​If you are interested in being involved with a research project as an undergraduate, then then the next step is to email a professor that you are interested in learning more about. There is no exact formula for this, but here is what I'd recommend:

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1. Finding the Professor(s)

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If you are interested in astronomy-related research, then find the faculty list for the physics and/or astronomy department and scroll through the different professors and their research interests. For example, the University of Michigan astronomy department website has a list of 'core faculty' that is organized alphabetically and uses research keywords. If you are only interested in 'stars and exoplanets,' then select that label and view only those professors.  However, I recommend reading through all of the professors and finding the research that seems the most interesting. You can then click on the name of a professor to read a few highlights of their research and usually there is a link to their website. The website usually contains more details on their research, upcoming projects, and recent publications.

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During this process, write down the names of a few professors that you are interested in. Before you email them ask yourself...

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• Are they your professor? If this is the case, maybe consider talking with them during office hours.

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• Do they have a PhD students that is the TA for a class you are in? Sometimes the research website will include a list of graduate students that the professor advises.  If you recognize one of them, maybe talk with them during office hours to get a better idea of what the research is on.

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2. Writing the Email  

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Once you have at least one professor you are interested in, the next step is sending them an email! It is important to only contact one professor at a time. You don't want to spam email everyone in the department and you want to make sure your email is tailored to the professor you are sending it to.  For example...

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Dear Professor ____,

 

I hope you are doing well and enjoying your week so far! I am a student at ____ studying ____ and I am reaching out to you about being involved with your research on ____ as an undergraduate. I read through your research website and a few of your recent publications and found that ____. Although I do not have previous research experience, I was enrolled in an introductory astronomy course this past semester where I learned ____. I was wondering if you have time over the next couple of weeks to talk either over Zoom or in-person about research opportunities with you.  Here are a few times when I am available:

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Monday: 1-5pm

Tuesday: 9-11am, 2-5pm

Friday: 9am-5pm

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Let me know if there is a time that works best in your schedule. I am looking forwards to talking with you! 

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Kind Regards,

____

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*If you have time, you could make an email signature (link)

*If you have a Resume/CV, attach one

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[1] When you email a professor for he first time, always use Dear Professor [Last Name]

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[2] You should avoid talking about 'how you've been curious about the Universe since first peering into the depths of the        starry night sky as a child.' Instead, briefly introduce yourself and mention that you are interested in learning more            about their research. If this is your first time reaching out to a professor or you don't have previous research               

      experience, it can be difficult knowing what exactly their research is on.  That is completely normal and the                       professor should not expect you to understand everything.  Remember, the reason you are reaching out to them is to          learn more about their research and possibly be mentored/advised by them.

 

      You can also add some relevant experience in your initial email. For example, if you've taken an                                        introductory astronomy course and the professor uses observational data to study the structure of the Milky Way              galaxy, perhaps make a connection between what you learned in lecture and their research. If you've had a course              that used Python (or a different programming language) or learned about data analysis in a statistics or physics lab,          then mention that.

 

      It is also completely okay if you have no previous experience.  When I first emailed my current research advisor, I            had no relevant coursework/experience and even talked about the the night sky and how I have always been                      interested in it (oops!). But I showed that I took the time to *attempt* to learn what their research was about, wrote          a polite and concise email, and showed genuine interest in learning more. I think that's what mattered the most.  

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[3] Professors are super busy and I recommend sending your general availability to them. You can either send a few                times during the week that you are available or sometimes you can view their Google Calendar schedule. Send out at        least a few times that you are available over the next couple of weeks. 

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[4] You can use 'Sincerely,' 'Kind Regards,' or 'Thank you'

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[5] Feel free to attach a resume or CV if you have one available. I did not and I think most students only worry about              this if they are applying to graduate schools or jobs. I've also heard of some professors asking for transcripts.                     However, don't think you can't be involved with research just because of a poor grade or not taking certain upper              level courses. Anyone can be involved and with research no matter what stage they are at :)

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​3. The Follow-Up Email

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If the professor does not email you back in ~7 days, then send a follow up email.

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Dear Professor ____,

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I hope you are doing well and enjoyed your weekend! I wanted to follow up with my previous email and see if you are interested in talking more about your research and possible opportunities as an undergraduate. Let me know if there is a time that works best.

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 Thank you,

____

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*If the professor you emailed is too busy and/or not taking on new undergraduates, repeat steps 1-3 with a different professor.

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Here some other terrific resources:

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• Undergraduate Research – Getting Started

• How to Email Your Professor (without being annoying AF)