Research opportunities for students
Research positions rarely show up on job boards. They go to students who find the right professor and send a short, specific email. Start with your stage, your situation or your field for advice and an example email written for it.
By stage
- Undergraduate researchMany undergraduate research positions are never posted. Where they come from, what professors look for, and an example email professors reply to.
- Research for high school studentsHow high school students get real research experience: emailing university professors, summer programs, science fairs, and what labs let minors do.
- Pre-med researchHow pre-med students find research: clinical vs basic science, hospital research institutes, chart reviews, coordinator jobs, and how to discuss it later.
By situation
- Research with no experienceNo research experience? Most students start with none. What to offer a professor instead, entry-level lab roles that need no training, and an example email.
- Research with a low GPAA low GPA rarely blocks a first research position. When grades do matter, such as funded awards with minimum averages, and how to handle it in your email.
- Summer research programsHow to find summer research: NSF REU sites, university programs, NSERC USRA awards, and emailing professors directly. When to apply and who is eligible.
By field
- Computer science researchHow undergraduates get into computer science research: the kinds of labs, what first tasks look like, what to show a professor, and an email with a repo link.
- Biology researchHow biology undergraduates join wet labs, field projects and computational groups: first tasks, safety training, skills to mention, and an example email.
- Psychology researchHow undergraduates become psychology research assistants: what RAs do day to day, the ethics training labs expect, stats skills to mention, and an email.
- Neuroscience researchNeuroscience labs sit in psychology, biology, medicine, engineering and CS. How undergrads find them, what training the work needs, and an example email.
- Engineering researchHow engineering undergrads join research labs in mechanical, electrical, civil, chemical and biomedical engineering, plus paid summer options and an email.
By country
Guides
- OutreachHow to Email a Professor for Research (Templates and Examples)
- Getting startedWhy Undergraduate Research Matters (and How Early to Start)
- ComparisonConnectEd vs Prof Insider: which should you use to find and email professors?
- ComparisonProfScout vs Prof Insider: which should you use to email professors?
- ComparisonMentiv vs Prof Insider: which should you use to find professors and write to them?
- ComparisonResearch Match vs Prof Insider: which should you use to contact professors?
- ComparisonFindResearch vs Prof Insider: which should you use to email research mentors?
- ComparisonEmailYourProfessor vs Prof Insider: which should you use to email professors?
- ComparisonResearch.Mail vs Prof Insider: which fits your professor outreach?
- ComparisonProfReach vs Prof Insider: which should you use to find and email professors?
- ComparisonScholarPing vs Prof Insider: which should you use for professor outreach?