How to Reach Out to Professors for Internship Positions
How to find research internships and reach out to professors [1]
1. The first step is to do website search of the university or the institution you are trying to get the internship at. Start looking for faculty/labs doing research in area or topic of interest to you. When searching the website, try to search using generic words such as “cell biology” or more specific topics. Most professors and labs have their own websites that will provide lots of information about the various research programs taking place. You can also get an idea about the size of the lab by looking to see how many graduate students or post-doctoral students work in that lab. Generally, larger the lab, more chance a professor might be able to host an intern.
2. Compile a list of 6-8 faculty members or labs that you are interested in. Take note of the credentials and email address of the professor in charge. Emails are the preferred way of communication, phone calls to faculty members and professors are not recommended and usually ignored.
3. Next, draft a concise but compelling message, addressing it to Professor (last name). Your message should include following details:
· State the type of project you are looking for. State what subject area and what are some possible research questions you are interested in?
· Describe how a research internship or experience aligns with your current course of study.
· Briefly describe your availability for the internship, stating your approximate start and end dates).
· State the time- period you are interested in (summer only, part-time during semester or school year etc.). Many labs/professors will accept only summer interns unless you are a local high school student enrolled in a research course at your home school.
4. Attach a one-page Curriculum Vitae showing your contact information, course work completed at school (with grades), overall GPA, any other internships, work experience, summer programs you have participated in in the past, hobbies, skills, any prior research experience, or publications.
5. Professors are very busy professionals, and they receive lot of emails. It is not uncommon for them to not respond to your email at all. It is recommended that you send your request for internship to at least 6-8 professors, you have a good chance that one of them will reply. You can also send email to the graduate students in their lab, whose name may be listed on the professor’s lab website. Sometimes these types of emails are handles and replied to more promptly by the graduate students working with that professor. If you don’t hear anything after 2-3 weeks, it’s okay to re-send your message once. But after that if you don’t get a response, move on to other researchers, go back to the first step and repeat the process.
6. “Cast a wide net”. At this point you can take whatever you can get, scientist and researchers are busy people. Reach out to any many professors as you can.
7. Your chances go up if you state clearly in your letter that you will work for free as a volunteer, all you want is an opportunity to work under them.
8. Professors and researchers also like to hear that you have read about their work, or you are aware of what type of research they are conduction. Mention in your letter something like “I read up on your work on __________. Your research on ___________intrigues me because _________, and I want to contribute to ________project”. They like to hear that you are also willing to contribute to their work.
9. Patience and persistence are the key!!