Dr Emma Hodcroft

Please, *please* proofread your cover letter before you send it!

If you:
- Address the letter to a different person
- Reference a job that isn't the one you've applied to (like a medical residency?!)
- Leave in ChatGPT prompts "[insert x here]"

It doesn't look good! Take the extra few mins! 🙏

And I *do* get it - I would likely have eye-rolled my own advice in the dark days when I was frantically applying and very, very cynical. But now that I've reviewed hundreds of applications I also feel like I could write a much better application. So I'm trying to pass that on, if possible, to help.

And again, in other industries maybe it's different, but I don't recommend applying for hundreds of academic positions. Instead, figure out the ones you're best suited to & can make strong case for. Then your application is likely to get much further.

I can't speak for other industries, but last time I advertised 2 positions I received literally hundreds of applications. I try very hard to weigh up every one - but I'm not a mind reader, & I simply can't google/search every applicant - I have to work with what applicants send.

I'm really sorry you're finding it tough. Job applications are really hard, and repetitive, and draining - I remember it well - I was doing many of them just a few years ago. Academia is really f-ing tough. I can't fix the system with 1 post, but maybe this advice helps someone score a new position

Please do pass it on!

Perhaps someday I'll write a blog-post covering all my advice for job applications (particularly academic ones) - but I'm also aware that opinions differ widely, and I'm still pretty new to this side of the hiring game 😁

But - I hope this is at least a little useful!

7/7

- Don't copy/paste from the job ad
- Don't let ChatGPT copy/paste with a slight reword from the job ad
- Don't overuse ChatGPT - if it's not based off your ideas, it reads hollow & shows ('biology is important')
- Please get the job position & my name correct 😅 (I don't mean minor typos!)

6/7

Another couple quick tips:
- Highlight the parts of your CV/experience that are particularly relevant
- For academic background tell me *who* your supervisor was & *what* you did, for anything post-Bsc - not just the course title (this means little to me)

5/7

If you're really struggling try this: pretend you're explaining to a colleague, a friend, a family member why you'd love this job.
Record yourself doing it (Whatsapp/Signal to yourself works fine!) - then work that into your letter!

(I use this trick all the time when I'm stuck)

4/7

Don't be afraid to relax a little in your cover letter. Don't get too casual, but being overly formal can prevent your enthusiasm shining through.

I'm not seeking perfection - I'm seeking information! Trying to see the *you* through the application. Paint me a picture!

3/7

Google me. Google any projects I mention. Read about them. Think about them.

Then tell me your ideas. What would you do in this position? What parts really strike a note with you - and why?

I 💯 know this takes effort & job apps are endless & demoralizing - but it makes a huge difference.

2/7

My biggest, loudest job application advice:

WHY do you want this job? This SPECIFIC job? What about it interests you? What do you think of it? What can you bring to it?

I know this sounds obvious but a generic cover letter isn't doing you favours - really. *Show me you know the job!*

1/7

Please read the job ads for FULL descriptions & requirements for each position! Apply once to the position best for you.

This position is ONSITE in Basel, Switzerland - start: end-2025/early-2026

Work with an international, distributed team making a difference! ✊💃

5/5

What kinds of things will you be working on? ⚙️
- Design & deploy local genomic data storage solutions with Loculus 🧬
- Link ARTIC2 sequencing pipelines to Loculus & 1-click upload to Pathoplexus 🔗
- Integrate pathogen analytic pipelines into ARTIC2 software 🖥️

4/5

We're offering 1 position in 2 forms to find the ideal candidate:

- 🧑‍🏫 A post-doc position for those on an academic track: jobs.swisstph.ch/Vacancies/10...

- 🧑‍💻 A software engineer position for those without a PhD: jobs.swisstph.ch/Vacancies/10...

Both require strong programming background!🧑🏻‍💻

3/5

This is a unique opportunity to work on
- ARTIC2 (enabling affordable, portable, real-time sequencing)
- @pathoplexus.org (open-source platform redefining genetic sequence sharing)
- Loculus (Pathoplexus backend)

And make a tangible impact on global health & data equity! 🌍👐

2/5

An image showing the ARTIC and Pathoplexus logos connected by blue lines, with the text "Hiring: post-doc/software engineer" and "Global open-source pathogen tools" and "Join Swiss TPH, Work on ARTIC2 and Pathoplexus, Basel, Switzerland"

📢New job posting!📢
Are you excited by the idea of building global infrastructure to make pathogen sequencing more accessible, interpretable, and equitable? 🧑🏻‍💻🧬

My group at @swisstph.ch has an opening working with ARTIC2, @pathoplexus.org, & Loculus - read on!

1/5

Finally, the governance, rules, access policies etc are completely open: pathoplexus.org/about/

The one thing that is missing at the moment is secure funding. So get on to your funding agencies and tell them how important this is and that they be funding it. They also accept bitcoin.

Amid the incessant barrage of depressing science news, the development of Pathoplexus is a refreshing contrast—thanks to the work of @theo.io, @arambaut.bsky.social, @firefoxx66.bsky.social, & others.

With funding, Pathoplexus could abolish the many insanities now plaguing genetic surveillance.

I can't shout 📣 enough about this awesome new feature in @pathoplexus.org -- send sequences directly from the search interface to analysis in Nextclade!! Quick QC 🔍, mutation visualization 🦠, and phylogenetic placement 🌳 in SECONDS! ⏱️

BRB going to go include this in some lectures & workshops...!

Screenshot of the July Update News article on the Pathoplexus website

🗓️As we close in on 11 months of Pathoplexus, we’re pleased to announce many new direct sequence uploads and some exciting new features that expand Pathoplexus’ utility!

📰 You can see our full News Item here: pathoplexus.org/news/2025-07-14-july-update

1/9

Are you an excellent researcher in the field of genomics of infectious diseases of intracellular pathogens (viruses, intracellular parasites or bacteria)? The apply for this chair of excellence at the University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine:
jobs.unige.ch/www/wd_porta...

"The main contradiction of liberal democracy is that it has largely been shaped through a history of various friends of illegal civil disobedience against entrenched power structures. Such civil disobedience is (retrospectively) seen as justified, and the people committing it are (retrospectively) seen as heroes... But each successive generation is asked to believe that any further civil disobedience would be unreasonable."

Louder for the people in the back 📢

How can joint research keep us ahead of the next epidemic?

Emma Hodcroft (@firefoxx66.bsky.social) says global data sharing is key — and platforms like Pathoplexus make it faster and fairer. But reduced support for science threatens progress.

Read the full interview down below⬇️

I've no doubt these men are very deserving, but I think one has to raise an eyebrow at the process here. What did the applicant pool look like?

I know that a lot of today was really bad to any reasonable person (esp Gavi stuff), but I think that it would be wrong to count the ACIP meeting itself today as among that. Here's why I think that: Any fair-minded person listening to the discussion today could clearly see an undeniable truth.

Gemeinsam forschen gegen die nächste Seuche. Emma Hodcroft untersucht, wie unser Zusammenleben mit Viren die Krankheitserreger und uns verändert. Angesichts von Vogelgrippe, Ebola und Co. blickt sie mit Sorge auf den Kahlschlag der US-Regierung ...

I'm honoured to have been featured in @unibas.ch ‬ 's UniNova magazine! 🙏🙌
In my interview, I speak about the importance of @pathoplexus.org, what Enteroviruses can teach us, & the damage to science (& health) from the current US administration. [German]

www.unibas.ch/de/Aktuell/U...

Good for you! ✊🏻

A picture of Emma, the post author, on a train holding a homemade sign stating "the power of the people is stronger than the people in power"

My American friends: I hope you join me today.
To stand up for our freedom to assemble & our freedom of speech. To reject authoritarianism & dictatorship.
To demand the government be accountable to the people - not the reverse.

#NoKings #NoKingsDay #NoKingsProtest