AJE | BEN MUDRAK, PHD WRITING A COVER LETTER - cover letter science example

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AJE | BEN MUDRAK, PHD
WRITING A COVER LETTER
THE GOAL OF A GOOD COVER LETTER.
The cover letter is your chance to lobby on behalf of your manuscript. The letter is far from just a formality and
should be written with the same care as your manuscript's text (if not more). Ultimately, your cover letter is
designed to influence the decision of the editor to send your manuscript out for peer review.
The letter will argue that your manuscript is a good fit online submission system, but it is proper to provide it
for the journal you are submitting it to and highlight in the cover letter, too.
your most important findings. You should also assure the
editor that there are no conflicts of interest that would
Begin your cover letter with a paragraph that states
affect the decision to publish your manuscript.
the name of the manuscript and the names of the
authors. You can also describe what type of manuscript
your submission is (research article, review, case study,
etc.). In this first paragraph and the next, describe the
In the end, your cover letter rationale behind your study and the major findings from
should interest the editor your research. You can refer to prior work that you
enough to read your paper have published if it is directly related.
carefully and choose to Next, write a short paragraph that explains why your
send it for peer review. manuscript would be a good fit for the journal. Do
not simply state that your manuscript is "of interest
to the field" or "novel." Address specific aspects of the
journal's Aims & Scope statement.
Sometimes great science will be reviewed regardless of
the cover letter, but a well written cover letter is useful
If the journal expresses interest in research with a
for the vast majority of scientists who want to make their
clinical application, be sure to highlight the importance
research stand out.
of your work in terms of clinical implications. If the
journal mentions that it focuses on nanostructured
THE STRUCTURE OF A COVER LETTER. materials, explain how your work involved such
A cover letter should be written like a standard business materials. Even if your work is not a perfect fit for the
letter (see below). Address the editor formally by name, journal, be sure to address some of the Aims & Scope
if known. Include your contact information, as well. This statement, and explain why your manuscript would be
information is probably available through the journal's of interest to the journal's readers.
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Finally, close with a brief paragraph indicating the following:
? The manuscript is original (i.e., you wrote it, not copied it)
? No part of the manuscript has been published before, nor is any part of it under consideration for publication at
another journal
? There are no conflicts of interest to disclose
? List potential reviewers (only if requested by the journal)
? Mention any researchers who should NOT review your manuscript
Together, this information provides assurance to the editor that
your manuscript merits consideration for publication in their
journal and that you are interested specifically in their journal.
OTHER TIPS.
? You can get away with a little more flowery, grandiose speech in a cover letter than you can in your abstract or
introduction. Grab the editor's attention!
? Use this letter to emphasize the highlights of your manuscript and tell why it would be exciting for that journal's
readers.
? Don't use the letter as an opportunity to speak negatively about your competitors or address any researcher
politics. Focus on the strength of your work and why others will want to read it.
? The cover letter can be the difference between an initial rejection and a manuscript being sent for peer review.
Spend time writing your letter, and have a colleague proofread it before you send it. Remember to italicize the
name of the journal and any species names.
? Some possible mistakes include irrelevant material (e.g., citing some of your prior studies that are not related),
distracting details (e.g., listing sample sizes and p-values), and repetition of information
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SAMPLE COVER LETTER
My Name
University of Research
804 Research Drive
Los Angeles, CA, USA 90210
310-555-1234
m.name@researchu.edu
Dr. John Editorian
Editor-in-Chief
Journal of Science
August 3, 2012
Dear Dr. Editorian:
I am pleased to submit an original research article entitled "Neofunctionalization of polymerase rho in Ustilago
maydis" by Albert Postdoc and My Name for consideration for publication in the Journal of Science. We previously
uncovered a role for polymerase rho in DNA repair in U. maydis [citation], and this manuscript builds on our prior
study to determine the evolution of this unique enzyme.
In this manuscript, we show that polymerase rho... [list a few important results].
We believe that this manuscript is appropriate for publication by the Journal of Science because it... [specific link
to the journal's aims & scope]. Our manuscript creates a paradigm for future studies of the evolution of essential
enzymes in yeast.
This manuscript has not been published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. We have no
conflicts of interest to disclose, but we do respectfully request that Dr. Glen Meanie not review our manuscript. If
you feel that the manuscript is appropriate for your journal, we suggest the following reviewers:
[list reviewers and contact info, if requested by the journal]
Thank you for your consideration!
Sincerely,
My Name, PhD
Professor, Department of Evolutionary Mycology
University of Research
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How to create a compelling cover letter?Writing a Compelling Cover LetterIntroduce Yourself. Grab the reader's interest with your opening paragraph. ...Explain Why You Are the Best Candidate. Next, describe what you can bring to the role. ...Be Enthusiastic About the Role. ...Summarize and Request a Follow-Up. ...

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• AJE | BEN MUDRAK, PHD WRITING A COVER LETTER