position. A vita is a 3 or more page detailed biographical statement emphasizing qualifications and professional activities. A vita is used for positions in higher education and may be used for other positions only when requested. For most job seekers, a resume is all that you will need. However, it may be useful to develop a vita as you further your education and complete additional writing and professional accomplishments. VITA USES Besides using your vita to get a job upon graduation, your vita can also be used in many other ways: A supporting document to included when submitting a grant or funding proposal A requirement for an annual review with your employer A requirement for membership to a professional society A background statement to be used to develop an introduction for a professional presentation at a conference or meeting SUGGESTED CONTENT AREAS OF A VITA The following areas can be used in developing your vita. You may omit some of these suggested areas and/or develop areas that are more suitable for your unique situation. Heading: Name, address, phone number and email address Career Objective: List the name or type of the position for which you are applying Education: List degrees beginning with the most recent. Include the name of the granting institution, year of graduation, areas of concentration, GPA, etc. . . Work Experience: List positions that relate to the type of work sought. This information should be listed in reverse chronological order. Descriptions should include: title of position, department, company/organization, city, state, and employment dates. Research Experience: Describe any research projects recently conducted or currently in progress. Publications: List bibliographic citations of published articles, pamphlets, research reports, etc… Professional Memberships: List names of all professional associations in which you have current membership. Indicate any leadership positions held. Special Awards/Honors: List receipt of scholarships, fellowships, teaching or research awards. References: State that your references will be provided upon request.

Vita Example

LARRY LABORATORY, Ph.D. 123 Beeler Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (412) 555-5555 llaboratory@andrew.cmu.edu

AREAS OF INTEREST Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Medicine, Neuroscience, Immunology, Retrovirology EXPERTISE Full range of laboratory research skills, combination of research and clinical knowledge, proven talent for setting direction of research, lab management skills, numerous publications. Specialties Gene expression regulation, gene therapy/viral vectors, transgenic mouse/knockout experiments. Laboratory Molecular: DNA cloning, PCR, Sequencing, Northern and Southern hybridization, HPLC. Cellular: tissue culture. Dissections: particularly rat brain. Medicine Basic and clinical medical skills, including physiological, pathological, diagnostic, and surgical. Computer Programming: C++, Perl, Pascal, C, Basic, HTML Operating Systems: UNIX, DOS, MS Windows, Macintosh Software: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint EDUCATION Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, May 2000 Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA M.S. in Molecular Biology, May 1996 B.S. in Molecular Biology, May 1994 RESEARCH EXPERIENCE Graduate Research Assistant, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA 1999 – Present Molecular and Cellular Biology of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases Microglia Immunopathogenesis Found that balance status between the protective and destructive roles of immune reaction in the brain might be the key to aging and neurodegenerative diseases, through theoretical studies. Developed dissertation project that explored how neuroendocrine and neurotrophic factors might affect the balance status mentioned above, thus providing therapeutic clues for age-related neuronal disorders. GFAP Gene Expression Regulation Designed a viral vector, a plasmid-based defective Herpes Simplex Virus,vector, for direct in vivo gene transfer of the fusion gene of GFAP promoter fragments and LacZ reporter gene into rat brain in the in vivo study of GFAP gene regulation, thus over came the necessity of cell transplantation. Other Participated in the PCR cloning of human and rat probe templates of the complement component C1q-B chain, for the study of complement expression in aged and Alzheimer's brains. Molecular Basis of Retroviral Oncogenesis Found a unified recombination site between exogenous feLV genome and endogenous proviral elements by PCR and sequencing of multiple clones of experimentally induced lymphoma samples, as well as other tissue samples. Resulted in publication. Explored the integration site of exogenous feLV into host genome by Southern Hybridization, subgenomic library studies, and inverse PCR. Molecular Genetics of Mammalian Central Nervous System Performed theoretical studies of genes that have implicated roles in mammalian brain, especially forebrain development, including homeobox genes and related gene families such as Pox, POU, and Pax. Designed theoretical project that conducts functional analysis by targeted gene disruption of the mouse homeobox genes Emx1/Emx2, whose embryonic temporal-spatial expression patterns highly correlate to cerebral cortex development. Human Genetics Participated in the search for hot spot, recombination potentiating sequences, by molecular screening, enrichment, and PCR cloning. Prokaryotic Molecular Biology Costructed a recombinant plasmid Undergraduate Research Assistant, Medical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University. State College, PA 1996 - 1999 Immunology Participated in the purification of a low molecular weight B cell growth factor (BCGF) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the study of expression and regulation of BCGF receptors on human B cells in normal and abnormal states. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Teaching Assistant, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 1996 - 1999 Developed instructional plans and taught undergraduate level laboratory courses as follows: BIOL 101, Immunology BIOL 201, Human Anatomy BIOL 301, Microbiology PUBLICATIONS Association of Chimeric Feline Leukemia Viruses in Experimentally Induced Thymic Lymphosarcomas, K. Robertson, R. Pandey, L. Laboratory, and P.Roy-Burman, 1995. “Corticosterone Modulates the Expression of the Rat Glial Fibriallary Acidic Protein and Its Promoter Activity in the C6 Glioma," Abstracts for Society for Neuroscience 562.13, 22nd Annual Meeting, October 1993, Anaheim, California, C.J. Huang, N.J. Laping, L. Laboratory, D. Morgan, C.E. Finch, 1999. MEMBERSHIPS American Association for the Advancement of Science American Institute of Biological Sciences Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology REFERENCES References and additional information provided upon request.