Contacting Mentors

[PsychResearch]

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I am applying for postdoc research fellowships and some training programs require that one works with at least one mentor. I need to e-mail potential mentors. It's been a while since I've sent e-mails like this (since I was looking to get into grad school) and I honestly don't know how much and what to say to the mentor. I have written a statement of interest that is sort of long and I don't know if it's a good idea to attach it to the e-mail. This statement goes with the application to the program, but I need to find a mentor before I actually apply. The letter as it is now is addressed to the director of the program not to individual potential mentors. Will it be strange if I just send it as it is explaining that it will be part of the application or should I just tailor it for each potential mentor I'm sending e-mails to? Or perhaps only send a paragraph to introduce myself and then more details later?

How are these things usually done? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Pragma]

I am applying for postdoc research fellowships and some training programs require that one works with at least one mentor. I need to e-mail potential mentors. It's been a while since I've sent e-mails like this (since I was looking to get into grad school) and I honestly don't know how much and what to say to the mentor. I have written a statement of interest that is sort of long and I don't know if it's a good idea to attach it to the e-mail. This statement goes with the application to the program, but I need to find a mentor before I actually apply. The letter as it is now is addressed to the director of the program not to individual potential mentors. Will it be strange if I just send it as it is explaining that it will be part of the application or should I just tailor it for each potential mentor I'm sending e-mails to? Or perhaps only send a paragraph to introduce myself and then more details later?

How are these things usually done? Thanks in advance for any help.

I would just contact them via email informally. Send them your CV and let them know that you are interested in a research postdoc and would like to talk more if they are interested. Let them know that you can provide more information (pubs, letters, etc) and would like to discuss their research and how you might fit in.

In my experience, postdoc applications are a lot less formal. If any of the mentors are known to you through connections, use the connections. If not, then they are going to expect people to contact them if their program requires you do before applying (see bolded part). I wouldn't send the statement along at first contact. You probably can improve on it based on one conversation with a potential mentor, and they will see it eventually when you do apply. For some research postdocs, you may even sit down and craft the plan with your mentor (i.e., for NIH funding) before even applying for funding. But, based on your description, I would remain more conservative at first as they might prefer not to be overly bothered. Let them dictate the tone of the interaction after sending your CV.