So over the summer, I would like to assist with either a physics or astronomy lab and basically learn how to preform scientific research. However, as a rising highschool junior, I’m worried I don’t have the proper background to keep up or help, especially in the more math-orientated fields. Should I try for an easier field, despite wanting to be a physicist when I’m older, or would an actual physicist/astronomer be willing to help me?
Additionally, how would I approach a researcher to ask them to join their lab? Would I come across as naive or foolish for asking them to take me on, or would they be excited to teach a young person something they’re passionate about? And are there any good science labs in the seattle area, or at the University of Washington specifically? Any recommendations for this area would be great, as I’m having difficulties actually finding research labs near where I live.
Any advice would be great, since I really would love to do this, but I’m not quite sure where to begin. I’m currently on the advanced track for both math and science at my school, but that just means that I’m in chemistry and honors algebra 2 as a sophomore, which isn’t really that significant.
If you are close to a research university, yes university not college, you would have a better chance of obtaining research. What you can probably do is dual enrollment at a 4 year college, where you have the opportunity to actually be taught by college professors. If you want to get into research you need to show the professor what you have done, and it needs to be something you are passionate about that relates to their subject. You can simply send an email to them and ask for them to sit down and strike a conversation about what you are passionate about, and tell them you would like to get experience into the field you are interested in. If you don’t have access to dual enrollment, hypothetically, you could audit a class in a subject you are interested in, but it needs to be related to a subject you are passionate about, and it would be hard to put into your schedule since you are in high school. Just an FYI, most professors don’t want to work with young sycophantic students, they would much rather have passionate people to work with them. It helps if your passion relates to something that is personal to you. If you want to go into research in either physics or astronomy, you need to find something you are passionate about that relates to either field. Don’t pick a subject like “string theory” just because it sounds fancy, but rather something you relate to personally and gives you a sense of purpose. Finding your passion has to relate to your own experience. Steve Jobs started his passion for electronics and personal computing just from building radios in the garage with his father, and playing with the first computer he saw, the HP 9100A. He was memorized from his experience, and those small memories he involved himself with electronics, that at the age of 13, he got an internship at Hewlett-Packert (HP) just by calling up the president of the company and meeting with him. Finding something you are passionate about at an early age, does help. Find what you are passionate about and good things will come your way!
Yeah, so so far I’ve become really interested in quantum physics, cosmology, and high energy astrophysics specifically, but I don’t think I live near any research labs that focus on these topics. So for now I’m being more open to different fields, so that I have more options available. Unless I should just focus on the three that I’m thinking of pursuing in university.
Go to the university website and look at professors doing research in the subjects you’re interested in, and then shoot them emails! It never hurts to try. Talk about why you’re interested in their research specifically and anything else you can bring to the table (CS experience, classwork, other extracurriculars, etc.). Also, attach a resume (probably just extracurriculars & classes taken at this point). If a professor thinks you’re truly passionate, they’ll email you back.
So would it matter if I didn’t have formal education in extremely high level math and physics yet? That’s what I’m most worried about, that a professor wouldn’t want to to take the time to help me catch up and be able to contribute at all. Have other high school students helped out in astronomy and physics before?
If you are volunteering to work for free, that will help. 
It is true that you can be more help with a stronger math & physics background. But they may have some tasks you can help out on. Any skills you have with computers (even Excel) would be a good thing. My kid is a Physics major, and some of the technical stuff she has on her CV so far is:
Quantum Design PPMS (Physical Property Measurement System)
Origin graphing software for sample analysis
Unix/shell script
Gnuplot graphing
Python (including plotting)
Java
C
C++
LaTeX
I think the first couple are things she learned working in the lab in college, but after that they are more general things that might be skills you already have. They wouldn’t be bad skills to have in college anyway if you can pick up a Coursera class or learn some of them some other way anyway. So list whatever you have technically in your email.
Thanks to everyone who’s answered so far:)
I wrote a sample email, and I was wondering if it sounds good, and what I should add or change. Also, I looked at the University of Washington website, since it’s the largest university closest to me, and I couldn’t find any labs with specific contact information. Any help there would be great as well.
Hello [name],
I am currently a sophomore at [high school and any other relevant information]. Currently, I would like to become a physicist, and study physics in university. I’m thinking of pursuing a career in quantum physics, cosmology, or even high-energy astrophysics, as I find each of them fascinating.
I’ve become extremely interested in your research involving [talk about their research and how interesting I've found it]
I was wondering if I could join your lab as an unpaid intern for the summer, and assist in what ever would be most helpful to you. I would love to learn exactly how physics research is conducted in a professional setting, and gain deeper, more specialized knowledge in physics. I would also like to know what kind of skills I need to develop in order to be more prepared in a future career as a scientist.
I hope that you consider this, as I will be available throughout the summer at your convenience. Attached I have a resume of relevant skills and courses, and if there’s anything specific I need to know that would help me, I’d be happy to learn.
Thanks,
[name and email address]
The things in brackets will obviously be filled in the official email as I learn more about the researchers.