Entry-Level Professor Resume Example

This is the entry-level version of our professor resume examples. Copy the structure, swap in your own numbers, then tailor it to the posting you are applying for.

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Professor Resume Template (entry level)

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Professional Summary

Recent PhD and adjunct instructor with a completed dissertation, three first-author publications, and instructor-of-record teaching experience. Brings a clear research agenda and strong undergraduate pedagogy.

Professional Experience

Adjunct Professor / Instructor of RecordAug 2024 - Present

Lakeshore State University, Madison, WI

Serve as instructor of record for two sections of introductory psychology (120 students total), maintaining a 4.6/5.0 evaluation average.
Developed a new syllabus and active-learning modules for the research-methods course.
Advise undergraduate research assistants and supervise two independent-study projects.

Skills

College Teaching, Research & Publication, Curriculum Development, Conference Presentation, Student Mentoring, Grant Writing, Academic Advising, Discipline Expertise

Education

Ph.D. PsychologyMay 2024

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dissertation: neural correlates of decision-making; three first-author publications

Certifications

Certificate in College Teaching
CITI Human-Subjects Research (IRB)

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What changes at the entry level

This sample with a most recent title of Adjunct Professor / Instructor of Record, across 1 role and 2 certifications. Skills that appear at this level and not in the mid level or senior level samples: College Teaching, Research & Publication, Curriculum Development, Student Mentoring, Academic Advising, Discipline Expertise.

Compared with the mid level sample
Tenure-track Assistant Professor with a growing publication record, first external grants as PI, doctoral advising, and multiple courses developed, tracking toward promotion benchmarks.
Adds: Research Program Leadership, Peer-Reviewed Publishing, Doctoral Advising, Course Development, Curriculum Design, Academic Service.
Compared with the senior level sample
Tenured Full Professor directing a funded research program, graduating doctoral scholars into tenure-track roles, and leading departmental strategy, editorial service, and national grant panels.
Adds: Research Program Direction, Grant Portfolio Management, Editorial & Peer Review, Doctoral Mentorship, Academic Leadership, Curriculum Strategy.

Key Skills for Professor

College TeachingResearch & PublicationCurriculum DevelopmentConference PresentationStudent MentoringGrant WritingAcademic AdvisingDiscipline Expertise

ATS Keywords for Professor

Use these naturally in your summary, skills, and experience when they reflect your background.

Professoradjunct professordissertationpeer-reviewed publicationsinstructor of recordconference presentationsresearch agendateaching experiencecurriculum developmentgraduate researchacademic CVhigher education

How to Write an Entry Level Professor Resume

An entry-level or job-market professor's materials should prove you can teach independently and sustain a research agenda. Anchor them in your completed dissertation, first peer-reviewed publications, instructor-of-record courses with evaluation scores, and conference presentations that establish your scholarly trajectory.

Resume Writing Tips

Foreground the dissertation as output

Describe your dissertation by its concrete products, first-author publications, a best-paper nomination, or a dataset, rather than the topic alone, since committees read the dissertation as evidence of an independent, publishable research program.

Show instructor-of-record teaching

Distinguish courses you taught as instructor of record from TA work, and include enrollment and evaluation scores, because independent teaching responsibility is what teaching-focused searches most want to verify at this stage.

State a clear research agenda

Include a one-line research trajectory naming your subfield and next projects, so a committee sees continuity beyond the dissertation and can picture the program you'll build on the tenure track.

Skills to Highlight

College Teaching

Name courses taught as instructor of record, enrollment, and evaluation averages, and one pedagogical choice you made, showing you can run a classroom independently, not just assist.

Research & Publication

List your first-author publications and where they appeared, and connect them to your dissertation, proving you can carry work through peer review.

Conference Presentation

Cite talks at recognized disciplinary venues, noting any invited or award recognition, to establish early visibility in your field.

Curriculum Development

Describe a syllabus or module you built from scratch, since designing a course, not just delivering one, signals readiness for a faculty teaching load.

Common Questions

I only have TA and adjunct experience, is that enough?

For entry-level and job-market applications, yes, if you frame it well. Emphasize any instructor-of-record courses, your evaluation scores, and syllabi you designed, since committees expect early-career candidates to show independent teaching and a strong dissertation rather than years of full-time faculty experience.

How many publications do I need coming out of my PhD?

It varies sharply by field and institution type. Research universities often expect several first-author papers or a pipeline of submissions, while teaching-focused colleges weigh teaching more heavily. List everything published, in press, or under review, and pair it with a clear agenda so committees see momentum even if your count is still building.

Should I list my dissertation topic prominently?

Entry-level Academic Advisor resume sample highlighting DegreeWorks, Banner, FERPA-compliant advising, caseload coverage, and realistic early-career achievements.

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