Some tips on how to contact faculty and select a mentor

• Write a paragraph that describes why you want to do research in general. You can run your statement by the Writing Wing. 
• For each faculty you plan to contact write a sentence about what specifically interests you in their research.
• Update your resume. The Career Center has great tips for writing an effective resume.
• Have your unofficial transcripts available as a PDF file.

• Use your calstatela email account to write the email, not your private email.
• In the header, indicate your name, CIN, and your purpose (e.g., seeking research opportunities).
• In the main text, greet the faculty with their title (“Dr.” or “Professor”) and their last name.
• Briefly introduce yourself with your name, CIN, major, and academic level (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior).
• Explain that you are interested in doing research with them using your general statement about why you want to do research, and then add your specific sentence about what interests you in that faculty’s specific research.
• Ask them whether they have any openings for undergraduate student researchers and whether you could meet with them to discuss this further.
• Offer to send them your resume and transcripts if needed. 
• If you contact the faculty because you have met other students who have told you about that faculty’s research, mention that in your email. 
• Follow up once within 10 days if you have not heard back. Just resend your email, apologize for sending it again but explain that your email might have gotten lost among other emails and that you are really interested in working with that faculty. Faculty receive many emails and your email might have been simply overlooked. 

Most faculty will ask you to meet them for an interview before they can decide to offer you a spot in their research group. This is also important for you to better get to know the faculty before you make a commitment. It is recommended to make an in-person interview if your research will take place on campus. Thereby you can also ask to visit the faculty’s research lab and meet members of their research group. To prepare for the interview:

• Review what the faculty’s research is about, based on their faculty web page. 
• Have your resume with you if they have not yet asked for it.
• Be ready to ask some questions such as
  • What research projects would be available?
  • What things would you learn?
  • What is expected from you?
  • In which way and how often does the faculty communicate with their research students?
  • How many students are in their research group and what kind (undergraduate, graduate)?
  • What do their students do after graduation, among others?

After the interview, thank the faculty for their time in a follow-up email. Re-express your interest, if you are still interested or politely express that you don’t think that this is a good fit. 

After you have completed meeting with one or more potential faculty and have received one or more offers to join a research lab, it is time to decide who best fits your research interests and interaction style. In general, choose a faculty mentor who:

• Is committed to mentoring undergraduate students like yourself and makes you feel welcome.
• Is accessible and supports student development.
• Has a communication style and a research group with which you feel comfortable.
• Is engaged in a research topic that best matches your interests.

The latter may not be as critical since as more one knows about a topic as more exciting it becomes. Let the faculty you have chosen to work with know about your decision without delay and thank them. In addition, if applicable, inform also the other faculty whose offer you have not taken and thank them for the opportunity. Don't be afraid to decline a single offer if you do not feel comfortable. Start a new search. 

Have fun- and one more tip: make sure that you are clear about the expectations right from the beginning.