I'm very intent on getting into a research lab at my school. My school is known for its research and I really think a lot of what's being done on this campus is interesting. I want to be a part of it. I want to see what is being done. And I believe it would be a great learning experience. As well as this, it would be another opportunity to get to know a professor better for a LoR.
I really got along with one of my professors this quarter and I asked about working in her lab. She told me to send her an email that "expressed my explicit interest" in her lab and that she would forward it to the undergraduate coordinator in her lab. I'm somewhat confused by what she wants. I know vaguely what her lab does and I have looked at a couple past publications that I don't entirely understand...I do not know what is currently being done by her grad students as her projects' page is blank. Do I merely mention that I'm intrigued by the evidence they've gathered supporting this and that? Mention that I wonder why this is the case and would like to help discover the answer? Do I say I hope to learn about the particulars of cell plasticity and gene expression while in their lab? Or does she want me to express what about the NS I find interesting so she can direct me to a particular grad student who is doing something similar?
In the event that she doesn't offer the experience I'd like (it may just be washing glassware), I also want to send out numerous emails to several other professors whose work I find interesting. Again, I'm simply not sure how to format the email. A simple "I am intrigued by this particular approach you have taken...I'm curious as to why such and such works...I have a couple years' time to donate to your lab and would be willing to start soon..."? The method around here indeed seems to be to cold email professors.
I have no lab experience but am a Junior (transfer student). Please help me land a position! I really do want to get something good.
I really got along with one of my professors this quarter and I asked about working in her lab. She told me to send her an email that "expressed my explicit interest" in her lab and that she would forward it to the undergraduate coordinator in her lab. I'm somewhat confused by what she wants. I know vaguely what her lab does and I have looked at a couple past publications that I don't entirely understand...I do not know what is currently being done by her grad students as her projects' page is blank. Do I merely mention that I'm intrigued by the evidence they've gathered supporting this and that? Mention that I wonder why this is the case and would like to help discover the answer? Do I say I hope to learn about the particulars of cell plasticity and gene expression while in their lab? Or does she want me to express what about the NS I find interesting so she can direct me to a particular grad student who is doing something similar?
In the event that she doesn't offer the experience I'd like (it may just be washing glassware), I also want to send out numerous emails to several other professors whose work I find interesting. Again, I'm simply not sure how to format the email. A simple "I am intrigued by this particular approach you have taken...I'm curious as to why such and such works...I have a couple years' time to donate to your lab and would be willing to start soon..."? The method around here indeed seems to be to cold email professors.
I have no lab experience but am a Junior (transfer student). Please help me land a position! I really do want to get something good.