Career Services Office
Research & Teaching Statements
Research and Teaching Statements (separate documents) are supplemental materials for most academic searches. However, some search committees require them. Read job ads in your field to get a sense of whether they are required and speak to your adviser and others in the discipline to learn whether they can strengthen your application even when they are not required. While Teaching Statements are common across disciplines, Research Statements are more common in the Natural and Social Sciences and Engineering, but may also be required in some Humanities searches.
Regardless of whether you anticipate needing to create them, consider drafting these 1 to 2 page statements anyway. The exercise will make you reflect on your short- and long-term research plans and your teaching philosophy. Consequently, you will be prepared to handle questions about these issues when interviewing.
What is a Research Statement?
This is a brief summary of your work, which:
- orients the reader to your specific interest within a broader discipline
- describes how your research is related to others' work (though avoid discussing your dissertation adviser's work exclusively - be sure you represent yourself as the independent researcher that you are)
The statement should:
- indicate why your research is important
- identify who might care about it
- provide your top 2 or 3 research questions
- present the plans you have for addressing them in the coming years (make sure it sounds more involved than continuing to replicate findings from your dissertation)
- state any funding sources you have in mind
Discuss with your mentor(s) the amount of detail considered appropriate in your field. It is reasonable to draft slightly different versions for applications to various settings (e.g., R1 institutions, liberal arts colleges) when issues like equipment and space availability, and research/teaching balance might be different.
Resources for Crafting the Research Statement
There are sample research statements (and additional advice) in The Academic Job Search Handbook (2001) by Mary Morris Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick.
Apply on Paper - Research Statements
Research Statement Guidelines (specific to sciences and engineering)
Research Statement Samples
What is a Teaching Statement or Philosophy of Teaching Statement?
This is a brief description of:
- what you do in the classroom and why you do it, (do not simply repeat your course offerings)
- your method(s) of teaching
- your beliefs or justifications about why the method(s) are valuable
- your specific goals as a teacher and the corresponding approaches you use to meet these goals
- any technology you use in the classroom
This statement should demonstrate that you have been thoughtful about your teaching process.
It also can be tied to a Teaching Portfolio (see below).
Resources for Crafting the Teaching Statement
Consider enlisting help from the U of I Center for Teaching Excellence: http://www.cte.uiuc.edu/
You may also consult the following:
How to Write a Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Writing a Philosophy of Teaching Statement
Articulating Your Philosophy of Teaching
- What is your philosophy? Some assessment tools can be found at:
Philosophy of Adult Education Inventory
The Teaching Perspectives Inventory - Classification of philosophies (some theory to explore):
Translating Personal Values and Philosophy into Practical Action
Teaching Statement Samples
There are sample research and teaching statements in The Academic Job Search Handbook (2001) by Mary Morris Heiberger and Julia Miller Vick.
You may also consult:
Developing a Teaching Portfolio
What is a Teaching Portfolio?
This is a collection of "evidence" of your teaching expertise, which may include:
- course syllabi
- student evaluations
- faculty observations (if you have any)
- other course materials (e.g., sample assignments, sample listserv exchanges among your students, even papers you have graded - removing the students' names, of course)
The portfolio is not often required, but it can be an impressive addition to your application.
It is sometimes requested of candidates who are short-listed for a position. When you are receiving serious consideration from an institution, they may request this, and you don't want to be in the position of having to scramble to "assemble" it.
Resources for Crafting the Portfolio
Developing a Teaching
Portfolio - Writing Tips to Help You Get Started on a Teaching Philosophy
Articulating
Your Philosophy of Teaching
Teaching Portfolio Samples
Teaching Portfolio
The Teaching Portfolio of Cynthia
Filer Speer -- a web-site portfolio
