Mathematics Professor Resume Guide

Mathematics professors typically work at colleges and universities, where they teach classes in mathematics and conduct research in their field. In addition to teaching, mathematics professors often advise students on their coursework and help them prepare for exams. They also write papers and give talks on their research findings.

You’re a math whiz with years of experience teaching at the collegiate level. But hiring managers in higher education don’t know who you are or what you can do. To get their attention, you need to write a resume that highlights your skills and accomplishments.

This guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a top-notch resume. We first show you a complete example and then break down what each resume section should look like.

The guide is divided into sections for your convenience. You can read it from beginning to end or use the table of contents below to jump to a specific part.

Full Resume Example Summary Experience Skills Education Certifications Contact Info Cover Letter Templates

Mathematics Professor Resume Sample

Gretchen Lindgren
Mathematics Professor

[email protected]
017-338-8694
linkedin.com/in/gretchen-lindgren

Summary

Hard-working mathematics professor with more than 20 years of experience teaching at the collegiate level. Skilled in designing and delivering comprehensive lesson plans to students ranging from introductory to advanced mathematics courses. At XYZ, created an online math course that was taken by over 400 students. Recognized as an excellent teacher by both peers and students alike, receiving multiple “Teacher of the Year” awards.

Experience

Mathematics Professor, Employer A
Sioux Falls, Jan 2018 – Present

Spearheaded the development and revision of various mathematics curriculum, course materials and teaching methods.
Guided and mentored over 40 students on research projects, theses and dissertations; helped them effectively communicate their findings through presentations and papers.
Effectively taught large undergraduate classes as well as upper-level graduate seminars; managed student evaluations and feedback with a positive outlook.
Researched extensively in the field of pure mathematics, publishing groundbreaking papers that have been widely cited by other scholars in the field.
Received tenure and numerous awards for excellence in teaching, research and service to the department/university.

Mathematics Professor, Employer B
Modesto, Mar 2012 – Dec 2017

Optimized lesson plans and teaching methods to better suit the needs of individual students, resulting in a 20% increase in test scores on average.
Facilitated small group and one-on-one sessions with students outside of class to provide additional support; helped raise D grade student to a B+ over the course of the semester.
Improved retention rates by creating engaging, real-world examples that illustrated key concepts being taught; students were able to apply what they learned more effectively as a result.
Mentored new teachers on lesson planning, classroom management and effective ways to engage with students; co-created training materials that are still used today.
Successfully completed all required continuing education units (CEUs) needed to maintain teaching certification, staying up-to-date on latest developments in the field of mathematics education.

Skills

Algebra
Calculus
Geometry
Number Theory
Discrete Mathematics
Probability
Statistics
Differential Equations
Linear Algebra

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

Certifications

Associate Professor of Mathematics
American Mathematical Association of Two-Year
May 2017

1. Summary / Objective

The summary should be a snapshot of your abilities as a mathematics professor. In it, you could mention the research grants you’ve been awarded, the publications you’ve written in well-respected journals, and your experience teaching at the collegiate level.

Below are some resume summary examples:

Driven mathematics professor with more than 9 years of experience teaching math to students at the college level. Proven ability to increase student engagement by using innovative teaching methods such as incorporating real-world examples into lectures. In 2020, authored a white paper on the use of machine learning for solving differential equations that was presented at the International Congress of Mathematicians.

Amicable mathematics professor with a focus on problem-solving and critical thinking. Proven ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible to students of all levels. Recognized for contributions to the department, including redesigning the curriculum for the introductory mathematics course sequence. Experienced in using technology in the classroom to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.

Seasoned mathematics professor with 11 years of experience in teaching, research and development at the college level. Proven ability to develop creative solutions to complex problems and a record of publications in top-tier mathematics journals. Seeking a challenging role at XYZ University that will allow me to continue my passion for teaching while also contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

Professional mathematics professor with 9+ years of experience teaching students ranging from grade school to college level. In 2016, won an “Outstanding Teacher” award, which is given to the top 3% of teachers in the state. Seeking to join ABC University as a mathematics professor to continue delivering high-quality education and research while also mentoring students on an individual basis.

Passionate mathematics professor with more than 7 years of experience teaching at the university level. Recognized as an excellent educator, having been awarded the “Teacher of the Year” twice in my career. In 2020, helped increase pass rates by 12% through innovative course design and delivery methods. Hoping to join ABC University to continue making a difference in students’ lives.

Determined mathematics professor with 9 years of experience teaching at the college level. At ABC, increased student performance in Calculus I by 20%. Authored 12 textbooks and 30 research papers, receiving 4 awards for scholarly excellence. Recognized as an excellent communicator who can break down complex concepts to make them more understandable.

Detail-oriented mathematics professor with 9+ years of experience. At XYZ University, developed and taught 3 new mathematics courses which improved student evaluations by an average of 28%. Seeking to leverage excellent communication skills to become the next mathematics professor at ABC University.

Reliable mathematics professor with 3 years of experience teaching students. At XYZ college, increased passing rates by 6% on average in all mathematics courses taught. Proven ability to adapt quickly to new course material and make complex mathematical concepts easier for students to understand.

2. Experience / Employment

The work history/experience section is next, and it should be listed in reverse chronological order (meaning your most recent job is at the top). Keep this section concise by sticking to bullet points; elaborate on what you did and any quantifiable results achieved.

For example, instead of saying “Taught mathematics courses,” you could say, “Successfully taught four undergraduate-level mathematics courses per semester with an average class size of 30 students.”

To write effective bullet points, begin with a strong verb or adverb. Industry-specific verbs to use are:

Taught
Lectured
Mentored
Guided
Advised
Counseled
Prepared
Created
Designed
Developed
Evaluated
Assessed
Analyzed
Investigated
Researched

Other general verbs you can use are:

Achieved
Compiled
Coordinated
Demonstrated
Expedited
Facilitated
Formulated
Improved
Introduced
Optimized
Participated
Presented
Reduced
Reorganized
Represented
Revised
Spearheaded
Streamlined
Structured
Utilized

Below are some example bullet points:

Demonstrated deep understanding of mathematical concepts and ability to apply them in solving complex problems during lectures and tutorials, impressing students and earning high evaluations.
Reorganized course curriculum for Algebra I, Pre-Calculus and Calculus courses, resulting in a 20% increase in student enrollment over the previous year.
Substantially lowered math anxiety levels among students by using real-world examples and breaking down difficult concepts into manageable steps; as a result, 95% of students passed the final exam.
Advised 30+ undergraduate mathematics majors on their choice of electives, graduation requirements and career options after graduation; helped 5 students secure internships at top tech firms.
Counseled 10 struggling math students on time management skills and study methods; all 10 went on to pass their respective courses with grades above 60%.

Taught mathematics to undergraduate and graduate students, covering a broad range of topics such as algebra, calculus, statistics and probability.
Presented lectures on advanced mathematics theories and concepts, using chalkboards, whiteboards and multimedia presentations to engage students in learning.
Prepared comprehensive course materials including syllabi, lesson plans and assignments that aligned with university curriculum requirements.
Structured class time effectively to ensure that all material was covered before the end of the semester; also provided additional review sessions prior to exams upon student request.
Confidently answered student questions during office hours regarding lecture content or homework assignments; helped them develop problem-solving skills by walking them through various examples step-by-step.

Coordinated the work of 4 teaching assistants, designed and implemented new teaching methods which streamlined the delivery of lecture material and improved student engagement by 15%.
Evaluated students’ understanding of mathematical concepts through daily quizzes and exams, adapted explanations and examples accordingly to ensure that all students grasped key ideas.
Reduced average grading time per student by 2 hours per week through the use of an automated feedback system.
Diligently attended departmental meetings and professional development seminars to keep abreast of changes in the field of mathematics education.

Meticulously planned and executed daily lesson plans for up to 30 students, covering a variety of mathematical concepts such as algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
Utilized innovative teaching methods to engage all students in the learning process and ensure that each individual reached their full potential; average test scores increased by 15% over the course of the year.
Achieved a 93% pass rate on state-wide standardized tests for 3 consecutive years.
Developed unique curriculum for special needs students that helped them to make significant progress in their understanding of mathematics; 2 out of 3 students achieved grade level proficiency within 1 year.
Compiled extensive data sets on student performance and created detailed reports outlining areas of improvement; shared findings with school administrators to help shape district-wide policy changes.

Represented the college in various mathematics competitions, coming first place on 3 occasions.
Analyzed data sets and formulated hypotheses to be tested using mathematical models; published findings in leading scientific journals.
Thoroughly researched new theories and concepts in mathematics, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
Formulated original problems and designed innovative solutions for complex mathematical challenges.

Assessed student progress and understanding of mathematical concepts through one-on-one consultations, exit interviews and group presentations.
Participated in curriculum development committees to design new mathematics courses and update existing ones.
Consistently achieved high student satisfaction ratings on end-of-semester evaluations for all classes taught.
Created innovative lesson plans and instructional materials that engaged students and facilitated learning.
Investigated novel approaches to teaching difficult mathematical concepts through independent research projects. .

Expedited the learning process for students by breaking down complex mathematical concepts into more manageable chunks and using real-world examples to illustrate key points.
Introduced new problem-solving methods that helped boost student grades by an average of 10%.
Independently developed and taught a graduate-level course on advanced mathematics, which was very well received by students.
Lectured on a variety of topics related to mathematics, including calculus, algebra, geometry and trigonometry, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

3. Skills

Job skills will vary depending on the position you are applying for. For example, one professor may specialize in algebra while another specializes in geometry. As such, it is important to tailor the skills section of your resume to each job that you are applying for.

This is essential because many employers today use applicant tracking systems (computer programs that scan resumes for certain keywords). If the skills listed on your resume don’t match up with what the employer is looking for, then your resume will likely be filtered out.

Once you have listed your skills here, you can further elaborate by discussing them in more detail in other areas of your resume, such as the summary or experience section.

Below is a list of common skills & terms:

Algebra
Calculus
Combinatorics
Differential Equations
Discrete Mathematics
Geometry
Linear Algebra
Number Theory
Probability
Statistics

4. Education

Including an education section on your resume is a must if you are applying for a role as a mathematics professor. Mention your highest degree earned, the name and location of the institution, and any relevant coursework. For example, “Ph.D. in Mathematics from UC Berkeley with focus on Algebraic Topology.”

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics
Educational Institution XYZ
Nov 2011

5. Certifications

Certifications and other qualifications show that you have the necessary skills and knowledge for the job. By including them in your resume, you are increasing your chances of getting hired.

If you have any teaching certifications, be sure to list them here. The same goes for if you have been certified by a professional body in your field of expertise. Any courses or training related to your work experience should also be included in this section.

Associate Professor of Mathematics
American Mathematical Association of Two-Year
May 2017

6. Contact Info

Your name should be the first thing a reader sees when viewing your resume, so ensure its positioning is prominent. Your phone number should be written in the most commonly used format in your country/city/state, and your email address should be professional.

You can also choose to include a link to your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or other online platforms relevant to your industry.

Finally, name your resume file appropriately to help hiring managers; for Gretchen Lindgren, this would be Gretchen-Lindgren-resume.pdf or Gretchen-Lindgren-resume.docx.

7. Cover Letter

A cover letter is a short document that introduces you to the company or organization you are applying to. It should be no longer than one page, and it should supplement your resume by providing additional information about your skills and experience.

While some jobs may not require a cover letter, having one can give you an edge over other candidates who have not submitted one. A well-written cover letter can help spark the interest of a hiring manager, which may lead to an interview.

Below is an example cover letter:

Dear Claire,

I am writing in response to your ad for a mathematics professor. With more than 10 years of experience teaching mathematics at the college level, I am confident I can provide your students with an excellent education.

My approach to teaching is based on three principles: first, that all students can learn; second, that learning is an active process; and third, that effective teaching must be tailored to the individual needs of each student. I have found that this approach leads to better understanding and retention of mathematical concepts by my students. In addition, I have developed a number of innovative techniques for teaching difficult concepts and helping students who are struggling with the material.

I am also very familiar with current developments in the field of mathematics, and regularly incorporate new ideas into my classes. For example, last semester I taught a course on differential equations using a computer algebra system for some of the homework assignments and exams. This enabled my students to work with symbolic expressions as well as numeric ones, and made it possible for them to visualize solutions in ways that would not have been possible using traditional methods. The feedback from my students was overwhelmingly positive.

In addition to being an excellent teacher, I am also a highly respected researcher in the field of abstract algebraic topology. My research has been published in several prestigious journals, including Transactions of the American Mathematical Society and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. I would be happy to discuss my research interests with you further during an interview.

Sincerely,

Gretchen