What is a CV?

The curriculum vitae (CV) plays a central role in the life of academics, professionals, authors and artists.

The words ‘curriculum’ and ‘career’ are derived from the related Latin words currere (‘run’) and carrus (‘chariot’, cf. ‘car’).

‘Curriculum’ means “a course, especially a fixed course of study at a college, university, or school,” taken from a modern Latin transferred use of classical Latin curriculum “a running, course, career” (also “a fast chariot, racing car”), originally from currere “to run”. It has been used in English since 1630s (Etymology Online).

‘Career’ is a word from the 1530, meaning “a running (usually at full speed), a course”, from Middle French ‘carriere’ (‘road, racecourse’), old Provençal or Italian ‘carriera’, vulgar Latin (via) cararia (‘carriage (road), track for wheeled vehicles’, and originally from Latin carrus (‘chariot’). The sense of ‘general course of action or movement’ is from 1590s, hence “course of one’s public or professional life” (1803) (Etymology Online)

In other words, a CV is an account of the ‘course of life’, life course’ or ‘life career’ (or ‘life race’?). It is usually organized thematically and then chronologically within each theme.

The ultimate CV

As appendices to job applications and grant proposals and put on the web for the public gaze, the CV is continuously upgraded throughout the professional career. Professionals are thus well honed in writing in a complacent autobiographical mode throughout their whole career, and much autobiographical writing can thus be understood as a continuation and enlargement of the CV.

When retiring and transmogrifying into emeritus status, professionals no longer need to update their CVs. But many still wish to look back on their careers in a CV-like manner in order to explain, display and legitimize their work and achievements.

The professional autobiography is the ultimate curriculum vitae.

Curriculum vitae

Current
  • Professor emeritus, Medical Museion, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen.
  • Adjunct professor in history of ideas and learning, Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences, The Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology, Lund University.
Earlier positions and employments
  • Professor in history of medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1999-2016
  • Director of Medical Museion, University of Copenhagen, 1999-2016
  • Research fellow, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London, 2001-02
  • Research professor in science studies, Danish Research Councils, 1997-2002
  • Associate professor in theory of science, Roskilde University, 1996-99
  • Postdoc, Program in History of Science, Stanford University, 1991-92
  • Researcher, Center for Management Research (FA-rådet), Stockholm, 1987-89
  • Senior research fellow, Danish Council for Research Planning (Planlægningsrådet for Forskningen), 1981-84
  • Associate professor in biology, Roskilde University, 1975-96
  • Assistant professor in biology, Roskilde University, 1974-75
  • Teaching assistant in zoophysiology, Umeå University, 1971-73
  • Teaching assistant in biochemistry, Karolinska Institute, 1969-70
  • Research assistant in historical geology and paleontology, University of Stockholm, 1967-69
Education and academic degrees
  • Dr.phil. (habilitation), Roskilde University 1998
  • Unsalaried Reader (Docent), University of Copenhagen, 1990–
  • Ph.D. in theory of science, University of Gothenburg, 1986
  • B.Sc. supplement in theory of science, University of Gothenburg, 1977
  • B.Sc. supplement in history of ideas, University of Umeå, 1973
  • M.Sc. in historical geology and paleontology, University of Stockholm, 1972
  • B.Sc. in chemistry, zoology, historical geology and paleontology, and mineralogy, University of Stockholm, 1968
Awards and prizes
Postgraduate research supervision
  • Director of PhD Programme in Medical Science and Technology Studies (MEST) Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2010-15
  • Supervisor of 10 PhD-candidates, 1997-2016
Committees and Boards of Scientific Societies
  • Member of Board, European Association of Museums for the History of Medical Sciences, 2009-15
  • Elected member of the Council, History of Science Society, 2008-10; member of the Nominating Committee to Council, 2008-09
  • Member of the Faculty Research Committee, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University Copenhagen, 2003-06
  • Appointed Member of the Danish National Committee for History and Philosophy of Science (Nationalkomiteen for videnskabshistorie og videnskabsfilosofi), 1994-2009
  • Director of Danish Humanities Research Council’s Network for History and Philosophy of Science (SHF:s netværk for videnskabshistorie og videnskabsfilosofi), 1994-99
  • Chairman of Danish National Science Foundation’s Committee for Science Studies (Danmarks Grundforskningsfonds styregruppe for videnskabsforskning), 1994-95
Undergraduate and graduate teaching
  • Lectures in medical technology, Medical Engineering Programme, Danish Technical University 2006-12
  • Lectures, courses and thesis supervision in history of medicine and public health, Medical and Public Health Programmes, University of Copenhagen, 2002-12
  • Lectures, courses, tutorials and thesis supervison, M.A. Philosophy Programme, Roskilde University, 1976-99
  • Lectures, courses, tutorials and thesis supervision in history and philosophy of science, B.Sc. Basic Science Programme, Roskilde University, 1973-96
Services for the profession
  • Chair/member of professional evaluation committees: Professorship in history of science, UC Berkeley 1996;  Professorship in science studies, Boston University, 1997; Associate professorship in philosophy, Roskilde University, 1998; Associate professorship in theory of science, University of Gothenburg, 1998; Associate professorship in theory of science, University of Gothenburg, 2000; Professorship in philosophy of medicine, University of Copenhagen, 2001; Professorship in history of medicine, University of Oslo 2005; Rausing Professorship in history of science, Uppsala University, 2006; Associate professorship in history of medicine, University of Oslo 2009; Professorship in history of medicine, Yale University, 2011.
  • Chair/member of evaluation committees for 9 PhD dissertations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, 1991-2006.
Major grants
  • Head of Science Communication Programme, Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, 2011-15 (Novo Nordisk Foundation, 3 mill DKK/year)
  • Head of Science Communication Programme, Center for Healthy Aging, 2009-15 (Nordea Foundation, 1.2 mill DKK/year)
  • Principal investigator, Research Programme ‘Biomedicine on Display’, 2005-08 (Novo Nordisk Foundation, 14 mill DKK)
  • Principal investigator, Research Programme ‘Scientific Biography as a Science Studies Genre’, 1997-2002 (Danish Research Councils, 5 mill DKK)
  • Research grant, ‘A Biography of Nobel Laurate Niels K. Jerne’, 1988-91 (Swedish Humanities Research Council, 2 mill SEK)
Referee
  • Referee for Science in Context, Bulletin for the History of Medicine, Lychnos, University of Chicago Press, etc.
  • Referee for the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond), Bergen Research Foundation, Norwegian Research Council, Wellcome Trust History of Medicine Committee, etc.