How Faculty Can Tell the Story of Their Research
Your work as a faculty member isn’t just a collection of publications, conference presentations, or teaching accomplishments. Every piece of your scholarship contributes to the larger narrative your work as a scholar tells. Your research story shows the trajectory of your work, your impact, and your expertise.
A clear research story is key for securing promotion, tenure, and institutional recognition. It helps committees, colleagues (both in and outside of your discipline), and institutional leaders understand the significance of your work and the direction of your career.
What is a Research Story?
Every faculty member’s work tells a story. A research story in the narrative that connects your work across projects, publications, and presentations. It’s not just a list of accomplishments, or a restatement of the sections of your CV.
A research story is the thread that makes your scholarship and efforts coherent, compelling, and recognizable to colleagues, committees, and institutional leaders.
Your story presents:
The central question of your research
The methods and unique approaches you use to investigate these questions
The contribution your work makes to your field and the mission of your institution
How your work connects to broader conversations and future work
Developing a strong research story begins with understanding your research identity, the unique perspective that shapes your scholarship, and recognizing the thread that connects all of your work.
Why Research Stories Matter for Promotion and Tenure
Committees evaluate your academic achievements and publications not only in terms of the quantity of your work but also in terms of the quality of your effort. A strong research story allows you to:
Position your evidence of academic achievement as part of a clear, ongoing trajectory
Highlight the meaningfulness of your unique perspective and contributions
Communicate the significance of your work to colleagues across disciplines
Demonstrate the ways your scholarship and research is aligned with institutional goals and missions
A coherent story can turn an impressive list of accomplishments into a strong case for recognition and advancement.
Components of a Research Story
Like any good story, a clear research story has these core elements:
A central question: What drives your work? What are the big problems or themes you are addressing?
A unique approach: How do you investigate the questions you are asking? What makes your approach unique?
A valuable contribution: What does your research add to ongoing conversations in your field or discipline? How does it advance the conversation in your communities?
Possibilities: How does your research open up the possibility for future conversations or projects?
These components work together to present your work as part of a coherent narrative that clearly communicates the value of your expertise and research.
From Research Story to Career Clarity
A research story doesn’t only help with promotion materials. It also helps provide a structure for you to follow in your career by providing a
Guide for your book proposals, manuscripts, and presentations
Structure for your long-term research agenda
Framework for presenting your work in meetings, talks, and interdisciplinary collaborations
A research story helps you strategically frame your scholarship and move from listing your accomplishments on your CV to communicating why your work matters.
Next Steps
Your research story is a critical tool for career advancement, scholarly visibility, and influence. If you are preparing for promotion or tenure, consider how your story can:
Present your work with clarity and confidence.
Emphasize your unique contributions and expertise.
Demonstrate the connection between your scholarship and institutional and disciplinary goals.
At Creating Curiosity Coaching, we help faculty articulate their research story in portfolios, proposals, and presentations. Through expert guidance, strategic feedback, and one-on-one collaboration, we help your work resonate, demonstrate impact, and support career advancement.