<p>I'm a freshman at SUNY UB going for ChemE and I really want to get involved with research at my school's ChemE dpmt. What do people think is the best way to approach a professor with asking about joining a research team? Should I email, speak in person? Any and all tips would greatly be appreciated...thanks!</p>
<p>Ask around what projects the professors are working on and find one you like. I suggest going up to them and simply ask.</p>
<p>I think it’s a bit early. I’d wait until you have more insights into the department, know some professors from the classes you are taking, have a chance to impress them with your performance, develop some interests, and also some skills or knowledge so you can be somewhat possibly useful.</p>
<p>I think how you approach them does not matter. But do your homework so you actually understand the areas in which the work is being conducted and you can seek them out on the basis of your interests, and can talk about why you’d want to join THEIR lab, and not just any lab because you read somewhere that you needed research experience to get into grad school.</p>
<p>Wait a year, or a semester at the very least. Find a professor that is conducting research you are interested in. Email the professor and set up an appointment to talk in person about the possibility for conducting research. Don’t expect to get paid. Maybe you’ll get credit, but in the end the experience is what matters. Make sure your GPA is good, because that is usually the first thing the professor will ask about.</p>