What is a narrative CV / R4RI?
The Resume for Research and Innovation (R4RI) is a narrative CV designed to help you evidence a wider range of skills and experience. It provides a new format that prompts written descriptions of contributions and achievement which moves beyond traditional metrics-based CVs which are primarily lists of publications, employment and education history with little context.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) are introducing this approach as an inclusive, single format for CVs across UKRI. It is part of a wider UKRI ambition to create a more inclusive and supportive research and innovation culture. See how UKRI is supporting the community adoption of R4RI-like narrative CVs.
The four modules of the R4RI/narrative CV template prompt you to detail how you have contributed to the:
1. Generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies or knowledge.
e.g., skills acquired from past research projects, key outputs such as data sets, software, and research and policy publications.
2. Development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
e.g., management, supervision, or mentoring critical to the success of a team or its members, or strategic leadership in shaping the direction of a team, organisation, company or institution.
3. Wider research and innovation community
e.g., across disciplines, institutions, and / or countries, commitments such as editing, reviewing and committee work, positions of responsibility, aiding improvement of research integrity or culture, or strategic leadership in influencing a research agenda.
4. Broader research/innovation-users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
e.g., engagement across the public and / or public sectors or with the wider public, research which has contributed to policy development or public understanding, other impacts across research, policy, practice and business, and other research users.
Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI): guidance – UKRI
Our approach at Sheffield Hallam
At Sheffield Hallam, we piloted the use of R4RI-like narrative CVs in the 2023 calls for the Sheffield Hallam Research & Innovation Fund (SHRIF) and the Early Career Research & Innovation Fellowships. Academic staff with specific research ‘status’ are now asked to create and submit an annual Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (RIKE) plan and Narrative CV annually.
The experience of creating Narrative CVs and the usefulness of the support sessions and resources available was evaluated as part of the SHRIF scheme evaluation in July 2024, and via the Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey (CEDARS) in June 2025.
System support (Elements)
A module on the University’s Elements system can be used to develop and store evidence for Narrative CVs. Guidance and a recorded training session are available to support this. A Word template showing the open text questions was also created.
General guidance
See the Narrative CV Resources section.