LinkedIn Profile
Present yourself in the same way your would at work, on a job interview, or at a conference. Professional. Capable. Credentials.
Table of Contents
Linked In Profile Checklist
Make your profile work as hard as you do.
👤 1. Profile Photo
✅ Professional but approachable (head and shoulders, good lighting)
❌ No lab selfies, party pics, or passport-style gloom
Tip: Lab coat optional. Smile encouraged.
🏷️ 2. Headline
✅ Go beyond your title — explain your role or research focus in plain English
➤ “PhD Candidate | Cancer Immunotherapy | CRISPR | Science Communicator”❌ Don’t just say “Graduate Student at MIT”
🧾 3. About Section (a.k.a. Summary)
✅ Write in first person. Tell your research story: what you do, why it matters, where you’re going
✅ Include keywords for your field so you’re searchable
✅ Add a line about what you’re open to (e.g., industry roles, collaboration, mentoring)
Tip: Think of it as a personal abstract — short, smart, and full of direction.
🧪 4. Experience
✅ Include your research positions (labs, fellowships, teaching assistantships)
✅ Use bullet points with verbs and outcomes
➤ “Developed a novel assay for X… Presented at Y conference… Mentored 2 undergrads…”❌ Avoid jargon overload — non-academics might read this too
📖 5. Education
✅ List degrees, institutions, and thesis titles (if relevant)
✅ Add awards, honors, and notable coursework or certificates
🧬 6. Publications, Posters & Projects
✅ Add a Featured section to highlight:
➤ First-author papers
➤ Media coverage of your work
➤ Linked blog posts, conference posters, talks, GitHub projects, preprints
Tip: Even a cool figure from your paper or a conference selfie can go here.
🌍 7. Skills & Keywords
✅ List technical and transferable skills (e.g., Python, microscopy, grant writing, project management)
✅ Pin your top 3 most relevant skills
✅ Use the vocabulary that shows up in job listings you care about
💬 8. Endorsements & Recommendations
✅ Get a few colleagues or mentors to endorse your skills
✅ Ask 1–2 people to write recommendations, especially if you’re job hunting
Tip: Write one for someone else first — it’s the best way to get one back.
🔗 9. Custom URL & Contact Info
✅ Clean up your LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/in/yourname
✅ Add a professional email (not your .edu if you’re leaving soon)
✅ Optional: Include a personal website, ORCID, or GitHub link
Next Level LinkedIn Profile
Optimize
Plan for SEO and keywords.
Be forward looking for the job you want.
Look at the resumes and profiles of people in the job you want.
Use keywords from job postings.
