List acknowledgment on resume?

[Chauffeur2MD]

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Hi,

If I am listed in the acknowledgments of a peer-reviewed scientific article, can I put it on my resume? If so, should it go in the "publications" section? How have you done it?

Thanks very much!

 

[kapMD/PhD]

I wouldn't put it at all. it's nice that you were acknowledged, but really if you're not in the author section - no one cares - sorry. good luck with the application!

 

[DogFaceMedic]

I disagree a bit. I agree that it is not a publication, and few things blows a person's credibility quicker than presenting themself as an author when they are not. However, I think you definately should let admission committees know that you are actively involved in research work. How that is presented depends on what you did.

I had a boss (for only two weeks fortunately) who claimed he had over 300 publications. But 295 were bookreviews for a lay-reader's online magazine. Yes, I think he was a fraud.

 

[Chauffeur2MD]

I disagree a bit. I agree that it is not a publication, and few things blows a person's credibility quicker than presenting themself as an author when they are not. However, I think you definately should let admission committees know that you are actively involved in research work. How that is presented depends on what you did.

I had a boss (for only two weeks fortunately) who claimed he had over 300 publications. But 295 were bookreviews for a lay-reader's online magazine. Yes, I think he was a fraud.

Thanks to both of the above posters for your input. DogFace, that is a crazy story. I have definitely seen some exaggeration and possible fraud through my research experience, but that is just nuts. I would hope that most would be wise enough to look into the "journals" he published in. What a nut! I'm happy to hear you didn't have to deal with him for too long.

Your post actually brings me to another question: what should one do with publications that are non-scientific, but still in respectable publications. I have written several original (but non-research based) articles for a nationally distributed magazine. It's nothing that spectacular, but I would like to mention it. For anyone out there with non-scientific publication, do you have a separate section for these? If I were just applying to PhD programs, I probably wouldn't mention them at all, but maybe some MD adcoms might like it...?

 

[strangeglove]

I'd say it's fine to do if you are at an early stage in your career, i.e. applying to medical school. Later on, when you are expected to accumulate actual publications, it will seem trivial. I would say it's more appropriate to talk about it in your admissions essays ("I did such and such work in the lab, for which I was acknowledged in a paper in the Journal of So and So"), than in your resume.

 

[DogFaceMedic]

That is a great screen name, "Strangeglove."

And, yes I think you want to let people know that you have wide interests and talents, which are definately valued in most adcoms. If your pubs are in reputable magazines and journals, they are still pubs. Unfortunately, there are always a few prima donnas who only want to see students interested in their own research and never have a date on the weekend. You can never make those guys happy. You want to be accepted into a program that likes people with wide interests and potential. You will be happier and get more out of it. good luck.

 

[Chauffeur2MD]

Cool. Thanks for your help everyone. So the overall impression (for the benefit of future readers) that I get is:

Not appropriate for seasoned researchers later in career
May be OK for someone with little research experience
Better to mention in essays, interviews
Including non-bio-related pubs is OK, but it should be clearly indicated

Overall, try not to look like a fraud!

Good stuff, thanks!