Skip to main content

Associate Professor CV Example

An associate professor CV presents an established track record of research excellence, significant teaching contributions, and academic leadership.

Recommended template: VibrantPro

Key Skills to Include

Research LeadershipGrant AcquisitionPhD SupervisionCurriculum DesignAcademic PublishingDepartment ManagementExternal ExaminingKnowledge Exchange

Quick Tips

  • Lead with your most significant research achievements and their impact.
  • Include total grant income secured and highlight major funding awards.
  • Detail PhD completions supervised and current research students.
  • Showcase institutional and national-level leadership contributions.

Ready to build your CV?

Start with the Vibrant template and customise it for your teaching & education role.

Upgrade to Pro

How to Write Your Associate Professor CV

An associate professor CV must present an established record of research excellence, sustained high-quality teaching, and significant contributions to academic leadership and service. At this career stage, selection panels expect to see evidence of an independent research programme, a strong and growing publication record, substantial grant income, successful PhD supervision, and meaningful leadership contributions to your department and discipline.

CV Structure

Use a comprehensive format with sections for academic appointments, research leadership, publications, grants, teaching, supervision, professional service, and impact activities. Include total grant income and publication metrics. List all PhD completions and current students. Detail leadership roles and external examining appointments.

CV Format

Use a professional academic template with consistent formatting. Publications should follow discipline-appropriate citation styles. The CV may extend to five or more pages to capture the breadth of your academic activities.

CV Profile Examples

STEM Associate Professor

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham with 15 years of post-doctoral experience and a research programme in sustainable chemical processes. Published over 65 peer-reviewed papers with an h-index of 28. Secured £1.8M in research funding from EPSRC, Innovate UK, and industry. Supervised nine PhD students to completion and currently leads a research group of seven.

Humanities Associate Professor

Associate Professor of Modern History at the University of York with a distinguished publication record including three monographs and 22 journal articles on Cold War diplomacy. Awarded Senior Fellowship of the HEA for sustained excellence in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Serves as Director of Graduate Studies and external examiner at two Russell Group universities.

Social Sciences Associate Professor

Associate Professor of Education at the University of Cambridge with expertise in educational inequality and social mobility. Led a £500,000 Nuffield Foundation study on the attainment gap in English schools. Author of a widely adopted textbook on education policy and a regular contributor to media and parliamentary discussions on schooling reform.

Summarise your research programme, key achievements, and leadership contributions in four to five sentences. Include headline metrics such as publication count, h-index, grant income, and PhD completions.

Key Skills for Your Associate Professor CV

Research Leadership

Directing a research programme, managing a research group, and setting strategic research priorities.

Grant Acquisition

Writing successful funding applications to research councils, charities, and industry, securing substantial grant income.

PhD Supervision

Supervising doctoral students from project inception through to thesis submission and viva, ensuring timely completion.

Curriculum Design

Developing and reviewing degree programmes and modules to meet accreditation standards and student needs.

Academic Publishing

Maintaining a sustained publication record in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and academic presses.

Department Management

Contributing to departmental leadership through roles such as director of studies, admissions tutor, or deputy head.

External Examining

Serving as an external examiner at other institutions to assure academic standards and assessment quality.

Knowledge Exchange

Translating research findings into practical applications through industry partnerships, consultancy, and public engagement.

Impact Generation

Demonstrating the real-world impact of research through policy influence, commercial application, or public benefit.

Work Experience Examples

Detail each academic appointment with responsibilities spanning research, teaching, and administration. Quantify achievements with grant values, publication counts, and student outcomes. Highlight leadership roles and their impact on departmental strategy.

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

University of Birmingham, School of Chemical Engineering

Led an independent research programme in sustainable catalysis and green chemistry while contributing to departmental teaching and leadership.

Responsibilities

  • Led a research group of seven including three postdoctoral researchers, three PhD students, and one research technician.
  • Delivered teaching across four undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including a final-year capstone design module.
  • Served as Deputy Head of Department, overseeing research strategy, space allocation, and academic workload planning.
  • Supervised nine PhD students to successful completion, with all completing within the funded period.
  • Managed an active grant portfolio totalling £1.8M from EPSRC, Innovate UK, and three industrial partners.

Achievements

  • Received the Royal Society of Chemistry's Environment, Sustainability and Energy Division Early Career Award for contributions to green chemistry.
  • Co-authored a patent for a novel catalytic process that was licensed to an industrial partner, generating £120,000 in licensing income for the university.
  • Led a curriculum review of the BEng programme that resulted in improved NSS scores and accreditation commendation from IChemE.

Lecturer in Chemical Engineering

University of Nottingham, Faculty of Engineering

Established an independent research programme while delivering core teaching across the chemical engineering programme.

Responsibilities

  • Designed and delivered two new modules on sustainable processes and reaction engineering for undergraduate students.
  • Secured initial research funding of £350,000 from EPSRC and supervised four PhD students during this appointment.
  • Published 18 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Green Chemistry, ACS Catalysis, and Chemical Engineering Journal.
  • Served on the faculty research committee and the university's environmental sustainability working group.

Achievements

  • Promoted from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer within four years based on research output and teaching quality.
  • Received consistently positive student evaluations, with module satisfaction scores above 90% for three consecutive years.

Education & Qualifications

List your PhD, any postdoctoral fellowships, and your undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Include any prestigious visiting positions or sabbatical appointments.

PhD

A doctoral degree demonstrating deep expertise and original contribution to the field.

SFHEA

Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, recognising sustained impact on teaching and learning.

Professional Body Fellowship

Fellowship of a relevant professional body demonstrating standing within the discipline.

Postdoctoral Research Experience

Independent research experience following doctoral completion, forming the foundation of an academic career.

Frequently Asked Questions

What distinguishes an associate professor CV from a lecturer CV?
An associate professor CV demonstrates a more established and independent research programme with substantial grant income, a stronger publication record, completed PhD supervisions, and evidence of academic leadership at departmental or institutional level. The CV should show progression from early-career independence to mature academic leadership across research, teaching, and service.
How important is grant income for an associate professor CV?
Grant income is very important, particularly at research-intensive universities. Selection panels look for evidence of sustained, successful funding acquisition from competitive sources. Include total grant income, individual grant values, and the funding bodies. Detail your role as principal investigator or co-investigator on each grant.
Should I include impact case study evidence on my CV?
Yes, evidence of research impact is increasingly valued. Include examples of policy influence, commercial applications, public engagement, or societal benefit arising from your research. Reference any REF impact case studies you have contributed to. Impact evidence demonstrates that your research extends beyond academic publications to create real-world value.
How do I present leadership experience on an associate professor CV?
Detail all significant leadership roles including director of studies, programme lead, deputy head of department, or research centre director. Describe the scope of each role and any measurable outcomes such as improved student satisfaction, successful accreditation, or new programme launches. Leadership experience is a key differentiator at this career stage.

More Teaching & Education CV Examples

Builder Command Palette

Type a command or search...