Recently, I read an article from XRDS: Crossroads, The ACM Magazine for Students (vol. 31, issue 3, 2025). You can find it here. The article is called “Connecting with Your Future Professor: A Practical Guide” by Ph.D. students Swati Rajwal and Avinash Kumar Pandey at Emory University.
Even though the guide is written for students planning to apply for Ph.D. programs, it immediately reminded me of my own experience cold emailing professors to ask about research opportunities as a high school student. Honestly, their advice applies to us too, whether we are looking to join a lab, collaborate on a small project, or simply learn from an expert.
I wanted to share a quick summary of their practical tips for anyone who is thinking about reaching out to professors for research.
1. Engage Deeply with Their Research
Before emailing a professor, make sure you understand their work. This doesn’t mean reading every single paper they’ve ever published, but you should:
- Look up their Google Scholar or university profile to see what topics they focus on
- Read their most cited papers to understand their main contributions
- Explore other outputs like software tools, patents, or public datasets they’ve created
Knowing their research deeply shows that you are serious and respectful of their time.
2. Interact with Their Current Students or Lab Members
If possible, find ways to connect with their current Ph.D. students or research assistants. You can:
- Learn about the lab environment and expectations
- Get advice on how to prepare before joining their group
- Understand the professor’s mentoring style
For high school students like me, this might feel intimidating, but even reading lab websites with student profiles or LinkedIn posts can give hints about the culture.
3. Use Digital Platforms Strategically
The guide suggests checking:
- Personal websites for updated research, upcoming talks, and recent publications
- Social media (if they are active) to get a sense of their latest projects, collaborations, and sometimes even their personality
Of course, it’s important to keep boundaries professional, but this context can help you write a more personalized email.
4. Join Open Academic Forums or Reading Groups
Some research groups host open reading groups, seminars, or webinars. Joining these:
- Exposes you to their research discussions
- Gives you a chance to ask questions and show your interest
- Helps you see if their group aligns with your goals and interests
Even if you’re a high school student, you can check if their university department posts public seminar recordings on YouTube or their website.
5. Watch Their Talks or Lectures Online
Many professors have guest lectures or conference presentations recorded online. Watching these helps you:
- Learn their communication style and main research themes
- Feel less nervous if you end up meeting them virtually
- Prepare thoughtful questions when reaching out
6. Attend Academic Conferences
This might be harder for high school students due to cost, but if you get the chance to attend local NLP or AI conferences, take it. These are the best places to:
- Introduce yourself briefly
- Ask questions after their talks
- Follow up later via email referencing your in-person interaction
7. Request Virtual Meetings (Respectfully)
Finally, if you email a professor to ask about research opportunities, consider asking for a short virtual meeting to introduce yourself and learn about their work. The guide emphasizes:
- Doing your homework beforehand
- Being concise in your request
- Understanding that not all professors have time to meet, so be respectful if they decline
Key Caveats They Shared
The authors also noted a few important reminders:
- Citation counts don’t always reflect research quality, especially for newer professors or niche fields
- Other students’ experiences in the lab might not fully predict yours, so reflect on your own goals too
- Digital research is great, but it shouldn’t replace direct communication
- Always plan ahead for conference interactions or virtual meetings
Final Thoughts
Reading this article made me realize that building connections with professors is not just about sending one perfect cold email. It’s about understanding their work deeply, showing genuine interest, and being respectful of their time.
If you’re a high school student like me hoping to explore research, I think this guide is just as helpful for us. Professors might not always say yes, but thoughtful, well-informed outreach goes a long way.
Let me know if you want me to share a template of how I write my cold emails to professors. I’ve been refining mine and would love to help others start their research journey too.
— Andrew
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