They are necessary for graduate school applications for undergraduates, for fellowship and job applications for PhD and postdocs, and for award and promotion applications for senior scientists. Writing a strong and personalized recommendation letter, however, can take some time, especially for academics who must juggle teaching, student supervision, manuscript writing, grant applications, and writing. And some people might struggle to express themselves in a way that will sound original and distinctive while also supporting a former student or employee as they change careers.
How to write a postdoc reference letter
The steps to writing a successful postdoc reference letter are as follows:
1. Know what to include in a reference letter
Knowing what to include in a reference letter is the first step in creating a successful one. The components of a typical reference letter are as follows:
2. Create an outline
Create an outline after becoming familiar with the components of a referral letter. You can define each section of the letter and choose what information to include by using an outline. Think of examples of the candidates’ best and most relevant accomplishments as you are outlining the candidates. Consider putting one or two related examples per paragraph in a structured narrative using your examples. It might be helpful to create a topic sentence for each of your paragraphs while you’re outlining so you’ll know what examples to use in each paragraph.
For instance, you might decide to include three body paragraphs in your letter of recommendation. You could include three paragraphs in your essay: one about the candidate’s professional habits, one about their academic accomplishments, and a final paragraph about their personal traits. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. Use bullet points to list the specific examples you intend to use in your drafts. Because you’ve already decided on your topics and examples, outlining helps you generate ideas, organize your thoughts, and work more quickly.
3. Draft your letter
Once youve created your outline, start drafting your letter. Early on in the drafting process, your letter might be informal or lacking important information. Concentrate on outlining your thoughts and arranging them in the outline’s sections. Be specific when citing examples of a candidate’s skills and accomplishments. Give an example of a time when the candidate used their leadership abilities to achieve a goal or go above and beyond your expectations if you’re talking about their leadership abilities. These specifics enable the reader to comprehend the candidates’ skills and accomplishments on a deeper level.
4. Edit, revise and proofread
Proofreading, editing, and revision are the last steps in the writing process for a letter. Read the letter carefully for content and organization. Ensure that you’ve organized your paragraphs so that each one has a distinct focus and fully addresses a single issue. Cut any extraneous content to emphasize your main points, and provide enough supporting details to illustrate your main ideas. Focus on editing the letter for grammatical and spelling errors after your content is complete and organized. Speak in a formal tone by capitalizing words and avoiding slang.
Read the letter out loud to yourself or have someone else read it to you as a proofreading technique. You may be able to spot phrasing errors that could compromise the clarity of your writing by listening to your own words. Another tactic is to put the letter away for a few hours or the night. By taking a break from your writing, you can come back to it refreshed, which might help you spot small errors. Finally, try reading your writing backward. By removing each sentence from its context, you can concentrate more on the language than the actual content of the letters.
What is a postdoc reference letter?
Researchers or college professors can recommend applicants for a postdoctoral training program by writing a postdoc reference letter. These courses place a strong emphasis on research and help students who already hold doctoral degrees but want to pursue further education to advance their careers. An effective reference letter summarizes your collaboration with the applicant so the admissions committee can learn more about their abilities, experiences, and character traits. The reference letter and other admissions materials are evaluated by the admissions committee to determine whether the applicant is a good fit for the program.
Postdoc reference letter template
Heres a template to help you write your reference letter:
[Date]
[Use a formal salutation to address the reader, such as “To the selection committee” or “To whom it may concern”] If you know the reader’s name, you can also address them directly. ].
It gives me great honor to endorse [name of applicant] for the postdoctoral fellow position at [name of the department, lab, university, or organization]. My doctoral student, [candidates name], was a fantastic asset to our program. I recommend them to your program with great enthusiasm.
[Express in two to three paragraphs the qualities, skills, and achievements that make the applicant a good fit for the program. Support your points with specific examples. ].
In summary, I give [candidates name] my highest recommendation. They [summarize your key points in a few sentences. [I beg you to take into consideration their candidacy as I believe they can make significant contributions to your organization. As you review their application, please get in touch with me if you have any questions or if I can be of further help.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Job title]
[Email address]
[Phone number]
Postdoc reference letter example
Here is an example of a postdoc reference letter:
December 14, 2021
To the selection committee:
It is my honor to recommend Dr. for the postdoctoral fellow position at the University of Internal Medicine in Memphis, Lin Cheng Dr. My doctoral student Cheng made a significant contribution to our program. I recommend her to your program with great enthusiasm.
During her time as my student, Dr. Cheng showed intense dedication to her study of family medicine. She consistently exceeded all standards for academic excellence and was one of the top students in her program. She published three papers in scholarly journals while still a student, adding significant information to the field of family medicine through her research findings. She has published a lot more articles since graduating, and she is well known for her knowledge of compassionate, inclusive, family-centered care.
In addition to her outstanding work as a researcher and student, Dr. Cheng shows an exceptional quality of character. Her cohort members praised her for her leadership and support abilities. She exercised her leadership skills while she was a student to organize frequent study sessions for her classmates. She planned these study sessions, shared session information with her peers, arranged meeting locations, and even invited pupils from other departments to offer peer tutoring on their areas of specialization. Her dedication to her peers’ success, in my opinion, shows the strength of her character.
In summary, I give Dr. Cheng my highest recommendation. Shes an exceptional student, researcher, practitioner and colleague. She was a standout student in our program because of her commitment to her studies and her empathy for other people. I strongly urge you to seriously consider her candidacy because I believe she can contribute significantly to your institution. As you consider her application, get in touch with me if you have any queries or if I can help further.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sutton
Professor of family medicine at Raleigh University
[email protected]
704-777-4058
How to Select Letter of Recommendation Writers for Post-Doc Applications (VIEWER QUESTION)
FAQ
How do I write a letter of recommendation for a postdoc?
[To the selection committee: OR To Whom It May Concern] I have the pleasure of recommending [Dr ABC] for the position of Postdoctoral Fellow in your [Department/Lab/Organization/University]. [Dr. [ABC] was one of my doctoral students and is one of my best.
Can postdoc docs write a recommendation letter?
Letters of recommendation are required for PhD and postdoc applications in addition to transcripts, test results, and research proposals.
What should a reference letter include?
- Think carefully about saying yes. …
- Focus on the particular school. …
- Collect information. …
- Explain how you know the person. …
- Include specific examples. …
- Remain positive. …
- Share your contact information. …
- Follow the submission guidelines.
