Dissertation abstracts in CVs?

In our most recent "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

If a job doesn't explicitly ask for a dissertation abstract, is it okay (or even beneficial) to include one at the bottom of your CV?

Another reader seconded the question. I guess I think there's little risk of harm in doing this, but also probably not much upside. My experience is that committee members tend to use CVs to see whether a candidate has published, which courses they've taught (especially independently), and to see their overall accomplishments. When it comes to a candidate's original work, the research statement and writing sample seem to me like the main things that committee members will focus on.

But these are just my thoughts. Are any search committee members out there willing to weigh in?

Comments

[Mike Titelbaum]

Strictly addressing the question asked: It is definitely okay to put a one-page dissertation abstract at the end of your cv document. As for the rest: Speaking only for myself, I would definitely see it and read it as I worked through your file. It would contribute to my overall picture (along with the research statement) of what you work on.

[Bioethics Joe Shmoe]

Your mileage may vary, but...My first year on the job market I heard from a mentor the story of someone who missed out on an interview allegedly because they did not include a dissertation summary. I have considered it essential during applications since then!

IMO I think it is more important for those fresh out of gradschool and junior scholars, since the dissertation is likely your most substantial intellectual project to date. As you get further from the end of your PhD, I think the expectation is that you will have continued to develop your projects and work, and that the diss is no longer as informative or representative of what you've been up to.

[New Here]

I've noticed a number of recent job postings that emphasize the importance of original scholarship/research without asking for a research statement. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that including a dissertation abstract on your CV is a good way to convey key information about your work in the absence of a research statement.

I guess this leads me to a related question, then: for job postings like these, should one include a research statement anyway?

[Bill V.]

I used to see it recommended to include in the Education section, just under the entry for the PhD, a very brief description of the dissertation (just a couple of lines). I don't recall many candidates doing that recently. I didn't miss it. There are lots of other places in the file to learn about the dissertation (cover letter, reference letters, research statement). IMO the Research Statement is the most natural place to put a dissertation summary (and then describe the research plans that lead from it). A separate dissertation abstract would be fine but seems unnecessary. Remember that (as we discussed in a recent thread here) in most cases the dissertation isn't that important to getting hired, because it won't be what gets you tenure. If you have no other published research output, you need to emphasize the dissertation, but if you have any publications, it is time to highlight what you did and will do beyond the dissertation.

[like what Bill said]

I am Bill V, here. The c.v. is very much a HIGHLIGHTS statement of your accomplishments - the dissertation summary is too discursive for that context. Further, one should quickly (two years after defending, perhaps), have publications which put the dissertation in the shadows. Indeed, in most cases, the first publications will be from the dissertation, so the dissertation summary becomes unnecessary. Indeed, on seeing a dissertation summary, and NOT seeing any publication on the topic from a candidate two years out, I would wonder what has been happening.