Pick a clean template that highlights your research, publications, and technical skills. Use a reverse-chronological layout so your latest projects and postdoc work appear first.
Keep length tight. One page works for early-career molecular physicists. Two pages work if you have many peer-reviewed papers or multiple lab leads.
Use ATS-friendly fonts like Calibri, Arial, Georgia, or Garamond. Set body text to 10–12pt and headers to 14–16pt. Leave ample white space and consistent margins so reviewers can scan your methods and results fast.
List clear sections: Contact, Summary or Research Focus, Experience, Education, Skills, Publications, and Selected Presentations. Use standard headings so both humans and ATS find key items.
Avoid complex columns, heavy graphics, and embedded tables. Those elements break ATS parsing and hide important info. Use simple bullets and short achievement lines that show measurable outcomes, like reduced error rates or improved resolution.
Watch common mistakes. Don’t use nonstandard fonts or tiny text to squeeze in content. Don’t overload with irrelevant details like unrelated part-time jobs. Don’t forget to align dates and job titles in a consistent way.
For technical sections, include concise method names and tools. Highlight techniques like spectroscopy, cryogenics, or computational modeling near the top. Tailor your keywords to the job posting so your resume passes software filters and reaches a human reader.