Cold-emailing is a simple yet effective skill and allows you to access an infinite world of opportunities, even outside the research scheme!
A cold email is an unsolicited and personalised message to someone new. It’s mainly used to enquire, contact and seek opportunities.
When seeking a mentor, cold emailing a professor is one of the most utilised methods.
Your email should be formal and personalised - professors are incredibly busy. Contacting them with a clear message that expresses your objectives is what makes a great cold email.
As previously mentioned, a professor’s email can be found on the faculty page of their university’s website - make sure you’ve read up on at least one of their most recent papers related to your research topic and mention it in your email!!
Volume matters as much as quality. Aim to contact at least 10 professors per day - the more personalised outreach you send, the higher your chances of receiving a response. Treat it like a numbers game without sacrificing specificity, and make sure each email still feels like it was written for that professor only.
Additional Note: NEVER NEVER NEVER ask for a "research internship" in your email (speaking from experience). Internships are usually formal arrangements that often come with a stipend, which professors are generally unwilling to offer unless you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student at their institution and even then, it's rarely their default. Framing your request this way can make you seem uninformed and significantly reduces your chances of getting a reply.
Instead, ask to "contribute to their research" or "assist with their work", which ****signals genuine interest and allows the professor to define on their terms.
For some insight, take a look at the example below…
Best for students with no prior research experience
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Dear Dr./Prof. [Name],
My name is [Your Full Name], and I'm currently [studying field / in grade] at [school/institution]. I wanted to reach out because I've been reading about your recent work on [description of research], and I found your approach to [XYZ] really interesting.
I'm considering a career in [field], and I'd love the chance to learn more about research in this area and see where I could contribute. [Brief personal background: relevant skills, coursework, roles you'd want to take on.]
Would you be open to a short 15-minute call sometime to talk about whether there's a way I could get involved? Thanks for considering it.
Best, [Your Full Name]
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Best for High school/ Pre-U/ Early undergrad seeking first lab experience
<aside> ✉️
Dear Dr./Prof. [Last Name],
My name is [Your Name], a [grade, e.g. sophomore] at [High School] with a strong interest in [research area, e.g. computational biology]. I came across [Lab Name]'s work on [specific project or topic], and [one specific thing that stood out] really caught my attention.
I wanted to ask if your lab might be open to hosting me as a volunteer research assistant this summer. I have a background in [relevant coursework or skills], and I'm happy to help wherever I'd be most useful, whether that's data analysis, literature review, or other research tasks.
I'd love to learn more about what the lab is working on this summer and see if there's a good fit. I’ve attached my resume/CV for your reference.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best, [Your Full Name]
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