Tips on Writing a Good Academic Biography

When your article gets accepted for a journal or when you need to make a public presentation, the chances are that you will have to prepare an academic biography. Many people have problems writing an academic biography because it’s hard to sum up your work in just a few sentences. What should you include? What is better to leave out? Don’t worry because College Writers team will help you.

What You Should Do

Begin with your full name and then write about your general interests, your current position, and your current project. Don’t elaborate on it too much, keep your description brief and finish with some personal details, for example, your hobby. We recommend that you only provide the information that you’re comfortable with, without being too personal.

What to Avoid

Don’t use the first person (“I,” “me”). Don’t provide details that are irrelevant when talking about your current position. If your bio is several paragraphs long, you may add more information, such as your degrees and awards, but don’t do it in a short bio. In addition, we recommend that you don’t write about anything that happened before grad school.

Longer Bios

The same rules apply to longer bios, as well. However, in this case, you can provide more detailed information on your education, work, and future projects. You may also mention your family but do it at the end of your bio and keep this information short.

Your bio will be used by a person who will introduce you at a conference or event that you are writing for. If you write your bio according to these tips, you will simplify this task. Keep in mind that your bio is the first thing people learn about you so make sure to provide the most important information about yourself.

Structure

When writing a short biography you only have a few sentences to provide the general information about yourself. One of the main goals of your biography is to highlight your main accomplishments. It will help your readers better understand your background. However, don’t make this information too detailed. In addition, your biography should be written in the third person. Begin your biography with the basic information and include the following things:

• Your full name
  Perhaps, you don’t use it too often but you should distinguish yourself from others.
• Position
  Your position at an academic institution will help your audience better understand your background and interests. If you’re a graduate student and you’ve been asked to present your research, it will certainly create a strong impression.
• Institution
  Obviously, your institution or organization is important.

Don’t use a bulleted list but present this information as regular text.

After the introduction, add other details. For example, explain how long you’ve been studying your subject. You can also write about your research milestones.

Usually, short academic biographies are 35-50 words long. Longer biographies may be 100 or even 400 words long. In this case, you can provide more details and the context may also change. For example, you may include the following information:

• Specific academic projects
• Background
• Academic degrees
• Awards and honors
• Personal interests
• Published works
• Hobbies

You can also use longer biographies on websites or when applying for a job. However, the longer format usually isn’t used for seminars and conferences.

Know Your Audience

Even though you cannot provide a lot of information, you still have to tailor it to the needs and interests of a particular audience. Keep in mind the following three factors:

• The audience. Who will read your biography? Are they funding sources or conference attendees?
• The context. Will your biography be used in a journal or in a conference? Will it be posted on your website? Will it be shared at disciplinary conventions?
• The purpose. Are you meeting other researches, clients, or investors?

These three factors should determine what information is worth including in your bio.

What You Shouldn’t Do

Don’t write too much and make sure that all the information is relevant. Here are some things that you should avoid:

• There’s no space for it in short biographies, but don’t add it in longer biographies either.
• Too personal information. People need to know you as a professional, and you should create a good first impression.
• Too much information. Write about your current position and research. There’s no need to delve deep into your past. Keep in mind that your writing must be formal.

If you need any help with writing an academic biography, don’t hesitate to contact College-Writers.com and ask for help. We have many experts who will help you write a great biography that will present you in the best light possible.