Cold Email Research Template
Dear ____________,
I am (your name), a (grade) student at (school). I recently came across your works in (their field of study), particularly your research on (title of research article — best if rephrased). Your unique techniques of (techniques they used) and (techniques they used) coincides with my desire to research (why you want to research this field).
I have taken (AP/related course), (AP/related course), and (AP/related course), which has given me strong foundational knowledge on (relevant skill), (relevant skill), and (relevant skill). With my experience in (current extracurricular), my interest in this specific area of (field of study) has increased as well as skills of (skill gained from extracurricular), (skill gained from extracurricular), and (skill gained from extracurricular.)
I would love to contribute these skills in your lab to conduct research or intern in your lab to further understand (topic of their research article) and your current projects. I would be honored if we can schedule a brief interview to discuss my interest in your research and potential for collaboration. Please let me know the date and time!
Sincerely,
(Name)
Cold Email Tips
Before you reach out to a professor, make sure to…
find the field of study that interests you
read the professors publications to get familiar with their works
think about what you would like to learn from them
mention relevant skills that you can bring into their research (statistics, coding, research skills, etc.)
know that it is best to reach out to professors who are actively or currently conducting research. A professor who has not published in a paper in 20 years will most likely not answer you!
understand that professors are busy. Do not be discouraged if no one answers!
Where can I find professors?
There are two ways:
Go to a scholarly, academic journal database. Search the topic you are interested in. Read the research article. Look into the authors and reach out to them.
Search "(college name) + (science field) + directory". For example, "Northeastern biology directory". Find a professor that studies the field you are interested in. Read some of their publications.
What schools should I cold email?
Start with schools that are close to you, like community colleges. This way, you may work in the lab in person and experiment with cool technology. The chances of those professors answering are slightly higher because of the close distance as well as lower demands in research from other students. However, send emails to top schools as well. Although, the research experience might be virtual.
How many cold emails should I send?
Typically, people send around 10-20 cold emails. Make sure to focus on quality, not just quantity.
When should I send cold emails?
Because professors are often busy, it is important to email ~1-3 months ahead to give them time to get back to you.
Email feminineempowermovement@gmail.com if you have questions!