Research Assistant Cover Letter (For All Experience Levels)

You’ve studied hard and honed your research skills.

And then something went wrong.

Everyone seems to advertise for research assistants, but it looks like all the jobs get filled by candidates who know someone who knows someone who knows someone. So if you don’t have a vast network of friends at the right places, getting a research assistant job can get tricky.

But here’s a not-so-secret tip: a well-written cover letter can get you very, very far.

This guide will show you a research assistant cover letter example, plus the best tips on how to write a research assistant cover letter step-by-step.

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Research Assistant Cover Letter Example

Want a cover letter like this? Just follow our step-by-step process.

Research Assistant Cover Letter Template 

Writing a research assistant cover letter is quick, almost fun, and achievable in just 7 steps.

1. Opt for a proven research assistant cover letter format 

Ever read a research paper that made your eyes and your brain hurt because it was a massive wall of text printed in what looked like a 5 pt font?

Well, then you know what your cover letter should NOT be like.

Make sure your research assistant cover letter has a reader-friendly format that’s easy to scan:

• Set the line spacing to somewhere between 1 and 1.15 (forget the double spacing commonly used in academic manuscripts)
• Set the page margins to 1” on all sides
• Pick a simple, modern, easy-to-read font and set its size to 12 pt
• Add double spaces between paragraphs so that the reader can scan your cover letter within seconds 

These simple steps can make a huge difference in the readability of your research assistant cover letter.

2. Create a professional research assistant cover letter header

Now that you’ve set up the page and the formatting, it’s time to start writing your cover letter header. It’s wonderfully straightforward:

• Write your name and job title in the top left corner of the page
• Add your contact information: address, phone number, email address, and relevant online profiles (like LinkedIn or Academia.edu)
• Make sure that any profiles you’re linking to are up-to-date and professional
• Add the city and date right below your personal information
• Now, write the reader’s name, title, and address

If you can’t find the recruiter’s name anywhere in the job ad, do some research (you’re a research assistant, after all!). Check the prospective employer’s website, do a quick LinkedIn search, try Google, or, if all else fails, call the employer and ask.

3. Start with a greeting and an attention-grabbing first paragraph 

Most research institutions prefer a rather formal style of writing, so addressing the recruiter by their first name would be a bit too much. In most cases, we recommend you start your cover letter with the classic salutation formula Dear Mr./Ms. Lastname.

By mentioning the reader’s name, you’ve got their attention. Now don’t let it slip away:

• Clearly mention the position you’re applying to
• If you’ve got a name to drop, do it straight away
• Then, move straight to your most relevant professional or academic achievements

That’s your intro. Short, catchy, and to the point.

4. Offer proof that you’re the exact person they need 

You can’t just say you’re the best candidate for this job. You have to prove it.

And it’s just like proving a scientific claim: the best evidence involves hard facts and numbers. Here’s how to prove your worth:

• Briefly explain how your skills and qualities are the exact solution to this specific employer’s unique challenges
• Mention some of your professional achievements, preferably with numbers (e.g. “reduced data entry mistakes by 30%”)

If you’re applying for your first job as a research assistant, you may want to focus on your academic achievements instead. That’s OK, as long as they’re relevant to the specifics of your job.

A word of warning: avoid copying and pasting information from your resume. It just looks lazy and discourages the recruiter from hiring you.

5. Explain why you want this particular job

There’s a profound reason why you want to work for this particular company or organization. Maybe you find their previous research deeply meaningful, so you want to contribute to their future projects. Maybe they just won an award, so you’d be truly honoured to work with such an excellent team.

Make this reason clear. Here’s how:

• Compliment your prospective employer on an achievement
• Show that you understand and share the employer’s values and philosophy
• Explain why you want to work at this particular company or organization

Now that you’ve made it clear why you want to help with these specific research projects at this specific organization, you’re almost done.

6. Ask the reader to act

What is the purpose of your cover letter?

To encourage the reader to take action and invite you to an interview (or at least to schedule a call with you).

And the best way to get someone to act is… by asking them. Here’s how to end your cover letter:

• Ask for a meeting or a call
• Repeat how valuable you could be

Yes, it’s really as simple as that. Just make sure you don’t sound too needy (please hire me ASAP because I need to pay off the debt I accumulated from buying all those biology textbooks!).

7. Sign your research assistant cover letter 

If you’ve been following the previous steps, you’ve probably written around 200–400 words. That’s a good cover letter word count to aim for.

Now, all you have to do now is to sign off:

• Sign with your full name
• If you have a scanned copy of your handwritten signature, include it in the cover letter for a super-professional touch
• Add enclosures (letters of recommendation, academic certificates etc.) if needed
• Create a footer with your contact info
• Save your cover letter as a PDF file (unless specifically asked to submit it as a Word document) and give the file a name like Erin_Smith_Research_Assistant_Cover_Letter.pdf (but, of course, use your name)

Done! Now you can complement your excellent cover letter with an equally outstanding resume, submit your job application, and lean back. Or, if you’re looking for in-depth guidance on writing cover letters, check out our ultimate cover letter writing guide.

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Thanks for reading! What do you think of this sample research assistant cover letter? Are there any tips you think are missing? Let us know in the comments below!