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Cover letter

A well-written cover letter clearly explains why the submission will be of interest to the journal's readers.  

It should also be used to highlight any potential issues such as related manuscripts currently under consideration in any other Springer Nature publication, as well as indicating whether you have had any prior discussions with a Springer Nature editor about the work described in the manuscript.

It is an opportunity to declare that the manuscript is not being considered for publication in any other journal and recommend or exclude reviewers (including the reasons why).

Finally, it can be used to address any issues encountered while submitting the manuscript. 

Cover letter checklist:

• Check the journal’s Instructions for Authors for any cover letter requirements on the journals homepage.
• Address the editor who will be assessing your manuscript by their name, if known.
• Include the date of submission and the journal you are submitting to.
• First paragraph: Include the title and article type (e.g. review, research, case study)  and briefly explain the background and question you sought out to answer and why.
• Second paragraph: Concisely explain what was done, the main findings and why they are significant.
• Third paragraph: Indicate why the readers of the journal would be interested in the work by showing how your study fulfils the aims and scope of the journal and point out the importance of it. 
• To conclude, state the corresponding author and any journal-specific requirements that need to be complied with (e. g. ethical standards).
• All cover letters should contain these sentences: "We confirm that this manuscript has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and agree with its submission to [insert the name of the target journal]."

For more detailed information, please check How to submit a journal article: Cover letters . 

For a complete tutorial on article submissions, please check Submitting a journal manuscript and peer review .

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• Published: 03 September 2021

Crafting cover letters

Nature Geoscience volume  14 ,  page 633 ( 2021 ) Cite this article

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Cover letters are a ubiquitous but hidden part of the publication process. We share our thoughts on the effective and efficient crafting of these letters and their role in our editorial decision-making.

Cover letters highlighting a study’s conclusions and sharing details relevant to the review process are important parts of manuscript submissions, even if they are only ever read by authors and editors. The writing of these letters can, however, seem like an additional burden. In the interest of helping our authors write these letters, we’ve put together thoughts from the editors at Nature Geoscience .

First off, our decisions to proceed to review are based only on an assessment of the broader relevance, novelty, and importance of a study’s main conclusions, following a careful reading of a manuscript and relevant background literature. Manuscripts need to stand on their own — cover letters can provide editors with valuable context, but our decisions are not based on their content. They can, for example, clarify whether a study matches the journal’s scope, especially if this is not readily apparent after a fair reading of the manuscript. Outlining the place of conclusions relative to open, important scientific questions or debates within research communities is also helpful.

Don’t fret over how to address your letter — a simple ‘Dear Editor’ is all that’s required. They can be addressed to specific editors, especially if you have had a prior interaction. We always aim to match submissions to editors based on subject expertise, but this is not always guaranteed (though editors frequently consult with each other). While it ultimately won’t affect our editorial decisions, try to ensure that the letter is addressed to the correct journal before you submit. In some instances, this may not be possible — like when a manuscript is transferred from another Nature Portfolio journal. We of course recognize that manuscripts may have been previously submitted to other journals, but do keep in mind that studies must only be submitted to one journal at a time and our scope may be different.

Keep it concise. This is your chance to have a casual conversation about your work with the editor and a single page is typically enough. Don’t worry too much about grammar or tone, we appreciate that many of our authors are not writing in their first language and, as with our reading of manuscripts, we always focus on the scientific content and not the writing style. It’s fine to be excited (we appreciate you’re talking about the end result of a lot of hard work), but keep hyperbole to a minimum. It is a lot more useful to explain why a study represents an important scientific finding instead of repeatedly declaring it so — again, the novelty and advance of your study should stand on its own. If the work has broader societal or policy relevance beyond the geosciences, that can also be discussed. Keep the focus on the study itself and not the resumes of the authors.

Cover letters are especially important for initial manuscript submissions, but we also strongly encourage their inclusion with resubmissions. They do not have to be long but should bring to the attention of the editor any confidential issues that aren’t suitable for the response to reviewers’ comments.

References to other studies are not required, but can be useful in some circumstances. Cover letters are the right place to explain how the current study relates to other published or (especially) yet-to-be published work by you or your co-authors, especially in light of our dual publication policies . Please be up-front if the publication of your study will be contingent on publication of another. If this is the case, it is still fine to submit the manuscript but we might ask that the associated manuscript be included in the files sent to reviewers. We consider novelty when choosing which papers to send to review, so a brief discussion of other studies with apparently similar conclusions might be appropriate if the overlap is substantial.

Recommend a few relevant reviewers that cover the range of topics and methods in the study. We may or may not use these recommendations if the paper is sent to review, but it can help expedite the review process regardless. These suggested reviewers should ideally not have published previously with the authors of your study, or at least not for some time, and should not be affiliated with the same institutions as any of the authors on the manuscript.

Feel free to exclude reviewers but keep it reasonable. There is no obligation to provide an explanation for these exclusions, especially if only a handful of names are included. However, we do discourage the wholesale exclusion of entire lab groups and their alumni.

If choosing the option of double-blind peer-review , all identifying information about the authors, including the authorship list, acknowledgments, and author contributions statement, should be removed from the main text and pasted in the cover letter instead.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing cover letters, but the most important thing we hope to see as editors is clear enthusiasm and excitement for your work.

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Crafting cover letters. Nat. Geosci. 14 , 633 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00824-y

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Published : 03 September 2021

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00824-y

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Natural Scientist Cover Letter Samples & Examples That Worked in 2024

How to build an appealing natural scientist cover letter

Natural scientists work to understand the inner and outer workings of nature, from predicting weather patterns to studying the stars. Becoming a natural scientist takes years of specialized training and education, as well as an excellent cover letter that showcases your credentials .

In this guide, we discuss the 5 essential elements to include on your natural scientist cover letter. Continue reading to learn all about:

• Creating a well-crafted natural scientist cover letter header and headline
• Tailoring your natural scientist cover letter to specific employers
• Crafting a compelling introduction for your natural scientist cover letter
• Describing your best skills and achievements as a natural scientist
• Concluding your natural scientist cover letter with a persuasive statement

1. Create a well-crafted natural scientist cover letter header and headline

Every great natural science cover letter starts with a well-crafted cover letter header and cover letter headline . These elements give your cover letter a visual structure and help the employer to visually navigate the first half of the letter.

Starting with your cover letter header, this is where you will place your key identifying information, such as your name, professional title, and professional contact information.

Your header should also include a formal address for the company you are applying to.

Here is an example of a well-formatted natural scientist cover letter header

Nick Socks , Natural Scientist (123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | linkedin.com/in/nick-socks

To: Green Lab Research Center Natural Science Department 1234 Street Address Everglades City, FL 34139

Following your header and a few spaces past it is where you will place your cover letter headline.

A headline is similar to a title and should contain at least one relevant keyword, as well as an eye-catching adjective and/or verb.

Here is an example of a well-written natural scientist cover letter headline

My 3 Research Findings that Have Enhanced My Natural Science Knowledge & Can Benefit Your Lab

2. Tailor your natural scientist cover letter to specific employers

Whenever you write a cover letter as a natural scientist, it is crucial to tailor that letter to a specific employer. By doing so, you show the employer you have excellent attention to detail and make your cover letter stand out from competing job applicants.

Tailoring a cover letter is done by researching the employer, their company, and key facts that you can reference throughout your letter (such as company goals or projects that are relevant to your skills).

You should also take the time to figure out who at the company handles hiring processes and create a personalized greeting that addresses this person by name.

Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings

Dear Lab Supervisor Henry McDonald,

• Dear Mr. Henry McDonald,
• Dear Mr. Henry McDonald & the Natural Science Department,

3. Craft a compelling introduction for your natural scientist cover letter

A compelling introduction is an essential element for keeping an employer interested in what you have to say and convincing them right away that you are a qualified candidate for the job.

To write a compelling introduction, you should include:

• A concise summary of your professional history
• Any specialized areas of knowledge you possess in natural science
• A brief statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company

Remember to keep your introduction short, sweet, and packed with concise detail!

Here is an example of a compelling introduction from a natural scientist’s cover letter

I am a natural scientist with 6+ years of experience studying rain patterns in the western region of Asia. Given your institution’s current research on Asian climates, I believe my experience in this field can be of great benefit to your team.

Find out your resume score!

4. Describe your best skills and achievements as a natural scientist

After completing your introductory statement, the next key element to include in your cover letter is an in-depth discussion of your relevant skills and achievements .

Skills and achievements are important to describe in detail and with good contextual background, as they can help demonstrate to the employer:

• Why you are a great fit for their company or institution
• What real-life value you can bring to the table that can benefit their company or institution
• What types of achievements you may be able to accomplish for the employer

Here are 6 natural scientist skills that are great to describe in a cover letter

• Handling technical lab equipment
• Conducting experiments
• Gathering and analyzing data
• Researching natural environments
• Gathering and storing environmental samples
• Collaborating with large scientific teams

Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a natural scientist cover letter

As a natural scientist at [Former Employer], I led a project in partnership with local environmental authorities to create and maintain protected natural wetlands. This project resulted in a 55% decrease in flash flooding in the local area, as well as saving more than $700K annually on local property water damage costs.

5. Conclude your natural scientist cover letter with a persuasive statement

The last element to create for your natural scientist cover letter is a thoughtful and persuasive closing statement . In this conclusion, your main goals are to convince the employer to contact you promptly and to express your gratitude to them for reading your letter.

Always include a formal sign-off on any cover letter your write!

Here is an example of a great closing statement from a natural scientist cover letter

It brings me great joy and excitement to be considered for this position and I humbly extend my thanks for taking the time to review my letter. I hope to hear from you soon and am available to speak or meet any day of the week between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To best reach me, please give me a call at (123) 456-7890.

With Sincerity,

[Applicant Name]

If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two .

Nikoleta Kuhejda

A journalist by trade, a writer by fate. Nikoleta went from writing for media outlets to exploring the world of content creation with Kickresume and helping people get closer to the job of their dreams. Her insights and career guides have been published by The Female Lead , College Recruiter , and ISIC, among others. When she’s not writing or (enthusiastically) pestering people with questions, you can find her traveling or sipping on a cup of coffee.

All science cover letter examples

• Agricultural Scientist
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All natural scientist cover letter examples

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Cover letter for your manuscript

A cover letter can be used to help convey a work’s importance to the editors. It should also be used to highlight any potential issues such as related manuscripts currently under consideration in any other Springer Nature publication, as well as indicating whether you have had any prior discussions with a Springer Nature editor about the work described in the manuscript. Please use the cover letter to declare that the manuscript is not currently being considered for publication in any other journal and, if necessary, please include any reviewers you wish to recommend or exclude (including the reasons why). Finally, the cover letter is a good place to include any other issues or anything you were unsure of, that you have encountered whilst submitting your manuscript.

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