Covering Letter for Applications in Life Science

Ambu Vijayan
3 min readMar 11, 2022

Use this template as a building block for your cover letter

#1. Opening

Make your letter personal by addressing it to the Scientist/Co-ordinator/Advisor of the University or College you are applying for. In case its a direct application to an institution, you can use other optional openings.

To whom it may concern
Dear Sir or Madam

#2. Reason for writing

Get to the point immediately by explaining why you are writing and including the title of the position you are applying for.

I am writing to express my interest in the position of…
I want to apply for the position of…
When I read your advertisement for a …
I am writing in response to your advertisement for…
I am writing to inquire as to whether there are any vacancies…

#3. Introducing yourself

Tell who you are and what you are currently doing.

I am currently working as a…
I am currently studying…
At present, I am working for … where I am responsible for …
I have been working in my current position for the past (time) …

#4. Talking about your education, experience, and skills

Give a brief outline of your education, experience, and skills with the qualifications required for the position and give examples from your previous experience to demonstrate that you have the skills needed.

I graduated from “Respected” University with a degree (master’s degree) in …
I developed a real passion for…
The nature of my degree has prepared me for this position
As you can see from my CV, I have worked … and gained experience …
My mother tongue is Spanish and I am fluent in English and Portuguese.

#5. Sell yourself

Explain why you are the right person for the job, and be convinced of your skills. State something you are able to do to help the company.

I feel I am suitable for this role as I have a great deal of experience in …
I have extensive experience negotiating…
I consider myself to be a friendly, efficient and enthusiastic worker
I believe I would be the ideal candidate based on the fact that I …
I am very keen to work for an ambitious company such as yours

#6. Closing comments

Show your interest in the position by saying that you plan to follow up your application with a telephone call.

Thank you for taking time to consider my application
I am available for contact and interview at any time
If you wish to contact me, you can do so on +34 765…
I would welcome the opportunity to further develop my skills in your company…
Should you require further information, do not hesitate to contact me
Please find CV attached (in emails)
Please find CV enclosed (in letters)
I will follow up with you in a week’s time to answer any preliminary questions you may have
In the meantime, you are able to contact me on +57 300…

#7. Signing off

Never forget to include your name, telephone number and email address, so the recruiter or employer can contact you.

I look forward to hearing from you
Yours sincerely, …
Yours faithfully, …
When you finish writing your cover letter, look for sentences that don’t make sense, or any grammatical or spelling errors. Ask yourself if you would employ the person who wrote the letter. If not, re-write it until it is perfect.

Now that you know how to stand out from the crowd and impress your prospective employer or recruiter, it’s time to practice your professional English skills before your next interview. Don’t let the doors be shut in your face because you are not ready yet. Our English teachers are always on hand to help you practice and build your speaking confidence, whatever your English level.

Originally published at https://www.biolit.in on March 11, 2022.

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Ambu Vijayan

Bioinformatics Analyst, Statistical Consultant, R-Programmer