Tips for Emailing a Faculty Mentor 

Not sure how to start writing an email to a professor to ask about research? Follow these tips:

  • Make it personal! Generic emails to multiple professors are less likely to get a positive response
  • Say who you are! Include your name, year, and major/concentration. If you have taken a class with them in the past, remind them which class and when
  • Let them know how you heard about their research and why it interests you
    • Ram Research Directory
    • Department Webpage
    • Or other ways you might have found them
  • Keep it short and sweet!
  • If you don’t get a response within 2 weeks, follow up! Professors get a lot of emails and sometimes miss one, but it’s not because they are ignoring you!

Example Email Template

Subject: Interested in Research Opportunity

Dear Professor [Last Name], 

My name is [Your Full Name], and I am a [Your Year: first-year, sophomore, etc.] majoring in [Your Major and Concentration] at WCU. I have been exploring research opportunities, and your work on [specific aspect of the professor’s research] especially caught my attention when I saw it in [how you found out about their research]. I am particularly interested in your research because [1–2 sentences explaining your genuine interest and how it overlaps with their research specifically (this is the heart of the email)—for example, you might talk about coursework that excited you, personal motivations, or academic/career goals]. I have taken [Relevant Courses - if applicable, but not necessary] and have experience with [Relevant Skills or Methods - if applicable, but not necessary!], which I believe could help me contribute to your work. I am writing to ask if you have any existing research projects that I could support to be my faculty mentor for [SURF, SURI, specific research opportunity]. Could I schedule a time to come to your office hours to learn more about your research and how I might get involved? Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I hope to speak with you soon. 

Sincerely, 

[Your Full Name]