u/FruitPunch-dr

What are your tips for writing an excellent cover letter? (Biomedical field, U.S. based universities)

• How much should be focused on what you bring to the lab vs what you are wanting to learn?
• How to make it more interesting or add a personal touch?

I despise writing cover letters. They always seem to come out dry, generic, and overly formal for me. My CV isn't great, I have only one first author manuscript about to be submitted, have presented at regional but not national conferences. I feel my cover letter needs to be strong to make up for this.