Be sure you use the proper cover letter format to make your cover letter readable and professional.
Research Assistant Cover Letter Template (Text Format)
[Today’s Date]
Contact Person’s Name
Lancaster Department of
Lancaster
LA1 4YF
(0131) 123 4567
contact.person@gmail.com
Dear [Mr/Ms/Mx] [Contact Person’s Name],
I am writing to express my interest in the Psychology Research Assistant position advertised on the Lancaster University careers page. With a strong academic background in psychology and hands-on experience in research settings, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the cutting-edge research projects at your department.
During my BSc in Psychology at the University of Bristol, I honed my research skills through a final-year project that explored cognitive biases in decision-making, achieving first-class honours. This experience equipped me with a solid foundation in research methodologies, statistical analysis, and qualitative data collection techniques. My role as a volunteer research assistant at university further developed my capabilities in literature review, data collection, and analysis, culminating in my contribution to a study that was later published in the British Journal of Psychology.
I am particularly drawn to this role at Lancaster University because of its reputation for pioneering psychological research that has tangible impacts on society. I am eager to bring my skills to your team, contributing to ongoing and future research projects, and further developing my expertise under the guidance of esteemed faculty members.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background, skills, and enthusiasm align with the needs of your department. I am available for an interview at your earliest convenience and can be reached at 07123 456 789 or your.email@email.com.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
How to demonstrate critical thinking in your research assistant cover letter
Before you begin writing, make sure you know how to write a cover letter in a way that makes you seem like the best candidate for the job.
Critical thinking is an essential skill for research assistants, as they must use these abilities to evaluate information during their research. So if possible, highlight your critical thinking ability in your cover letter.
To demonstrate critical thinking in a research assistant cover letter, succinctly illustrate how you’ve tackled a specific challenge through analytical problem-solving, following the four steps below.
- Identify a challenge: Mention a specific issue you encountered in your research experience.
- Explain your analysis: Briefly describe how you analysed the problem, including any data review or literature consultation.
- Detail your solution: Detail the evidence-based solution you developed.
- Describe the outcome: Share the quantifiable results or improvements from your solution using specific examples and hard numbers to emphasise your accomplishment.
Here’s an example of how to showcase critical thinking skills in your research assistant cover letter following the steps outlined above:
- Use specific examples and data to make your critical thinking achievements stand out.