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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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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.
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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.
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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!