<p>Hi, I just transferred from a LAC to a large research university and want to become involved with research. I've found a few professors who have similar interests to mine. I'm assuming the best way to contact them is by email, but what should I say? Should I just ask if they have any positions available?</p>
<p>They might not have formal openings, but they’re probably used to undergrads asking to work in their labs. I might phrase it like, “I have a background in x and have been following your work on x and y. I’m really interested in furthering my expertise in this area and was wondering if you currently have room in your lab for an undergraduate?”</p>
<p>And if you do have a relevant background, you might want to describe that a little bit and maybe briefly mention your career goals. Just keep the email short, straightforward, and polite. And make sure you don’t email just one professor at a time, since chances are that many of them will not reply or will not have room for you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. If it makes a difference, I’m interested in social science research, not the hard sciences.</p>