Remember that many faculty enjoy doing research with undergraduates so don’t be reluctant about approaching them. Here are some suggestions that can help you with this process.
- Look on Departmental Websites
Look on different departmental (major/minor/program) websites for lists of faculty members, their research interests, and their recent publications. - Search the U of M Experts Database
Search through the University of Minnesota Experts database for a mentor doing research in your interest area. - Talk to Professors and Grad Students
Ask your faculty advisor, your professors, or a teaching assistant/grad student for suggestions of faculty members who may be doing research in your interest area. - Connect with Your Director of Undergraduate Studies
Contact the UROP Coordinator for the college where you would like to do your research. - Chat with the OUR Staff
The Office of Undergraduate Research office maintains a database with a list of all the faculty members who have sponsored research projects in the past. Our office is in 511 Bruininks and we welcome students to drop in to discuss how best to get involved. How to Approach a Faculty Member
Talking to faculty can sometimes be intimidating. We've created some tips, recommendations, and a sample email to send a faculty member to initiate a conversation about research.Note: the vast majority of faculty at the University of Minnesota are respected scholars and mentors. If, however, the mentor you are interested in working with is under investigation for research misconduct, you will need to find an alternative mentor as such faculty are not eligible to mentor through OUR until the investigation is concluded. In addition, if multiple previous students have reported unsatisfactory experiences with a particular mentor, OUR may suspend that mentor from participation in OUR programs for a time. If you have any questions, please check in with OUR staff!
FAQ
Email Templates
Initial Email
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected] (use your umn.edu account and not a personal email account)
Subject: Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Dear Professor LastNameOfTheMentor (in an academic environment, professional titles such as Dr. and Professor are preferred to formal titles Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.)
My name is (__________), and I am a (first/second/etc.) year student at the University of Minnesota. I am interested in (mention your general career interests or specific disciplinary interests—maximum of 1-2 sentences). I’m interested in your research about (include information that you find on their faculty page/Experts profile/etc.) and I hope to complete a (UROP/GIA UROP/Directed Research/volunteer/etc.) research project (include the general timeframe you are interested in).
Would you be available to meet, either in person or virtually, for approximately 20 minutes to discuss possible research opportunities?
If you are not currently accepting undergraduate students, would you be able to point me in the direction of someone who is?
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Follow-up Email
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected] (use your umn.edu account and not a personal email account)
Subject: Undergraduate Research Opportunities (respond to your original email rather than creating a new thread)
Dear Professor LastNameOfTheMentor (in an academic environment, professional titles such as Dr. and Professor are preferred to formal titles Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.),
I wanted to follow up on my previous email. Do you have any upcoming availability to talk about undergraduate research opportunities? I would be happy to work around your schedule to find a time that works for both of us!
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Email Tips
- If you don’t hear back after a couple of days, it is totally acceptable, and even encouraged, to send a follow-up email.
- If you receive no response after originally reaching out, try to send a follow-up email on a different day of the week and a different time of day. Sometimes you can catch faculty at a bad time of day, and your email will simply slip through the cracks.
- Keep your emails short. Including too much information can make your email a burden to read.
- Ask faculty if they can connect you with someone who is accepting undergraduates if they are not.
- When sending a follow-up email, be sure to reply to your original email instead of creating a new thread.
Meeting Tips
- If you are meeting during a drop-in/office hours appointment, have an introduction and specific inquiry ready before you arrive.
- Make arrangements with faculty according to their schedule preference, not your own. Be prepared to arrange the date/time via a support staff person or by email. Alternatively, be prepared to stop in during the professor’s office hours.
- Arrive on time (or early).
- Be prepared for the conversation by having read previous research by the faculty member.
- Show enthusiasm and interest in what they do.
- Be familiar with their CV, papers, student projects they have supervised, and have a sense of what you might want/be able to do to contribute to their research or as a mentor to your own (thesis, independent study, etc).
What might a potential faculty mentor request from me?
- A curriculum vita or extended academic resume.
- An unofficial transcript. Present them with a formal, unofficial pdf or hard copy for review. Some research may require the completion of certain courses in advance.
- References from previous faculty, advisor, and/or employer.
- Information about previous research experiences you have had, if any, and how you (honestly) assess your skill-level.
- A sense of the time (hours per week) you have available. This will measure your commitment, to a large degree.
- A clear idea about why you are interested in their work and, more generally, engaging in research.