v2026.1CASRAI Dictionary 714 entries across 20 domains · CC-BY 4.0714 entries · CC-BY 4.0

Dictionary termTrack AStablev2026.2

Research statement

A document — typically 2-5 pages — in which a researcher describes their research programme: past contributions, current projects, and planned trajectory, written for academic job applications, fellowship applications, or research-evaluation exercises.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board

· Last updated 21 May 2026

Examples

Worked examples

Is an instance
A three-page research statement organised as 'Past Contributions', 'Current Work', and 'Future Directions'

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

Not an instance
A bullet list of grant titles is not a research statement in the academic-job-application sense

Editorial commentary

Distinct from a personal statement (which justifies fit for a specific opportunity) by focusing on the substance of the research. Distinct from a publication list by being a coherent narrative of intellectual programme. Common requirement for tenure-track applications in the US.

References

AAUP guidance on research statements
CRA Best Practices Memo on Tenure-Track Hiring

Also known as

Research narrative · Research programme statement

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element

xml

<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="Research statement"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/research-statement" />

Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)

json

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "DefinedTerm",
  "name": "Research statement",
  "identifier": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/research-statement",
  "description": "A document — typically 2-5 pages — in which a researcher describes their research programme: past contributions, current projects, and planned trajectory, written for academic job applications, fellowship applications, or research-evaluation exercises.",
  "inDefinedTermSet": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/domain/mentorship-training-and-career-stages/",
  "url": "https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/research-statement",
  "sameAs": [
    "Research narrative",
    "Research programme statement"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}

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