ArizonaAero

I have been trying to get internships and I got an interview, but did not receive a call back. So I feel like I should start a bit lower, namely research with a professor.

I will be entering my junior semester.

So my question is, how would I approach these professors to obtain a research position with them? I have not yet had many of them as instructors.

I feel like I should not send them an email with my resume attached as that could be kind of impersonal. Should I try to find their offices and go in and talk to them personally and tell them I have done some reading on their research, both past and present, and am very interested.

Please help, I really want to get started on doing some work other than clubs/school.

chrisw

It always helps to start with a professor who has already taught you. If you have no luck with that, try to find an undergraduate research center at your school (my school had a center that would help link students with professors as well as mete out grants to students interested in independent research). It can be difficult to get these types of positions, so be prepared for some frustration

BCEagle91

I'd suggest looking at their University pages to see what they are working on and then seeing if their work interests you and then approaching them to discuss their work and any positions that they might have. You might also look at the professors bringing in the largest amounts of grant money as they probably have more positions to fill compared to those bringing in less money.

Ask your faculty adviser. One friend of my son had a faculty adviser that brought in a ton of grant money and had a lot of researchers working for him. His friend wasn't a particularly strong student but she spent a few years doing research work for him as an undergraduate.

My son did regularly chat with professors in his department and several outside his department. He wasn't looking for a position but was offered one once because he was well-known in his department.

I'm a big believer in the power of personal persuasion - if I need to convince someone to get around the rules, I prefer to meet with the person. Just make sure that you are generally interested in their areas of research as they might ask you a few questions to check up on you. It also helps to have a good GPA.

ArizonaAero

Thanks chrisw and BCEagle91.