Can Someone give a high school student advice on research?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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<p>I'm going to be a junior when summer ends and will take ap chemistry during 11th grade(I will be going through chem books over summer in order to prep for the chemistry olympiad and Sci Bowl). I already took Ap Bio during 10th grade.</p>

<p>So I'm looking for some research opportunities to seek out this summer so that I can continue it the summer between 11th and 12th grade (dedicating whole summer to only research, and hopefully get into a good program). I would also want to do it during my junior year but only on weekends and breaks because of my heavy course load. </p>

<p>So, I imagine research in the biochem field would be fit for me due to my classes and my interests. I am familiar with a local state university, CSUN, in which I am trying to get a position to discover the basics with research, learn how do conduct some experiments, and hopefully find out what I want to do with my project</p>

<p>CSUN</a> : Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry</p>

<p>I've heard that I should just email the professors after looking through their works, and explain my interest in the field and see which professors would be willing to work with a high school student.</p>

<p>Is there any type of particular format in which I should email these professors or do you guys have any advice for my endeavors? Thanks! :]</p>

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<p>Just let them know your interested in their field, that you know about their project and aren’t just a blundering buffoon, and why you want to participate in that project. Also, don’t email multiple professors at once because they do talk and they might just think you aren’t interested in the project specifically but just a resume padder. </p>

<p>Best of luck</p>

<p>Sent from my SGH-T959 using CC App</p>

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<p>

Yes, absolutely. </p>

<p>You should be sure to send an email that’s more than a form letter – it should be personal to each professor you email, explaining why you’re interested in his/her lab in particular. Also, be sure you have a descriptive subject line, as professors tend to get quite a bit of email, and you wouldn’t want your email mistaken for spam or anything. It’s often useful to include a short (one-page) CV detailing your education (including relevant science courses you’ve taken in school), any previous jobs you’ve had, and any awards you’ve earned, but sometimes attaching a file can cause emails to get stuck in a spam filter, so YMMV. </p>

<p>You can mention in your email that you’re looking for an opportunity that you could continue until the end of high school, but there’s no need to specify your hours during the school year at this point.</p>

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<p>I did a thread that’s somewhat relevant to what you’re asking:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1063234-how-apply-independent-research-internships.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/1063234-how-apply-independent-research-internships.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It contains the email that I wrote.</p>