Contacting Faculty
Reaching out to faculty can be intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Most faculty have mentored undergraduate students before and will be happy to meet with you. Writing an email that is clear, professional, shows your understanding of their work, and articulates your interests and goals will make it easy for them to agree to a meeting.
You can reach out to more than one person! Approach these requests for a meeting as a chance to expand your network, explore your interests, and learn more about research.
Tips
- Write a customized email to every faculty member you reach out to.
- Address them as Dr. or Professor (in academic environments, professional titles are preferred over Mr., Ms., etc.) unless they request otherwise.
- Introduce yourself – your name, year, degree program, etc.
- Why are you contacting them? Share your interests, let them know you’ve read/seen some of their work, and say what interests or excites you about their field of research. This should be concise but explicit – why did you contact them specifically?
- If a faculty member, graduate student, or staff member suggested you talk to this person, include that in the email.
- Share any experiences or strengths you have related to their field of work (e.g., related coursework you’ve taken).
- Ask for a meeting or a conversation.
- Do not ask for a job in your email!
- You should include the kind of mentor relationship/research opportunity you are interested in. For example, “I’m interested in completing a senior thesis on topic Y, “I’m hoping to gain experience working in a research lab,” or “I’m interested in designing a project on X.”
Sample Email
Dear Professor/Dr. Last Name,
My name is (NAME) and I am a (freshman/sophomore/etc.) majoring in (field). I’m contacting you because I’m interested in (insert your research interest or career interest).
I looked at your (faculty profile/lab website/portfolio) and am interested in your work. (State main reasons you are interested in their work. This is a good place to mention a publication or other piece of their work related to your interest).
I’d like to get involved in undergraduate research because (1-2 reasons you want to do research). I hope to (complete a senior thesis/develop my research skills/gain experience/etc.). I have taken (relevant courses/coursework with person you are contacting) and have (any relevant experiences).
I would like to set up a meeting to discuss your (research/description of work if creative scholarship) and (potential opportunities you see for me to get involved in research/description of work if creative scholarship OR insights into developing a project on Y OR more information about interests). I’m available (days and times). I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
NAME
Dear Professor X,
My name is Vlad Dracula, and I am a sophomore majoring in Wildlife Biology. I’m contacting you because I’m interested in improving the conservation of disliked and misunderstood species, with a particular interest in vampire bats.
Dr. Y recommended your work to me when we met to talk through my interests earlier this semester. I’m very interested in your work after looking at your faculty profile, especially your publication on changes in the willingness of a community to conserve tarantula habitat after an in-school spider education campaign.
I’d like to get involved in undergraduate research because it seems to me that most conservation programs focus on likeable species, and it isn’t clear if the same methods work when the species of interest is problematic, creepy, or mistrusted. I would like to gain experience doing research in the field and eventually complete a senior thesis. I have taken the required freshman courses for my degree, and I have experience in working with bats.
I would like to set up a meeting to discuss your research and any potential opportunities you see for me to get involved in conservation research at UM. I’m available on Mondays and Fridays between 12 and 2. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Vlad