This is a fictitious narrative CV created to demonstrate the OCAR structure in response to an equally fictitious funding call. It’s designed to help you understand how the framework works, not to provide a template to copy. Any resemblance to real research is coincidental. Use this example for understanding the approach, then make it your own. Click the arrows for commentary on how the OCAR framework was applied in each section. ...
Team funding applications require a different approach to narrative CVs. Rather than showcasing individual excellence, you need to demonstrate collective strength and complementary expertise. The main challenge is that you’re doing this within the same word limits as an individual CV 😲 This post covers what changes (and what stays the same) when writing team narrative CVs, and provides a practical process for developing them collaboratively. What do team and individual narrative CVs have in common? The four R4RI modules - your team still needs to address all four areas of contribution. The OCAR structure remains effective - it works at the same three nested levels (Team Statement, module narratives, individual examples). Word limits - funders don’t give you extra words for having more people (typically still a total of 1,500-2,000 words). Need for specifics - you still need concrete examples with numbers, outcomes, and impact. What’s different about team narrative CVs? The focus shifts from individual to collective. It’s not about showing that everyone is excellent; it’s showing how this specific team offers the right combination of expertise to deliver the proposed project. You need to demonstrate complementarity. Why does this specific combination of people create something greater than individuals working separately? A Team Statement replaces the Personal Statement. This opening needs to convey collective identity. Above all, you’re answering the question: “Why is this the right team for this project?”, not “Why are these good researchers?” Funders need to understand each team member’s specific contribution and expertise, and also get a sense that you can all work together successfully to deliver the project within the timeframe. ...
Unlike a traditional CV where you list achievements with bullet points, a narrative CV requires you to write in paragraphs. This means the quality of your writing is crucial. With strict word limits (typically 1,000-2,000 words for the entire CV), every single word must earn its place. Poor word choices, vague language, or passive constructions waste precious space and weaken your impact. You’ve learned the OCAR structure, gathered your examples across the four modules, and understood how to build narratives at multiple levels. Now it’s time to refine the language to make your narratives powerful and clear. Here are 5 stages for you to work through. ...
Your Personal Statement is possibly the most challenging part of a narrative CV. In just 2-3 sentences,1 you need to convey your research identity, your approach, and why you’re the right person for the funding 😳 It’s not a mini-biography or a list of achievements — you’re distilling your overarching research narrative. How on earth do you compress your entire career into a few sentences? In this post, I’ll guide you through the process of clarifying your research identity and crafting a Personal Statement that accurately and authentically represents who you are as an academic researcher. ...
This is a fictitious narrative CV created to demonstrate the OCAR structure in response to an equally fictitious funding call. It’s designed to help you understand how the framework works, not to provide a template to copy. Use this example for understanding the approach, then make it your own. Any resemblance to real research is coincidental. Click the arrows for commentary on how the OCAR framework was applied in each section. ...
If you’ve read How to Write a Narrative CV, you’ve seen the step-by-step process for drafting individual examples using OCAR. In this post, we’ll explore a more complex aspect: how OCAR works at three nested levels within your narrative CV, and how to avoid common pitfalls when using this structure. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the OCAR framework (Opening, Challenge, Action, Resolution) is effective in most types of academic writing. It’s also helpful for developing an narrative CV. This storytelling approach: ...
Here are the resources for my workshop on Accelerating Your Research with AI. Books 📚 Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell The Alignment Problem: How Can Artificial Intelligence Learn Human Values? by Brian Christian Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman Apps 💻 AudioPen Claude NotebookLM Resources 🧭 Using NotebookLM for Academic Research MacWhisper: a Privacy-Focused Tool for Transcribing Audio Streamline Your Notetaking with Readwise Capturing Research Notes With AudioPen How to Automatically Sync AudioPen Notes with Obsidian Websites 🕸️ The Algorithmic Bridge - Alberto Romero's thought pieces on the wider implications of AI. Cate Denial - Professor Cate Denial's comprehensive list of resources discussing the problems with GenAI. Emily Bender - Linguist and AI sceptic One Useful Thing - Ethan Mollicks's pragmatic but enthusiastic views of AI, with an emphasis on Higher Education. Margaret Mitchell - AI research scientist and ethicist. Courses 👩🏽🏫 AI for Everyone Generative AI for Everyone
When I talk to academics about LinkedIn, the most common word I hear is “grubby,” swiftly followed by “timesink”. Although networking is vital for most of us, these platforms are designed to keep us clicking like eejits all day long. You don’t get funding for reaching an impressive number of likes, and it’s easy to lose half a day when you intended to spend just five minutes. In this post, I’ll explain some tactics for making the most of LinkedIn without letting it gobble up your precious time or your soul. ...
What’s your research carbon footprint? While the average person in the UK emits 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, many academics emit more than 15 tonnes. To maintain safe and equitable boundaries, the planet needs us to emit only 2 tonnes per year. Why do academics emit so much more than the average? In this interactive and non-judgemental workshop, we’ll consider how our energy use, digital activities, travel, diets, consumer habits, and research practices all contribute to our emissions. ...
One of the great advantages of LinkedIn is that it allows you to widen your network, especially beyond academia. Unless you’re careful, though, it can quickly turn into another Facebook. You don’t want a feed full of self-promoting posts from people you’re never likely to meet or work with. In this guide, I’ll suggest a strategy for thinking about who should connect with and how you’ll engage with them. 1. What are you offering? The first step is to create a strong LinkedIn profile. If you’re asking people to connect and read your content, you need to explain why that’s a good use of their time. Your profile should explain who you are, your research interests, and what you’re currently working on. ...