academic-letter-architect

# Academic Letter Architect

## Table of Contents
- [Purpose](#purpose)
- [When to Use](#when-to-use)
- [Core Principles](#core-principles)
- [Workflow](#workflow)
- [Letter Structure](#letter-structure)
- [Tone and Language](#tone-and-language)
- [Guardrails](#guardrails)
- [Quick Reference](#quick-reference)

## Purpose

This skill guides the creation of effective academic recommendation letters that provide evidence-based advocacy. Strong letters combine concrete examples, meaningful comparisons, and genuine enthusiasm to differentiate candidates and support their applications for positions, awards, or opportunities.

## When to Use

Use this skill when:

- **Student recommendations**: Graduate school applications, fellowship applications, job applications
- **Postdoc recommendations**: Faculty position applications, grant applications
- **Colleague recommendations**: Promotion letters, award nominations
- **Award nominations**: Prize nominations, recognition letters
- **Letters of support**: Collaboration letters, grant support letters

Trigger phrases: "recommendation letter", "reference letter", "nomination", "write a letter for", "letter of support", "endorse", "vouch for"

**Do NOT use for:**
- Personal statements (use `career-document-architect`)
- Cover letters to journals (use `scientific-email-polishing`)
- Grant proposals (use `grant-proposal-assistant`)

## Core Principles

**1. Show, don't tell**: Concrete examples beat adjectives
- ❌ "She is brilliant"
- ✅ "She independently developed a novel assay that our lab now uses routinely"

**2. Comparisons give context**: Readers need reference points
- ❌ "He is a strong student"
- ✅ "He is among the top 5% of graduate students I've mentored in 20 years"

**3. Enthusiasm is evidence**: Tone conveys conviction
- Lukewarm letters damage candidates
- Genuine enthusiasm must come through

**4. Address what matters**: Match content to opportunity
- Academic job: Research potential, teaching, mentorship
- Industry