A Guide to Undergraduate Research:

For students pursuing a Bachelor's degree in STEM, especially those interested in eventually pursuing a related Master’s degree or PhD, being involved in research can be very beneficial. However, the prospect of performing research for the first time can often feel very overwhelming and scary, especially when thinking about how to reach out to labs and ask for a position. This process often brings up several questions, such as: How do I find a lab that matches my own personal interests/goals? How should I go about contacting the lab to ask for admission? Do I need to include a resume/what should I put on my resume? I hope to clear up some of these questions in this post.

My own personal experience:

I am currently working as an undergraduate researcher in an organic chemistry lab at Emory University, so I have successfully undergone this process before. When starting to think about reaching out to a lab, I remember wishing I had an example of someone else's experience to base on, so I have provided a recount of my own experience below.

Step 1 - Find potential labs:

I started my journey looking into the various research labs my university has to offer. As I was a Chemistry major interested in pursuing chemistry research, I went to the school’s Department of Chemistry page where the various different subgenres of research one could pursue were highlighted: Organic, inorganic, biomolecular, and physical chemistry. My passion lay in organic chemistry, so I selected this option and was brought to a page containing the names and website links of all the available labs. I visited every website, looking for some main components that I felt were most important to me:

1. A lab wide goal that applied to my own personal interests.

• You don’t want to be stuck working in a lab that is researching topics that you find uninteresting. Passion is the key to success.
  

2. A well-organized and professional-looking website. 

• This shows that the PI is very organized and puts effort into their lab and research.

3. Recognition of their graduate and undergraduate members (aka a “People” page that includes pictures and descriptions of each member).

• This is more of a personal preference. I do not want to be putting in several hours of work a week for a PI who doesn’t care about me.

This list of wants/needs can look different for everyone, but make sure you only apply to labs that fit most or all of your personal criteria. I have heard too many horror stories of students disliking their PI or the research they are doing, and they most often quit and become discouraged from continuing with research. 

Step 2 - Draft a Resume:

Your resume should reflect your experience with research (if applicable), your relevant skills, and any other activities that you have done that may be relevant to this position. In my case, during high school, I had spent several years performing and presenting research for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), so I made sure to include this to show that I have relevant research experience that could set me apart from other undergrads. I also wanted to make sure to include my relevant coursework on the advanced Chemistry track for the University to show that I was at least somewhat knowledgeable of the subject matter. Below are some entries from the resume that I attached to my application email for reference: 

I would also be sure to include hobbies (sports, music, etc.) on your resume to show your personality and interests. On my resume, I included my position in the university chorus and my several years of competitive choir experience. Upon meeting my PI, I learned that my interest in singing was one of many reasons he paired me with my specific graduate student, as she also had a passion for choir. You want to make sure your resume shows who you are, not only as a professional but also as a person.

I hesitate to encourage using high school accolades if you are applying as someone who has already completed their sophomore year of college. Some people believe that high school activities should be replaced with college ones as soon as possible. In my case, I applied when I was only a freshman and felt that my high school science fair experience was relevant and impressive enough to be included. Use your own discretion when choosing what to include on your resume, as there is no “one size fits all” method. Just make sure that your resume looks professional and accurately reflects you. 

Step 3 - Draft Emails:

Once you have made a list of potential labs, you can start drafting the emails that you plan to use when applying. This is your first impression, so be sure to put your best foot forward. I suggest reading a couple of the papers each lab has submitted to get a better idea of the specific work they do and include this in your emails if possible. Each email should be personalized to the specific lab you are applying to, containing some details that prove you are well-read in their research. This will show the PI that you are actually interested in their research and that you are willing to put in work, making you a better candidate for their lab. For reference, here is the email that got me into my lab:

Good morning Dr. (Insert name)!

My name is Melanie Deville, and I am writing to express interest in the research being conducted at your lab. I am a rising sophomore here at Emory pursuing a double major in Chemistry and Materials Science. I am especially drawn to your lab because of your focus on developing synthetic strategies to discover new reactions and build new molecules that could have a broader social impact. I just completed CHEM 203Z with Dr. (insert name) this semester and have found a love for and a strong interest in chemical synthesis. I hope to pursue it further in a research lab like yours and see its real-world applications, so I would love to have an opportunity to contribute to the work being done in your lab.

I would be grateful to work with you and the rest of your team next semester if you are willing to take me in. I am eager to gain hands-on experience in a research setting, and I believe your lab would provide me with the perfect opportunity to do so. My ability to learn quickly, willingness to work hard, and love for Chemistry would make me a valuable addition to your team. I hope that, under your guidance, I become a better researcher and gain the skills that I need to help with future projects at your lab. 

I have attached my resume to this email to highlight some of my past experience with research in case you are interested in taking a look at that. Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I hope you have a great rest of your week.

Thank you,

Melanie Deville

Melanie Dee Deville

Emory University | Emory College

ID #

Email

Phone number

My goal with this email was to be brief but informative, as PIs tend to be very busy and don't usually have time to read long-winded emails. I wanted to show them that I knew the type of research being conducted in their lab, that I had experience (through related coursework) in a similar background, and that I had the qualities of a good student/researcher. I suggest attaching your resume as well to give the PI an option for further information should they want it. Always remember to use professional language and be yourself!

Step 4 - Send emails and wait for responses:

It’s time to send out your emails! Like anything else, getting into a research lab is a numbers game. While I was fortunate enough to receive a response/acceptance with my second email, I know many other capable students who have had to send over twenty emails to get a response. No one method is the only successful method, so be sure not to get discouraged if you don’t hear back right away.

Also, remember that PIs are people too! It wasn't until I met my current PI and got to know many others that I realized that they just want the best for the students of the University. Many of them are happy to take on inexperienced students and train them to become the next generation of researchers, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!

What PIs want you to know:

The best people to take advice from on this topic are undoubtedly principal investigators (PIs), as they are the ones who will review your application and ultimately accept or reject you. Because of this, I wanted to make sure to include their feedback and advice in this post as well. Below are some questions from a survey I sent to several PIs of research labs at Emory University and some of the best responses I received.

Conclusion:

Research is a wonderful opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field, and I have learned so much in the couple of years I have been with my lab. I encourage everyone who is interested in undergraduate research to get over any stifling fear that may be hindering their process of joining a lab and just go for it! I hope this advice has been helpful, and I wish you good luck on your research journey!