Step 4.

Contact the Principal Investigator(s)

1. Once you have learned about the project director/professor’s research, research facilities, funding and colleagues, you will be able to determine

• The degree to which the professor's or his colleague(s)' research interests you.
• How best to approach the professor in an email or other communication.

2. Your email or letter should incorporate a discussion of the professor’s work. This discussion will indicate that you have been reviewing his/her website and have an interest in his/her research. In most situations, this display of interest will indicate to the professor that you are eager to conduct research in his/her chosen field.

3. For project directors to succeed in their funded research endeavor (the NIH grant of our example), they must employ a team of dedicated and enthusiastic research assistants. If a student wants to be one of those research assistants, he/she should indicate a serious interest in this research.

Click here for a sample letter or email that you can adapt when contacting Professors.

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