Sample E-mail for Research Opportunities

Sending a very brief, professional e-mail to professors, university departments, hospitals, private practices, clinics, churches, or other organizations can be one of the best ways to find research opportunities, in addition to any personal connections you may have.

Below, we will provide you with a template e-mail. Please feel free to make it your own! You can also revise it slightly for e-mailing for shadowing opportunities as well.

Remember, this e-mail should be short. Share only the most important information. These professionals are very busy, and some simply will not read long e-mails.

This e-mail will also require you to do some research about different professors and organizations; you will need to explain why you are interested in working with them in a concise but clear manner. See our Research Resources Lesson (in two more lessons!) for more information!

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Inquiry about Research Opportunities: Template E-mail

Dear Dr. [Name],

I hope you are well. My name is [name], and I am currently a high school student at [name of high school], located in [city]. I am extremely interested in [the subject of the research that they do] research [you could add, “because of x reason…], and I wondered if you had any open roles that involved refining my scientific and teamwork skills.

I have attached my resume to this e-mail, which includes my work with the High School Alliance of Future Physicians. Please feel free to contact me at [e-mail] and/or [phone number]. Thank you for your time!

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

(Remember to attach your resume to the e-mail!)

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Speaking of resumes…

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