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how to cold email for research opportunities?
Hi! I'm currently a sophomore and 15 years old. I want to start cold emailing for research opportunities, but I'm not sure where to begin. Should I email a professor or a graduate student and ask if they know of any professors who have openings? I saw someone recommend that approach. Do you have any tips or a template I could use? I don't have any impressive extracurricular activities or experience, but I am interested in pre-med. Please help!!
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6 answers
Updated
Aileen’s Answer
Hi Lily - Reaching out to new people can be tough, but it's a great opportunity to grow your network. Remember, you have everything to gain! Think about how you'd feel receiving an email. If it's personalized and touches on shared interests or connections, like schools or clubs, you'd be more interested, right? So, make your message stand out by including something that connects to the recipient and is unique about yourself. You've got this!
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Thirada’s Answer
Hi Lily! I'm not super good with cold emailing too, but I've done it a few times, and I've received tips from other people. Here's what I can tell you:
1. You can email professors who run a lab at a university or hospital near you. The hospital labs might do research involving patients, which could be better for your resume if you're pre-med.
2. Find information about that professor's research by looking at their lab website and reading their published papers.
3. When you email them, tell them what your interests are, and how that aligns well with what that professor is researching.
4. Express enthusiasm! You are excited to learn, and you have passion!
5. Ask if you can shadow/volunteer. Sometimes high school students can get paid, but I would imagine that's rare?
You should email many people/labs, and don't be surprised if several people don't reply. These professors/lab bosses are super busy and get way too many emails every day. If you keep reaching out to various labs, you may get lucky at some point. There are people out there who love teaching enthusiastic smart young students, and if you find one of those people, they could be happy to work with you! Good luck!
1. You can email professors who run a lab at a university or hospital near you. The hospital labs might do research involving patients, which could be better for your resume if you're pre-med.
2. Find information about that professor's research by looking at their lab website and reading their published papers.
3. When you email them, tell them what your interests are, and how that aligns well with what that professor is researching.
4. Express enthusiasm! You are excited to learn, and you have passion!
5. Ask if you can shadow/volunteer. Sometimes high school students can get paid, but I would imagine that's rare?
You should email many people/labs, and don't be surprised if several people don't reply. These professors/lab bosses are super busy and get way too many emails every day. If you keep reaching out to various labs, you may get lucky at some point. There are people out there who love teaching enthusiastic smart young students, and if you find one of those people, they could be happy to work with you! Good luck!
Updated
Margaret’s Answer
You can find PIs on the research websites of your target institution or university. You may have better luck if you reference recent papers or presentations that come out of that lab that of interest to you. And yes, asking current students, graduate students, technicians, post-docs, lab managers, or other staff can also be helpful, as you mentioned.
Updated
Jerome’s Answer
Yes! Building a network now makes a lot of sense! I’d include alumni associations for schools within the chosen discipline. Members will often work within the industry and may be able to open doors.
Hi! Thank you for your advice! Do you know where I can find email of those? Is it in the school website?
lily
If you type in the name of the school, you’re looking at plus the words, alumni association their website should come up. If you send them a message through Instagram, they should respond pretty quickly. There should also be an email address and maybe a phone number that’s easily accessible on the website.
Jerome Dees Jr.
Updated
Alton’s Answer
Hi Lily,
I landed my first research opportunities through cold emailing. At least four of them came from this exact approach while I was in college, so it definitely works.
When cold emailing, it’s always helpful to share the value you offer and to present an opportunity that may already exist that you can support. Since the recipient likely receives tons of similar emails, you don’t want to simply put the burden on them to figure out why you would be a good candidate. Clearly explain how your interests relate to their work and how you could realistically contribute.
I actually got my first research opportunity through a research opportunity database at my college. Since you’re in Chicago, I found one that may be helpful to you at the University of Chicago (https://ccrf.uchicago.edu/undergraduate-research/research-opportunity-search). They have a research opportunity search tool where you can filter by type of research and see what aligns with your interests. I’d recommend using tools like that to identify labs before reaching out.
Next, build a resume that includes any relevant activities or experiences. This can be club involvement, personal hobbies related to your professional interests, volunteer work, or coursework. The point is to give the recipient a document they can refer to that shows who you are. It allows them to advocate for you outside of the email if they’re interested.
I’d also recommend building foundational skills before reaching out. For example, if certain labs require data entry, learn Excel well. If they publish presentations, get comfortable with PowerPoint. Take free online courses in research fundamentals or basic statistics. This strengthens your resume and shows initiative. It also frames you as someone who is actively growing and learning, not someone who needs the opportunity to teach them everything from scratch. LinkedIn Learning is a great place to find free courses.
Ultimately, research labs are looking for contributors. They want someone who can start, be trained, and add value while executing tasks. So you want to make sure you’ve done the preparation to be ready for that opportunity. Building skills ahead of time makes your email stronger and makes you more confident when you reach out.
After that preparation is when I would start cold emailing.
In your cold email, include a clear subject line with your name and the opportunity you’re interested in.
In the email itself, be detailed but brief. Introduce who you are, your background, your specific interest in their research, your qualifications or skills you’re building, and suggest a next step like a short call or conversation. Attach your resume so they have more context and can potentially forward your information internally.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you’d like help refining a specific email or resume.
When you’re ready to email, here’s a structure you can use:
Subject line:
“Prospective Student Interested in [Lab Topic] – Lily [Last Name]”
Email body:
Hello Dr. [Last Name],
My name is Lily [Last Name], and I am a sophomore in high school in Chicago with a strong interest in pre-med and biomedical research. I recently read about your work on [specific topic], and I was especially interested in [specific detail about their research].
I am eager to gain hands-on research experience and would be excited to contribute to your lab in any capacity, including assisting with data entry, literature reviews, or general lab support. While I am early in my academic journey, I am highly motivated and currently building my skills in [mention any relevant skills].
I have attached my resume for your reference. I would be grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly if you are open to discussing potential volunteer or shadowing opportunities.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Best,
Lily [Last Name]
A few important tips:
- Keep it concise.
- Personalize every email. Mention something specific about their work.
- Attach your resume.
- Expect many non-responses. That is normal.
- Send 15 to 30 emails, not just 2 or 3.
You can email professors directly. You can also copy a graduate student if their email is listed on the lab site. Sometimes grad students respond faster and may advocate for you internally.
Most importantly, do not underestimate enthusiasm plus preparation. You do not need impressive achievements at 15. You need initiative, professionalism, and a willingness to learn which you already have! :)
If you want, I can also help you refine your resume or tailor an email to a specific lab you’re interested in.
Go to the University of Chicago Research Opportunity Database and filter by “Mentor” and “Research Opportunity.” Select areas aligned with pre-med such as Cancer, Microbiome, Public Health, Biostatistics, or Health Disparities. Make a list of 5 to 10 opportunities you are genuinely interested in and write one sentence about why each one stands out to you.
Take one foundational course related to the type of research you are targeting. For example, if you are interested in public health or health disparities, take a basic statistics or data analysis course. If you are interested in lab science, learn the basics of Excel, data organization, and scientific literature review.
Build or refine a one page resume that includes coursework, science interests, clubs, volunteer work, and technical skills. Even at 15, showing initiative and skill development matters.
Draft a cold email template that you can customize for each professor. Personalize it by referencing their specific research focus from the database description.
Set a measurable goal. For example: identify 10 labs, complete 1 skill course within 3 weeks, finalize your resume, and send 5 well researched emails per week while tracking responses and follow ups.
I landed my first research opportunities through cold emailing. At least four of them came from this exact approach while I was in college, so it definitely works.
When cold emailing, it’s always helpful to share the value you offer and to present an opportunity that may already exist that you can support. Since the recipient likely receives tons of similar emails, you don’t want to simply put the burden on them to figure out why you would be a good candidate. Clearly explain how your interests relate to their work and how you could realistically contribute.
I actually got my first research opportunity through a research opportunity database at my college. Since you’re in Chicago, I found one that may be helpful to you at the University of Chicago (https://ccrf.uchicago.edu/undergraduate-research/research-opportunity-search). They have a research opportunity search tool where you can filter by type of research and see what aligns with your interests. I’d recommend using tools like that to identify labs before reaching out.
Next, build a resume that includes any relevant activities or experiences. This can be club involvement, personal hobbies related to your professional interests, volunteer work, or coursework. The point is to give the recipient a document they can refer to that shows who you are. It allows them to advocate for you outside of the email if they’re interested.
I’d also recommend building foundational skills before reaching out. For example, if certain labs require data entry, learn Excel well. If they publish presentations, get comfortable with PowerPoint. Take free online courses in research fundamentals or basic statistics. This strengthens your resume and shows initiative. It also frames you as someone who is actively growing and learning, not someone who needs the opportunity to teach them everything from scratch. LinkedIn Learning is a great place to find free courses.
Ultimately, research labs are looking for contributors. They want someone who can start, be trained, and add value while executing tasks. So you want to make sure you’ve done the preparation to be ready for that opportunity. Building skills ahead of time makes your email stronger and makes you more confident when you reach out.
After that preparation is when I would start cold emailing.
In your cold email, include a clear subject line with your name and the opportunity you’re interested in.
In the email itself, be detailed but brief. Introduce who you are, your background, your specific interest in their research, your qualifications or skills you’re building, and suggest a next step like a short call or conversation. Attach your resume so they have more context and can potentially forward your information internally.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you’d like help refining a specific email or resume.
When you’re ready to email, here’s a structure you can use:
Subject line:
“Prospective Student Interested in [Lab Topic] – Lily [Last Name]”
Email body:
Hello Dr. [Last Name],
My name is Lily [Last Name], and I am a sophomore in high school in Chicago with a strong interest in pre-med and biomedical research. I recently read about your work on [specific topic], and I was especially interested in [specific detail about their research].
I am eager to gain hands-on research experience and would be excited to contribute to your lab in any capacity, including assisting with data entry, literature reviews, or general lab support. While I am early in my academic journey, I am highly motivated and currently building my skills in [mention any relevant skills].
I have attached my resume for your reference. I would be grateful for the opportunity to speak briefly if you are open to discussing potential volunteer or shadowing opportunities.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Best,
Lily [Last Name]
A few important tips:
- Keep it concise.
- Personalize every email. Mention something specific about their work.
- Attach your resume.
- Expect many non-responses. That is normal.
- Send 15 to 30 emails, not just 2 or 3.
You can email professors directly. You can also copy a graduate student if their email is listed on the lab site. Sometimes grad students respond faster and may advocate for you internally.
Most importantly, do not underestimate enthusiasm plus preparation. You do not need impressive achievements at 15. You need initiative, professionalism, and a willingness to learn which you already have! :)
If you want, I can also help you refine your resume or tailor an email to a specific lab you’re interested in.
Alton recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Neh’s Answer
When cold emailing, it’s usually best to contact professors directly, as they are the ones leading research projects and making decisions about new team members. In your email, be polite and concise: briefly introduce yourself, mention your interest in their field of research, and express your eagerness to learn and contribute, even if you don’t have much experience yet. You can also ask if they have any openings or know of others who might. Highlighting your genuine curiosity and willingness to work hard can go a long way. As for a template, you might start with a short introduction, explain why you’re reaching out, mention your interest in pre-med and research, and politely inquire about opportunities. Remember to proofread your email. Do not forget to follow-up in a few days or weeks as it works for you.