<p>I'm back home for the summer and have interest in doing graduate studies at one of the schools in my city. I'm primarily interested in EE, particularly electromagnetics and photonics. What would best the best way of contacting professors to ask if they are willing to take on a senior undergraduate student from another school to work in their lab? Is using gmail fine or should I stick with my school's internal email to contact them? Is it too late to get a research position in a lab at this point? </p>
<p>I went in to speak with one of the professors I was interested in working with, and he told me he's not at all interested in undergraduates doing research with him at all. He also told me he's not fond of the idea of people volunteering in his lab to do research without pay. Is this a common mindset held by many engineering professors? Coming from physics, most physics professors would be ecstatic that a student wants to do research work in their lab, and it was understood that the work would be unpaid for the most part. </p>
<p>It’s the minority opinion but not uncommon for professors to be uninterested in taking on undergraduates in engineering.</p>
<p>It is very uncommon for them to be interested it taking on unpaid undergraduates. For insurance and legal reasons that is not a great idea at a lot of schools.</p>
<p>My kid’s school posted information on research positions shortly after winter break. They interviewed in Feb and March, and selected the students for their positions by mid-April. These were for paid positions (included campus housing plus a stipend). So you are late in the game for anything paid. I don’t see how it could hurt to contact professors by email and ask. I would use your school email. </p>
<p>Definitely use your school email and consider taking a summer course at the institution where you end up volunteering. This would resolve the insurance issues.</p>
<p>@boneh3ad: Thanks a lot for the info. About the insurance and legal reasons, I assume this is an engineering department specific thing? As it is well known at least in science/mathematics departments that the vast majority of undergraduates do unpaid research. </p>
<p>@intparent: I never expected anything paid, so I am fine with that. The problem is, it would seem the engineering professors wouldn’t be. </p>
<p>Honestly – I am under the impression that most undergrads who spend summers researching in any subject DO get paid. Even the humanities… Now high school students who volunteer in labs and with professors are often unpaid. I would stop worrying about the response of the one professor and just send out some emails ASAP. Let them know you are willing to volunteer for the experience and see if you get any responses. It honestly can’t hurt, the worst that happens is that some don’t answer you or say no.</p>
<p>Good luck, OP. If you don’t find anything, make a point to apply earlier next year. Most internship and researrch programs that DS has mentioned require applications submitted by February… some as early as October. </p>