1. Revising Your Curriculum Vitae
Elena González, Ed. D.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014

2. Objectives
• Review the differences between a CV and a
Resume
• Refer to specific examples for each section of
a CV in order to update your own CV

3. Curriculum Vitae
• A CV briefly documents your lifelong
academic achievements in phrases placed
within a consistent and visually appealing
format
• It is coherently and sequentially organized
from the most recent events to the oldest

4. Parts of a Curriculum Vitae
Name and Contact Information: contact information for your current institution/
employment/home
Areas of Interest: a listing of your varied academic interests
Education: a list of your degrees earned or in progress, institutions, and years of graduation
Include dissertation or thesis
Grants, Honors and Awards: a list of grants received, honors bestowed upon you for your
work, and awards you may have received for teaching or service
Publications and Presentations: a list of your published articles and books, as well as presentations
given at conferences
Employment and Experience: may include separate lists of teaching experiences, laboratory
experiences, field experiences, volunteer work, leadership, or other
relevant experiences
Scholarly/Professional Memberships: a listing of the professional organizations of which you are a
member. If you have held an office or position in a particular
organization, you can either say so here or leave this
information for the experience section.
References: a list of persons who write letters of recommendations for you, which includes their contact
information

5. A Resume
• A resume presents your experiences and skills
in relation to a particular job opening
• A resume will be tailor-made for each new job
interview based on the job requirements
• All resumes have cover letters explaining to the
employer why you are qualified for the position and why you should be
selected for an interview.

6. Parts of a Resume
Name and Contact Information: your residential
address might be most appropriate, especially if you do not want your
current employer to know that you are looking for another job!
Education: a listing of your degrees or certifications and
educational institutions or programs.
Work Experience: names of the companies or
organizations that you have worked for, the location of each company,
the dates worked, your job title, and duties performed.

7. Content Sections
• Contact Information
• Career Objectives
• Education
• Course work by Semester
• Lab Techniques Learned During My Degree
• Skills
• Research Experience
• Professional/Student Associations
• Conferences/Presentations
• Awards
• References

8. CONTACT INFORMATION
Curriculum Vitae
Margaret Colón
margaretcolon1@msu.edu 1250 Haslett Rd. Apt C7
Tel. (787) 648-9017 East Lansing, MI 48823.
_______________________________________

9. CAREER OBJECTIVES:
I am keen to begin a career in biomedical science. I am a
recent graduate who combined studies with working and
other commitments. In achieving this, I have shown
myself to be self-motivated, committed and determined
in achieving my goals, come what may. I have also
demonstrated negotiating and organizing skills, a firm
sense of responsibility and my capacity to work hard
under pressure. I possess excellent verbal and written
communication skills and am able to relate to a wide
range of people, as proven by my varied work
experiences: in retail, catering, hospitality work, teaching
and patient care.

10. EDUCATION:
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology PhD Program
Graduate Student (August 2010- present)
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Bridge to PhD in the Neurosciences Program
Lifelong Student (September 2009- May 2010)
• Universidad del Este (UNE), Carolina, PR
Bachelor of Science in Applied Microbiology (June, 2009)

11. COURSE WORK BY SEMESTER:
SUMMER 2013 FALL 2013 SPRING 2013

12. LAB TECHNIQUES LEARNED DURING
MY DEGREE:
• Preparation and identification of nucleic acids, protein
isolation and separation by gel filtration, molecular
modeling and computer analysis of kinetic data. Use of a
haemocytometer, microscopic investigation, aseptic
technique and bacterial isolation and cultivation.
• Cell breakage, ELISA, immunoassays, spectroscopy, enzyme
assays, protein purification, gene cloning, gas
chromatography, HPLC and microscopy.
• Well versed in sterile microbiological techniques allowing
for the maintenance and growth of bacterial and yeast cell
cultures, UV mutagenesis, western blot analysis, agarose
gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, DNA and RNA extraction
and spectrophotometry. These were all key skills I had to
master for my final year project (see below).

13. SKILLS:
• Teamwork I have successfully undertaken various team projects
within both academic and non-academic environments.
• Communication Oral communication skills expressed in presentations
and in talking to the general public. Writing skills developed
with essay writing. I also was a member of the editorial team
for a school science newspaper.
As a sales adviser at BHS, I had to demonstrate knowledge of
the different types of items sold and their uses, to be able to
respond effectively to customer queries.
My degree course greatly enhanced my written and verbal
communication skills due to the many presentations,
assignments, posters, essays and projects required.
• Willingness to learn I am keen to develop my understanding and acquire new
skills through employment.
• Problem solving I have the ability to problem solve, tested with continuous
problem solving exercises as assessments, which may require
mathematical analysis and evaluation
• Computer skills Knowledge and experience of Windows 7, MS Word, MS
Access, using email and the Internet.

14. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:
• Undergraduate Researcher. URGREAT-MBRS-RISE Program at UNE,
Member (April 2008 – April 2009). Universidad del Este, Carolina, P.R.:
“Application of the quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) for a
Rapid Detection of Potential Exposure to Waterborne Pathogens in
Recreational Waters of Puerto Rico”. Mentor: Mariel Perez PhD,
Department of Science and Technology. Roles: Collect water samples,
analyze the water samples by using differential media and identify the
pathogens by using real time PCR.
• Summer Internship. Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement
Program, Summer Research Opportunity Program, Member (May 2008-
August 2008). Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI: “Structure –
Function Relation of the EpsG Protein of Vibrio cholerae”. Mentor: Michael
Bagdasarian MD, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Molecular
Genetics. Roles: PCR, gel electrophoresis, enzyme assays, conjugation,
chemical transformation and electroporation.

15. PROFESSIONAL/STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS:
• Society of Toxicology, Member (July 2011- present)
• Society for Neuroscience, Member (September 2010-
present).
• Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement
Program, Member (May 2008 - August 2008), (May 2009 -
December 2009), Peer Advisor (May 2009 - August 2009).
• Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program
(MBRS/RISE), Member (April 2008 – May 2009).
• Society of Microbiology of Puerto Rico, Member (May
2007- May 2009).
• Microbiology Association at UNE, Member (August 2005-
May 2009), Vice-president (May 2006- May 2007).

16. CONFERENCES/PRESENTATIONS
POSTER:
• Margaret Colon, R. K. Hajela, Y. Yuan and W. D. Atchison. “Ion channel gene
transcription is affected differentially in rat cerebellum after postnatal
methylmercury exposure”. Society of Toxicology 2011 Annual meeting. March 8,
2011. Washington, DC.
• Margaret Colon, R. K. Hajela, W. D. Atchison. “Expression of Nerve Membrane
Proteins in a Naturally Occurring Ca+2 Channelopathy”. Ronald E. McNair
Undergraduate Research Symposium. August 5, 2009. East Lansing, MI.
ORAL:
• Margaret Colon, R. K. Hajela, W. D. Atchison. “Expression of Nerve Membrane
Proteins in a Naturally Occurring Ca+2 Channelopathy”. Ronald E. McNair
Undergraduate Research Symposium. August 6, 2009. East Lansing, MI.
• Margaret Colon, A. Terry, M. Bagdasarian. “Structure- Function Relation of the
EpsG Protein of Vibrio cholerae”. Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement
(RISE) Undergraduate Research Symposium at Universidad del Este. October 3,
2008. Carolina, P.R.

17. AWARDS:
• Honorable mention, Perry J. Gehring Diversity Student
Travel Award for the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Society of
Toxicology (SOT) in Washington, D.C. , March 5, 2010
• Neuroscience Fellowship, Department of Neuroscience,
Michigan State University, September 2009 and January
2010.
• Best Poster Presentation Award at the 3rd Undergraduate
Research Symposium in The School of Medicine at
Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR. , May 2009
• Travel Award for the 48th Society of Toxicology Annual
Meeting, Baltimore, MD. , March, 2009

18. REFERENCES:
• Francis Crick
School of Biosciences
University of Kent
Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ
fc777@kent.ac.uk
• Debbie Hackett, Manager
BHS
High Street
Folkestone CT17 5RU
dh@hotmilk.com