Contact the researcher(s) you most want to work with. Email is usually best, but students occasionally visit with faculty during office hours or after class (if the researcher is an instructor for a student's course).

Send an email.

Emails should be short (~5 sentences at most) and direct. Include the following information:

  • Your year and major
  • Your research interest interests
  • What caught your eye about their work (be specific)
  • A request to meet.
cancer 2

Dear Dr./Ms./Mr.,

I am a (your year) (your major) major at the UI. I am interested in learning more about research in (area of interest - Psychology, Genetics, 3D design, Museums, etc). Your research on (specific aspect of their work that caught your eye) looks like something I might be interested in. Would you have time to meet with me to talk a bit more about your work and the possibilities of getting involved in research in your area?

Sincerely/Thank you,

Your name

Follow Up

No response after a week? Researchers are busy, and your email may have been inadvertently overlooked or lost. Hit "Reply All" and send a brief note, indicating that you are making sure your original email was seen and that you are very interested in talking to them. We recommend no more than two follow-up emails. Be patient when it comes to waiting for a reply.

Meeting the Mentor

Did your heart stop for a moment when you read the email accepting your request to talk? Are you feeling a bit uncertain about the next steps?

Don't worry. Most students get nervous going in to meet a potential research mentor. Keep these things in mind, and you'll do great.

  1. Bring a resume. They may not ask for one, but if they do, you'll look very prepared.
  2. Keep calm. Unless you've both solidified that it is an interview, think of this as a chance to geek out a bit and learn about a really fun topic. 
  3. Be excited. Yes, still keep calm and don't freak out. But it is okay to show your excitement. Researchers want students in their lab who are motivated and interested in the topic. 
  4. Dress comfortably. You are your best you in comfortable clothes. If it is an interview, dress up a bit more. Otherwise, casual clothes that are clean and well kept are perfect.
  5. Follow up. After your meeting, send a "Thank You" email, regardless of the outcome.

Closing the Conversation

Don't be surprised if the conversation takes longer than you anticipated, but leave room for the conversation to end at the time you had agreed on. Two ways to close:

Your work is fascinating. I would love to do something like this. How would I go about getting involved in your group or in a group similar to yours?

Your work is amazing. I've been thinking that it would be interesting to do something along the line of _______. Do you know of anyone on campus who does something like that?

Addressing Compensation

Refer to "Compensation for your Research" page for more information. When discussing potential research involvement, be up-front if if financial compensation is vital for you. If there are no funds to financially compensate you, are they willing to support you in finding funds?