Ask for a Research Assistant Position:
Sample Email to Professor
In this post, we will be discussing how to write an email to a professor for a research assistant position. We will also discuss the steps that you should follow when sending out your email and what information should be included in it.
The first step that you should take is to research the professor’s work. This will help you know what they are currently researching and how it fits into your interests. Once you have reviewed the professor’s work, it is time to write an email asking them if they have any open research assistant positions.
The second step is to write out a draft of your email. The email starts with you introducing yourself and your interests.
You should include your name in your subject line so that they know who it is from right away. This will also help them figure out if they are interested in hiring you or not as quickly as possible. This will help you organize your thoughts and figure out what information you need to include in the email.
Include some information about yourself and why you are interested in the professor’s research. You should also include your CV and any relevant information that might be useful for them.
Next, send the email to yourself so that you can review it before sending it out. Check for typos and grammar. The next step is to contact the professor and tell them that you are interested in their area of research. You should ask if they have any funding available for a student who would like to help out with their current project.
Now, the most difficult part: waiting for the professor’s response. If they have funding available, they may ask you to fill out some forms and send in your transcripts and you can move on to the next step in this process. If the professor says that they don’t have any funding available, it may be worth asking them if they know of anyone else who does. You can also ask if there are any other ways that you could help out with their research (e.g., by taking surveys or doing interviews). The fifth step is to send in these documents and await approval.
Once approval has been granted, you can move on to the next step: beginning your research!
In this post, I will be using a template that has worked well for me in the past. It is important to note that every professor will have expectations for how these emails should be written.
Template Email to a professor for a research assistantship
Dear Professor [name]
I am an undergraduate student at the [University] and I would love to be a part of your research team. My interests lie in the areas of [interests]. I am good at [what are you best at ] and would love to contribute to your research.
I learned about your work from a classmate who had taken your course. I took some time to read through some of your papers and found your work to be extremely interesting, both from a technical perspective as well as from an application standpoint.
My current capabilities include [strong set of skills] but my interests are also in [relevant to the role]. This is what I hope to learn if I am fortunate enough to get this opportunity.
As for my experience, I have previously worked on projects related to [field ] which helped me develop skills in [areas listed in the job description].
Before that, I worked on projects involving [topic] which allowed me to further develop my skills. My previous experience has honed my skills [skill you have mastered]; however, there is still much that I want to learn when it comes to [new area of knowledge you seek to develop].
You can find my CV attached to this email or online here. Please let me know if you need any further information. I look forward to your response.
Thank you.
Sample email to professor for research assistant position: 11 Email Examples
Sample Email 1
Dear Professor [last name],
I am writing to you because I am interested in becoming a research assistant in your lab starting this summer.
My interest in [area of research] began when I undertook an independent study course last semester.
I hope to continue my education in [area of research] by pursuing graduate studies and eventually a Ph.D. As part of my long-term career goals, I will be applying to graduate school this fall to pursue my Ph.D. I am eager to learn from you and contribute to the important work happening in your lab. I look forward to your response.
Sample Email 2
Dear professor [name]
My name is [name]. I am writing to express my interest in the research assistant position. I have worked as an intern at [company name] for the past six months, so I am familiar with the skill sets required for data entry, organizing information and analyzing and presenting it in a user-friendly way. I am proficient in Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint and word. I have always enjoyed contributing to academic research. This would be a great opportunity for me to apply what I have learned so far as a student.
Attached is my resume which details my education, work experience and contact information. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sample Email 3
Dear Professor [name]
I am a student in your [name of course] class. I enjoy the topic of this course and I would love to continue learning more about it. Do you have any research assistant positions available? I have heard great things about the work you do and would be interested in assisting you with your current projects. Please let me know if you are interested and we can set up a time for an interview or discuss possibilities. Thank you for your time.
Sample Email 4
Dear Professor [name]
I am writing to apply for a research assistant position in your lab. I am very excited about the opportunity to work closely with you on this project and would greatly appreciate it if you could consider me for the position.. I have been following your work for some time, and it has been of great interest to me as both a biologist and a writer. I hope that my experience with writing scientific articles would help assist you with your research projects.
My background is in biology, but I have written several scientific articles on a variety of topics over the past few years. I am a very hard worker and always strive to do my best in any task I am given. I hope that you will consider me for this position, as it would be an honour to work with you. I would be very excited to hear from you regarding this opportunity.
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or comments about my qualifications for the job.
Sample Email 5
Dear Professor [name]
I am writing to inquire whether you would be interested in having me as your research assistant this semester. I have been interested in the field of [name of area] and am hoping to learn more about the subject.
I am a student in one of your classes and would like to apply for a research assistant position. I am very interested in the subject matter and feel that my study of [Course Name] would make me an ideal candidate for this position.
Please let me know if this is something you would consider. I have attached my resume for your review.
Sample Email 6
Dear Professor [name]
I am writing to you because I am interested in becoming a research assistant in your lab starting this summer. I am a student in your class. I enjoy the topic of this course and would love to continue learning more about it. I know that you are often looking for students who can help with research projects, so I thought I would reach out to see if there was anything available this summer. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!
Sample Email 7
Dear Professor [name]
I feel that I am well suited for this position because of my passion for science and my strong background in research. I have been involved with several projects as an undergraduate, including one where I was responsible for collecting data on [topic.] I hope that you will consider my application. Thank you in advance.
Sample Email 8
Dear Professor [name]
I am a sophomore at the College of Engineering, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I have been interested in your research area since taking EGR 202 and would love to be able to work on it this summer. I am available for full-time or part-time employment. I have excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail. I hope that you will consider my application.
Sample Email 9
Dear Professor [name]
I am a third-year undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences at [school]. I have been interested in psychology since high school, and my experiences as an RA with Dr. [first name] have helped me gain an understanding of what it is like to be a researcher. My interests include working with patients who suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, which I believe would be a good fit for your lab because you primarily focus on these disorders. I am planning on becoming a scientist, and working with you will give me valuable experience in conducting research. I would be delighted to work with you this summer, and I look forward to hearing back from you
Sample Email 10
Dear Professor [name]
I am a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences at [university] and I’m planning to pursue a career as a scientist. The opportunity to work with you this summer will give me valuable experience in research, which is an important part of my future career plans. I have several years of experience in research and am eager to assist you this summer.
I am planning on becoming a scientist, and working with you will give me valuable experience in conducting research. I would be delighted to work with you this summer, and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sample Email 11
Dear Professor [name]
I am writing to ask whether you would be willing to have me as your research assistant this semester.
I have been interested in the field of [name of area] and am hoping to learn more about the subject. I am particularly looking for a research assistant position in the field of [name of area] because I am interested in learning more about this topic. I have been involved in several projects related to [name of area] during my time at [place].
Sample Email 12
I am a senior at the University of [name of school] and have been an active member of the chemistry club on campus. I am currently taking [subjects relevant to the job]. I am currently working on my undergraduate degree in biology at [name of university] and have been very interested in continuing my education by taking some graduate courses next year.
Sample Email 13
I would love to be able to gain some experience in the lab this summer as well. I am available to begin work as soon as possible and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sample Email 14
Dear Professor,
I am writing to inquire about the opportunity to work with you this summer. Such an experience will give me valuable able about research, which is an important part of my future career plans. I have several years of experience in research and am eager to assist you this summer.
I hope you will consider my application for a position in your lab. I am available to start in early June and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
