Dear Prof. [NAME],
Paragraph 1-- a brief introduction. You may want to include:
Your name and your year
Your major(s), minor(s), or other areas of focus
A sentence that explains, briefly, why you are writing (to inquire about undergraduate research)
Paragraph 2-- your research interest. This should be the bulk of your message.
Explain why the professor’s research is appealing to you. What problems or issues in the field or society does their research address? Are you motivated by similar concerns?
Reference a specific project or paper that you looked into and found interesting. You do not need to explain or summarize the content of the paper/project here, but rather describe why it aligns with your interests and goals.
You might also include a sentence or two about past experiences, coursework, projects, or skills that are relevant to the work you aim to do with this professor.
You may indicate something about your long-term plans, e.g. graduate school, a job in XYZ industry, and connect the research to your professional ambitions.
Paragraph 3-- a polite and concise closing. You can keep this short and to-the-point. Offer to set up a meeting or a Zoom call with the professor to discuss more. Thank them for their time and provide your contact information.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
Dear Prof. [NAME],
Paragraph 1-- a brief introduction. You may want to include:
Your name and your year
Your major(s), minor(s), or other areas of focus
A sentence that explains, briefly, why you are writing (to inquire about undergraduate research)
Paragraph 2-- your research interest. This should be the bulk of your message.
Explain why the professor’s research is appealing to you. What problems or issues in the field or society does their research address? Are you motivated by similar concerns?
Reference a specific project or paper that you looked into and found interesting. You do not need to explain or summarize the content of the paper/project here, but rather describe why it aligns with your interests and goals.
You might also include a sentence or two about past experiences, coursework, projects, or skills that are relevant to the work you aim to do with this professor.
You may indicate something about your long-term plans, e.g. graduate school, a job in XYZ industry, and connect the research to your professional ambitions.
Paragraph 3-- a polite and concise closing. You can keep this short and to-the-point. Offer to set up a meeting or a Zoom call with the professor to discuss more. Thank them for their time and provide your contact information.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]
Dear Prof. [NAME],
Paragraph 1-- a brief introduction. You may want to include:
Your name and your year
Your major(s), minor(s), or other areas of focus
A sentence that explains, briefly, why you are writing (to inquire about undergraduate research)
Paragraph 2-- your research interest. This should be the bulk of your message.
Explain why the professor’s research is appealing to you. What problems or issues in the field or society does their research address? Are you motivated by similar concerns?
Reference a specific project or paper that you looked into and found interesting. You do not need to explain or summarize the content of the paper/project here, but rather describe why it aligns with your interests and goals.
You might also include a sentence or two about past experiences, coursework, projects, or skills that are relevant to the work you aim to do with this professor.
You may indicate something about your long-term plans, e.g. graduate school, a job in XYZ industry, and connect the research to your professional ambitions.
Paragraph 3-- a polite and concise closing. You can keep this short and to-the-point. Offer to set up a meeting or a Zoom call with the professor to discuss more. Thank them for their time and provide your contact information.
Sincerely,
[your name and contact information]