Faculty who run labs are almost always looking for talented people to work on research projects. Sometimes they have money to support students, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they are advertising a position, sometimes they aren't. But most people running research labs are frequently saying things like "If only I had the right person to work on this fantastic idea or project...." Faculty often believe that their research success (publishing and funding) is talent limited. On the other hand, students often complain that they contacted 40 faculty about positions and got no responses. How can both of these be true?
The first reason is that faculty are busy doing other things. Even if they really want someone to help with a project, they often are not actively looking for people. They may have higher priorities other than hiring a new person. But another important reason is that often when students approach faculty they do so in a way that is ineffective. While there are many ways of doing this well, below are my tips to effective communication with faculty about research positions. For general rules about how to use e-mail look at this great article or this one which I summarize by saying that if you want a response to your e-mail, you should make it easy for me to respond.
1) Be honest. When it comes to your credentials, interests and motivation, tell it like it is. If you are looking for a research experience because you think it will help you get into medical school, say that. If you are curious about research, but don't have much experience, say that. If you know have 6 hours per week to devote to this work, let the faculty member know this.
2) Be complete. When contacting the faculty member don't make them draw information out from you across ten e-mails. In the first communication you should tell them all the essential information. This includes something about your motivation ("I want to go to graduate school in neuroscience"), your specific interests ("I took a course on neuroanatomy and was amazed by the detailed structure of neurons"), your time constraints ("I am looking for a position that would require < 10 hours a week in the Fall semester"). If you need the position for credit or for pay, include this in the first e-mail. Also provide a CV/resume of some sort. If you don't have one, make one. Ideally post it online (e.g. on LinkedIn) so you can update it. This is a crucial document for you. Its your calling card and if you are a college student, you should have a recent one.
Don't interpret this advice to be complete as meaning you should write a 500 line e-mail. It won't be read. Efficiently communicate the essential information.
3) Be informed. In the initial e-mail and certainly in an interview be knowledgeable about the faculty member's work, students they have had before, and even where they did their training or how long they have been at the university. This will help you seem interested and prepared.
4) Be respectful. Show up on time, respond to e-mail quickly. Follow up with a thank you note or (even better) with questions that demonstrate your interest.
5) Be enthusiastic. Research is hard, but can be rewarding. At some point during every research project there will be challenges and failures that decrease your enthusiasm and increase your frustration. If you start off seeming less than enthusiastic about the work, I am guessing that you are more likely to give up when things get tough. I am not likely to offer a position to someone who I think might stop working hard the first time they fail.
The first reason is that faculty are busy doing other things. Even if they really want someone to help with a project, they often are not actively looking for people. They may have higher priorities other than hiring a new person. But another important reason is that often when students approach faculty they do so in a way that is ineffective. While there are many ways of doing this well, below are my tips to effective communication with faculty about research positions. For general rules about how to use e-mail look at this great article or this one which I summarize by saying that if you want a response to your e-mail, you should make it easy for me to respond.
1) Be honest. When it comes to your credentials, interests and motivation, tell it like it is. If you are looking for a research experience because you think it will help you get into medical school, say that. If you are curious about research, but don't have much experience, say that. If you know have 6 hours per week to devote to this work, let the faculty member know this.
2) Be complete. When contacting the faculty member don't make them draw information out from you across ten e-mails. In the first communication you should tell them all the essential information. This includes something about your motivation ("I want to go to graduate school in neuroscience"), your specific interests ("I took a course on neuroanatomy and was amazed by the detailed structure of neurons"), your time constraints ("I am looking for a position that would require < 10 hours a week in the Fall semester"). If you need the position for credit or for pay, include this in the first e-mail. Also provide a CV/resume of some sort. If you don't have one, make one. Ideally post it online (e.g. on LinkedIn) so you can update it. This is a crucial document for you. Its your calling card and if you are a college student, you should have a recent one.
Don't interpret this advice to be complete as meaning you should write a 500 line e-mail. It won't be read. Efficiently communicate the essential information.
3) Be informed. In the initial e-mail and certainly in an interview be knowledgeable about the faculty member's work, students they have had before, and even where they did their training or how long they have been at the university. This will help you seem interested and prepared.
4) Be respectful. Show up on time, respond to e-mail quickly. Follow up with a thank you note or (even better) with questions that demonstrate your interest.
5) Be enthusiastic. Research is hard, but can be rewarding. At some point during every research project there will be challenges and failures that decrease your enthusiasm and increase your frustration. If you start off seeming less than enthusiastic about the work, I am guessing that you are more likely to give up when things get tough. I am not likely to offer a position to someone who I think might stop working hard the first time they fail.
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