How to approach a professor about collaboration on a research project
The more you know about your research, the easier it will be for you to have a meaningful conversation with potential professor for collaboration. Knowing what kind of research you want to do allows you to ask the important questions that will lead you to the right professor for research.
Then, after knowing about research, talk to the professor about whether he/she knows of any research opportunities in that area. It helps if the professor already has a high opinion of you from good interactions in class and through office hours. Even if he/she doesn't have anything for you, they may be able to hook you up with a colleague.
If you are not able to meet the professor in person, write them a clear and coherent email with your resume and your transcript attached. Also, describe the kinds of problems you excel at. Special skills or a remarkable track record may give you a foot in the door.
Other common settings for professional interactions are social networks. Make use of Google+ and Facebook to post ideas for collaborations and to get cross-cultural projects going.
Timing is important. Research may not fit neatly into a semester. So, approach the professor at least a year before you graduate.
Resources:
1.
www.cs.jhu.edu/~jason/advice/how-to-work-with-a-professor.html2.
www.sciencemag.org/careers/2012/07/how-collaborate3.
www.aje.com/en/arc/my-experience-with-scientific-collaboration/How to approach a professor about collaboration on a research project
Approaching a professor is the very first step to begin your research career. Seems simple right? To go and ask a professor to work under his supervision in his lab? It is not so simple. Most of the time the professor you would want to work under is not from your university or does not know you. Also, when you start your research career you begin your journey in a highly competitive field. In this scenario the best thing is to take preparation before approaching the professor of your choice. Below is a step by step guide to make everyone’s life a bit easier.
Step 1: The first step is to choose the country of your choice (when you want to go for a degree from abroad.) Know the country’s requirement for studentship such as VISA, English proficiency exams and so on.
Step 2: Select your subject of research. Every topic has various sub topics such as biotechnology can include Reproductive cloning, Therapeutic cloning, Environmental biotechnology, Genetic engineering, Recombinant DNA, Tissue engineering. Do a prior research on the subtopics before choosing the preferred field.
Step 3: Selecting your professor. Go to the university’s website and chose the professor you would want to work under based on the bio given. Choose someone who has work and research papers published in the field of your choice. Also look for professor with a grant. You can find that information on the NIH website.
Step 4: Read some of the papers your professor of choice has published (recent ones are preferable). This would you help you understand the work the professor has done and help you to convince him to take you on as a research student.
Step 5: The email. Presumably this is the first direct contact you will make with the professor. The professor is a busy person who gets hundreds of applications to work under him. In such a situation your email must instantly grab his attention. The following sub steps can help you write a perfect email.
1. Subject matter: It must be precise and short. The Subject matter cannot be too fancy or too boring. Examples: To make acquaintance with “professor name”, pursuance to work under “professor name”.
2. Introduction: The first paragraph in the letter/email is Introduction of yourself. This would include information such as name, where you have studied, what work you have done, notable achievements and finally extracurricular activities. Ideally all of this would be concluded in three sentences.
3. Discussion of work: The second paragraph is about the professor’s work. This should be done 6 sentences ideally. The first 3 sentences would be depicting what work of his inspired you to want to join his lab. (use the information obtained in step 3 and step 4). In the last 3 sentences discuss the facilities in his lab that makes you want to join his team.
4. In the fourth paragraph write any other information you would like to give the professor about yourself.
5. Attachments. List the things you have attached in your email as per requirements. (CV, IELTS score, GRE score, transcript, reference letters). Scan all the papers and send them in PDF format.
TIPS:
Reference letters are key to get the attention of your professor of choice. Try to get good reference letters from your thesis supervisors and supervisor under whom you have done your internship.
While choosing a professor, talk to his previous students to understand whether you can work under him comfortably.
Happy researching everyone!!!!!
