So I really want to be able to do research next summer at a lab (specifically molecular biology), and fortunately there are many colleges within commuting distance from where I live. I’m thinking about emailing a couple of professors from a college that I’m kinda familiar with. I was also looking at the research profiles of professors at Hopkins and they sound really interesting and cool, but what are the chances of one of those professors allowing me to work in his/her lab? Would it be a waste of time and effort to email them and make each email personal, etc? Also when should I email professors in general if I want to volunteer over summer? And any tips on emails or research experiences you’ve had are welcome!
I would just give it a go! Definitely try to reach out to any professors you have connections with, and put in the effort to personalize each email. As for Hopkins professors, I find it pretty unlikely that they would have the time or the room for HS students to work with them (unless you have a lot of previous lab experience/are some brilliant science kid?), but you could still try. I would reach out around April of next year at the latest. Also, have a backup plan in case this doesn’t work out!
Look at mysummeradvisor.com and search some of the schools in your area. Some schools have formal programs that involve high school students in research. It never hurts to reach out to a professor. If you don’t find anything in your area, you might need to broaden your search geographically. Many schools have research opportunities and high school students can live on campus. UConn and UPenn, for example. They have these programs because they want smart kids to apply to their school. They figure if you spend time on their campus you are going to love it.