Narrative CVs: Guidance for Researchers

Journey to Narrative CVs

Narrative CVs emerged from a growing recognition that the traditional methods of evaluating scientific research—primarily relying on quantitative, journal-based metrics like journal impact factors—were no longer sufficient. Funding agencies, academic institutions, and other stakeholders realized the need for a more qualitative and holistic approach that could capture the full breadth of a researcher's outcomes, skills, experiences, and impact.

A pivotal moment in this shift occurred in 2012. During the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology in San Francisco, a group of editors and scholarly journal publishers convened to address these concerns. Their collaboration led to the development of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). DORA's key recommendations advocated for eliminating the use of journal-based metrics in crucial decisions like funding, appointments, and promotions. Instead, it emphasized that research should be evaluated on its own merit, rather than on the reputation or impact factor of the journal in which it is published. This foundational principle laid the groundwork for the adoption of narrative CVs, which provide a richer, more contextualized understanding of a researcher's contributions and impact.

To learn more about the origin of Narrative CVs, read this short report from a workshop co-sponsored by the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and the Funding Organizations for Gender Equality Community of Practice (FORGEN CoP).

Narrative vs. Traditional CVs: Understanding the Shift

As defined by DORA, Narrative CV is a CV format that provides a structured, written description of researchers’ contributions and achievements that reflects a broad range of relevant skills and experiences, more than can often be seen in a traditional academic CV.

Unlike traditional CVs, which often list achievements quantitatively, narrative CVs prioritize quality over quantity. They give researchers a chance to explain how their work has impacted their field and society, highlighting the skills and experiences they've gained along the way, rather than simply listing research activities and outputs.

Basic Principles of a Narrative CV

• Be selective: only select contributions that are relevant to the proposed project for which you are seeking funding.
• Include evidence: substantiate impact with evidence. Rather than just stating activities, describe outcomes and how you enabled them.
• Think broadly: don’t limit the story of your impact to academic publications alone.
• Provide context: describe how your research activities and the opportunities you have had in your career have enhanced your skills.

General Guidance on Crafting an Effective Narrative CV

Guidelines for Creating a Tri-Agency Narrative CV

Tri-agency CV (TCV) is the narrative-style CV of the Tri-agency Council. This TCV type is being rolled out in phases and specific competitions requiring the TCV are/will be announced by the funding agency. Applicants are advised to use the TCV template for competitions where it is expressly required by the funding agency. A few things to note about the TCV are:

• Sections: consists of 3 sections - Personal statement, Most Significant Contributions and Experiences, and Supervisory and Mentorship Activities.
• Formatting: varies depending on the specific Tri-agency council (CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC).
• Page limit: 5 pages for CVs written in English and 6 pages for CVs written in French.

The instructions continue to evolve, refer to the Tri-Agency CV webpage for up-to-date information.

Reviewer Guidelines for Evaluating Tri-Agency Narrative CV

Reviewers are requested to refer to the specific funding opportunity/program evaluation criteria in assessing the TCV. The 5 categories of recommendations for reviewing the TCV include:

• Preparation
• Quality and impact
• Lived and living experiences and non-linear career paths
• Limited opportunities for student and postdoctoral researcher training
• Self-contained information

Refer to the guidelines for reviewing the TCV for SSHRC and CIHR for detailed information.

Generative AI Tool for Narrative CV Writing

The Narrative CV Assistant is a Generative AI tool designed to support University of Alberta researchers in their narrative CV journey by helping them to transform their research accomplishments into a compelling narrative that demonstrates their impact, expertise, and contributions.

Competitions Requiring Narrative CVs

List current as of November 2025.  

NSERC 

• Discovery Horizons (pilot)

CIHR

• Operating Grant: ECRs in Human Development, Child and Youth Health
• Team Grant: Strengthening Resilient and Equitable Public Health Systems (STEPS)
• Team Grant: Pan-Canadian Network: Emerging Learning Health System in Perinatal Mental Health
• Operating Grant: Leadership Award for Vaccine Research
• Operating Grant: Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health Through Research
• Team Grant: Healthy Youth
• Team Grant: Health Effects of Ultra-Processed Foods

**CIHR will introduce theTri-agency CV to the Project Grant program no sooner than for the Spring 2027 competition. To ensure applicants and reviewers have sufficient time to adapt to the new format, CIHR will provide at least a year's notice before implementation. More info here.

SSHRC 

• Impact Awards, Policy Innovation Partnership Grants, Canada Excellence Research Chairs 
• For the following competitions, SSHRC will not introduce the new tri-agency CVs until the transition to the Tri-agency grants management solution (TGMS) is complete. 

Insight Grants, Insight Development Grants, Partnership Grants, Partnership Development Grants, Partnership Engage Grants, Connection Grants and Canada Research Training Awards Suite.  

Key Resources for your Narrative CV Journey

To further support University of Alberta researchers in developing compelling narrative CVs, we have compiled a list of valuable resources. We encourage you to explore these materials as you prepare your narrative CVs.

1. Tri-Agency:
   • CIHR TCV Learning Tool: Tri-agency CV:Guidance for writing a narrative CV
   • Detailed guidelines from the Tri-agency council (CIHR) for completing the TCV: Tri-agency CV instructions - CIHR
   • Detailed guidelines from the Tri-agency council (SSHRC) for completing the TCV: Tri-agency CV instructions - SSHRC
   • Webinar from the tri-agency council: Tri-agency CV webinar
   • Detailed guidelines for reviewers reviewing Tri-agency narrative-style CV: Guidelines for reviewing the tri-agency CV
2. University of Alberta: 
   • Workshop slide deck Baseline Competencies and Practical Tips for Writing a Compelling Narrative CV
   • Workshop recording (summarized): Demystifying Narrative CVs
3. Other Canadian Universities
   • University of Concordia – Narrative CV
   • University of Calgary – Narrative CV Support: Knowledge to Impact 
   • University of Calgary – Most Significant Contributions Statement Guide 
   • Simon Fraser University – Narrative CVs: Prioritizing impact and influence
   • University of Winnipeg – Guidance for Narrative CVs for Canada Research Chair Applications
4. International Universities
   • University of Surrey – Resume for Research and Innovation (R4RI) – Narrative CV Approach
   • University of Dundee – Writing a narrative CV 
   • University of Edinburgh – Narrative CVs
   • University of Glasgow – Writing a narrative CV: a few tips
   • University of Oxford – Developing a narrative CV: guidance for researchers 
   • University of Sheffield – Narrative CVs 
5. Additional Resources
   • DORA – Changing the narrative: considering common principles for the use of narrative CVs in grant evaluation
   • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – Narrative CVs: what are they and why use them
   • Luxemburg National Research Fund – Narrative CV Workshop
   • Cancer Research UK – Narrative CVs
   • Nature – Time to rethink the scientific CV
   • University Affairs (Letitia Henville) – How to Write a Narrative CV
   • Research Impact Canada (RIC) - Resources (Narrative CV)

Further Support

For general inquiries: Contact Ibironke Popoola, Research Development Officer, Office of the Vice-President, Research (ibironke@ualberta.ca) 

For competition-specific support: Research Partner Network

• NSERC: Grant Kemp (grant.kemp@ualberta.ca) 
• CIHR: Gareth Corry  (gcorry@ualberta.ca )
• SSHRC : Craig Taylor (craig.taylor@ualberta.ca)

We will continue to update this page with new resources and information as the transition progresses. Please check back regularly for the latest updates.