Head of Career Advising
Published: July 15, 2025Many job seekers have misconceptions about the differences between a resume and a curriculum vitae (CV). In most countries, the terms have become interchangeable, referring to a one to two-page document that encapsulates your work history, skills, education, and qualifications. Within the U.S., however, resumes and CVs have distinctive qualities that set them apart. In this guide, we’ll explore the nuances of each document and how you can use them to accelerate your job search.
In the United States, CVs are used primarily by individuals such as physicians, legal professionals, scientists, and other academics to pursue research opportunities, fellowships, and roles within higher education. A CV is far longer than a traditional resume, with no limitations on the number of pages. It provides a complete picture of your academic achievements. Due to the unwieldy length of the average CV, it’s not a practical choice for job seekers looking for work outside of academia.
CVs are best suited for individuals seeking research positions and post-doctoral fellowships within the medical, legal, and scientific fields. They can also be utilized by professionals seeking faculty appointments and leadership roles at institutions of higher learning. A CV should generally not be used for job applications outside of academia.
Dr. Elena Marquez, PhD
[email protected] | City, ST | ORCID: 0000-0002-3948-5678 | LinkedIn | Personal Website
Molecular biologist with a focus on RNA-mediated gene regulation and therapeutic target discovery. Over eight years of research experience across academic and translational settings, with expertise in CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, long non-coding RNAs, and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Published in top-tier journals and presented at international conferences, with a strong record of interdisciplinary collaboration. Advanced degree in Molecular Biochemistry with postdoctoral fellowship in RNA Biology and Epigenetics ensures greater outcomes.
PhD in Molecular Biology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC | August 2015 – May 2020
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX | August 2011 – May 2015
Postdoctoral Fellow – RNA Biology & Epigenetics
Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA | July 2020 – present
Graduate Research Assistant – RNA Silencing Pathways
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Molecular Biology | August 2015 – May 2020
Marquez E, Shen Y, Larkin JM, Wu K. (2023) "Long non-coding RNA FZR-AS1 regulates enhancer looping in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer." Cell Reports, 45(12), 117889.
Marquez E, Dey M, Tanaka M. (2020) "Interplay between microRNA processing and RNA-binding protein sequestration." Nucleic Acids Research, 48(5), 2315–2330.
Tanaka M, Marquez E (co-first authors), Patel A. (2019) "Real-time imaging of RNA silencing activity using live-cell sensors." Molecular Cell Biology, 39(9), e00412-18.
2023 – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, RNA Biology Conference
Poster: "lncRNA-mediated enhancer activation in ER+ breast cancer cells"
2022 – RNA Society Annual Meeting, Boulder, CO
Oral Presentation: "Functional dissection of RNA silencing complexes in human cells"
2019 – Keystone Symposium: RNA Interference Mechanisms
Poster: "Imaging endogenous RNA silencing using real-time fluorescent reporters"
NIH F32 Postdoctoral Fellowship
National Institute of General Medical Sciences | 2021 – 2024
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
National Science Foundation | 2016 – 2019
Guest Lecturer
Stanford University Graduate Seminar in Molecular Genetics | Spring 2022
Lecture Topic: "RNA-based Therapeutics and Delivery Challenges"
Graduate Teaching Assistant
UNC Chapel Hill, Molecular Biology Laboratory | Fall 2017, Spring 2018
Dr. Marcus J. Ellison, MD
[email protected] | City, ST | NPI: 1468890102 | LinkedIn | Personal Website
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA | August 2010 – May 2014
Bachelor of Science in Biology (Honors)
Emory University, Atlanta, GA | August 2006 – May 2010
Internal Medicine Residency
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY | June 2014 – June 2017
Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD | July 2017 – June 2020
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD | July 2020 – present
Attending Physician, Division of Infectious Diseases
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD | July 2020 – present
Consulting Physician (Per Diem)
Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, MD | October 2021 – present
Clinical Research Fellow – HIV Treatment Outcomes
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health | 2018 – 2020
Ellison MJ, Granger K, Al-Khatib N. (2023) "Long-term retention in care among patients receiving PrEP in urban clinics: a five-year analysis." Journal of the International AIDS Society, 26(1), e26004.
Granger K, Ellison MJ, Patel T. (2021) "Impact of antimicrobial stewardship rounds on resistance trends in ICU patients." Clinical Infectious Diseases, 72(10), 1743–1750.
Ellison MJ, Zhang A, Roman C. (2019) "Predicting ART nonadherence using EHR data: a machine learning approach." Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(7), ofz257.
IDWeek 2023 – Washington, DC
Poster: "Retention in Care and Viral Suppression in PrEP Programs Across Demographics"
Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2022 – Virtual
Oral Presentation: "Longitudinal ART Adherence in Urban Health Centers"
IDSA Annual Meeting 2019 – Philadelphia, PA
Poster: "Machine Learning Predictors of Nonadherence in HIV Care: Model Performance and Clinical Implications"
Clinical Preceptor – Internal Medicine Clerkship
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine | 2020 – present
Lecturer – Introduction to Antimicrobial Stewardship (Fellows Seminar Series)
Johns Hopkins University | 2021 – 2023
Mentor – Scholarly Concentration Program
Johns Hopkins Medical Student Research Program | 2022 – present
Unlike a CV, a resume is a shorter document that provides a compelling overview of mostly your work. Its primary function is to quickly illustrate how your industry background, skills, and professional experience align with the position you’re applying for. While a CV has no limitations in terms of length, your resume should rarely exceed two pages outside of special circumstances.
You need to be more tactical when determining what information to prioritize on your resume compared to a CV. With only one or two pages, your content should be hyper-focused on conveying the strongest aspects of your work history that align with the target company’s needs. Depending on the situation, this may come at the expense of an association section or an older academic project. Conversely, an academic achievement might be more critical for a recent graduate than a customer service job they worked during college.
Resumes are used much more widely than CVs. Most companies within the private sector expect a resume that communicates your qualifications and experience in two pages or less. The most notable exception is if you’re pursuing a role within the federal government. This requires a federal resume with a similar structure to a CV, as you’re expected to include nearly all aspects of your prior background.
Carla Jennings
[email protected] | City, ST | Portfolio | LinkedIn
A results-driven project manager with nine years of experience leading cross-functional teams in software, infrastructure, and health care initiatives. A strong history of delivering multimillion-dollar projects on schedule and under budget through structured planning and proactive risk management. Adept at aligning project execution with business goals while improving data-driven decision-making for stakeholders.
Senior Project Manager
Optix Solutions Group, Boston, MA | August 2019 to present
Project Manager | NexusLogic IT Services, Boston, MA | June 2015 – July 2019
Project Coordinator | Infowise Systems, Worcester, MA | June 2014 – May 2015
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Systems | Northeastern University, Boston, MA | May 2014
Brandon Rhee
[email protected] | City, ST | Portfolio | LinkedIn
UX designer with seven years of experience delivering intuitive digital experiences in health tech, e-commerce, and SaaS. A strong history of translating user research into functional design systems that improve usability, increase engagement, and reduce cognitive friction. Adept at collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to align design with product goals and user needs.
UX Designer | Medisphere Health Systems, Seattle, WA | July 2020 to present
Product Designer | BrightPath Retail, Seattle, WA | September 2016 – June 2020
UX Intern | Kumo Interactive, Seattle, WA | June 2016 – August 2016
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Human-Computer Interaction | University of Washington, Seattle, WA | May 2016
The biggest differentiators between CVs and resumes boils down to length and focus. A CV is designed for the academic and research communities, enabling the candidate to provide more insights into what they’ve accomplished in their field than in their daily work. A resume is meant for more corporate job opportunities within the private sector.
Although AI capabilities have rapidly evolved in recent years, using them entirely to create a CV is not advisable. As an academic, your knowledge and expertise are far more reliable than content generated by ChatGPT. If your CV is found to be written by an AI, there’s also a chance your application might be rejected altogether. That said, AI tools can be used to format your previously existing content in a new template and to generate ideas about how to state an experience.
Using an AI resume builder is a valid option for job seekers outside of academia, but it’s important to use tools like ChatGPT strategically. If you let the AI do all of the writing, you’ll be left with a generic document that fails to capture your unique story as an industry professional.
