Contacting Faculty Mentors
Reaching out to faculty members (professors) can be intimidating, and the Office of Undergraduate Research offers suggestions for making the process easier and more approachable. Most faculty members have mentored undergraduate Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ before and will be happy to meet with you. Writing an email that is clear, professional, shows your understanding of the professor's scholarly work, and explains your interests and goals will make it easier for the faculty member to agree to a meeting.
It's generally wise to contact more than one person. Approach meeting requests as an opening for expanding your intellectual community, challenging yourself, delving into your interests, and learning more about research and creative scholarship.
Suggestions
- Write a customized email tailored to every faculty member you contact.
- Address the recipient as "Dr." or "Professor," followed by their last name(s), unless they request otherwise. In academic environments, professional titles are preferred over Mr., Ms., Miss, Mx., etc.
- Introduce yourself, sharing your name, year in school, degree program, etc.
- Explain why you are contacting them. Share your interests. Let them know you’ve engaged with some of their work. Describe what draws you to their field of research. This portion 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 professor, include that information in the email.
- Share any experiences you have related to their field of work (e.g., related coursework you’ve taken, a completed or planned internship or job).
- Ask for a meeting or a conversation and include the kind of mentor relationship and research/creative scholarship you are interested in experiencing.
- For example:
- "I’m interested in completing a senior thesis on topic Y."
- "I’m hoping to gain experience working in a research lab."
- "I’m interested in designing a project on X.”
- For example:
- Include an email closing/sign-off, followed by your full name (e.g., Sincerely, Thank you, Best wishes, Appreciatively).
- Note: Do not ask for a job in your email!
Sample Email
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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
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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