Tag: professor

How to Connect with Professors for Research: A Practical Guide (That Also Works for High School Students)

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

4,811 hits

0

How to Cold Email Professors for Research Opportunities as a High School Student: My Experience and Advice

One question I hear a lot from high school students (including from myself when I first started) is: How can I find a research opportunity if I don’t already have connections in academia? Many of us don’t have family or school networks tied to university research, so it can feel impossible to break in. But one effective way is through cold emailing professors.

In this post, I’d like to share my personal experiences and practical advice on how to approach cold emailing, especially if you’re a high school student aiming to start your research journey.

1. Identify Professors in Your Research Area

Start by thinking about what you’re genuinely interested in researching. For me, it was computational linguistics and NLP. Then, search faculty pages on university department websites to find professors working in that field. Look at their personal websites or lab pages to understand their recent projects and publications.

Here’s what I learned:
Even if a professor’s website only mentions research positions for undergraduates or graduate students, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re closed off to high school students. In many cases, if you are academically ready and motivated, they may be open to mentoring you as well.

2. Craft a Polite and Targeted Introduction Email

Your email should briefly:

  • Introduce yourself (name, grade, school)
  • Share your specific research interests
  • Explain why you are reaching out to them in particular, referencing their recent work
  • Mention any relevant projects you’ve done

When I reached out, I shared my school transcript, certificates (such as those from LinkedIn courses or my University of Washington summer class), and most importantly, my previous research projects and sample work. Demonstrating both preparation and passion makes a difference.

In my emails, I often referenced my nonprofit organization, Student Echo, and my research on analyzing survey data using LLMs. Show that you care about their work and that you want to learn under their guidance while contributing meaningfully to their projects.

3. Clarify Your Intentions and Expectations

Make it clear in your email that:

  • You are volunteering your time to assist with research
  • You do not expect compensation or an official title
  • You are simply seeking experience, mentorship, and an opportunity to contribute

Professors are often busy and have limited budgets. By clarifying that you’re offering help without adding financial or administrative burden, you make it easier for them to say yes.

4. Be Patient and Follow Up Politely

Professors receive many emails and have packed schedules. Wait at least two weeks before sending a follow-up email. In my case, some professors responded quickly with a clear “no” but were kind enough to refer me to colleagues. If they don’t, you can politely ask if they know anyone in their department who might accept high school students for research.

If you don’t hear back, don’t be discouraged. I cold emailed five professors at top-tier universities. Four didn’t work out, but one professor replied and became my first research mentor. That one response can change everything.

5. Prepare for Your First Meeting

Once a professor shows interest:

  • Set up a meeting (virtual or in-person, depending on location)
  • Before the meeting, email them your resume, sample research work, and a personal statement outlining your goals and why you’re interested in their lab

During the meeting:

  • Be humble, respectful, and grateful for their time
  • Show confidence and passion about your research interests
  • If they ask technical questions you don’t know, be honest and express your willingness to learn

In my case, after my virtual meeting, the professor invited me to attend his weekly lab meetings with his graduate students. Eventually, he assigned me to collaborate with one of his Ph.D. students. It was such an amazing opportunity, and I’m so grateful for his trust and mentorship.

Final Thoughts

Cold emailing professors can feel intimidating, but remember: every professor was once a student who started somewhere too. If you’re passionate, prepared, and polite, your efforts will eventually pay off. Even one “yes” can open the door to your first professional research experience.

I hope this post helps you take your first step toward finding a research opportunity. Feel free to let me know if you want me to share a sample cold email template in a future post.

Good luck, and keep pushing your curiosity forward!

— Andrew

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑