I’m a second year trying to get some research experience but it hasn’t been going as well as I’d hoped. About three weeks ago I emailed a professor about a volunteer research position in his lab. He didn’t reply so I called his office a week later to follow up and asked for a time to meet up and talk about this. He did not reply. I really want a chance to talk to him, but I’m afraid I might be a bit pushy. Should I go to his office and try to talk to him in person, because maybe he didn’t receive my messages, or just take it as him not wanting to discuss this topic with me? Thanks!!
I guess if you really really want to work in his lab and you can’t see yourself researching any other topic, it wouldn’t hurt to try to meet him in person although there’s no guarantee 1) he will be in the lab/his office when you visit, he could rarely be around 2) he will be receptive to you. there’s a chance he could be annoyed if you catch him on a busy day, though I’d think he will make time for you if you have a serious interest and PIs love to talk about their research.
I don’t think it’s the case he doesn’t want to discuss it with you, I feel it’s either he’s already filled the position and so isn’t responding to correspondence about the position or he happened to miss the email and maybe he just wasn’t in his office when you called him. Sometimes a lab can’t support another student and so professors will ignore emails from undergrads, don’t take it personally. When you stop by the lab you might run into grad students that work there, don’t be afraid to ask them about the research and when the best time to meet the PI is. Good luck
You called your professor…? That’s really pushing it. Speaking as an undergraduate student at UCLA, I know that lab positions are extremely rare and hard to come across. In order to be noticed, you would have to be in the top 1% of your class, if not… keep dreaming, and you also need to show that you know how to apply the concepts. I’m sorry if this sounds harsh, but this is the truth. I am currently in a pharmaceutical lab right now and I had to fight my way through to get in. I took Chem 30B and got 100s on everything, even the final, but my professor still wouldn’t accept me. I then took up an engineering project, though I am a Chem major, to get experiences. Engineers are so powerful and their projects help you learn so much. I wish that I were smart enough to be one though. Props to all those engineers. Some of my friends take 4-5 major classes a quarter on top of research and still live to tell the tale. Engineers = our future. But seriously, join an engineering project. Though it might be unrelated to your major, it will help with the experiences. I talked again with my professor and he gladly accepted me. I’m sure you can do the same too. So to recap, stellar grades and engineering project.
Also tip, avoid calling professors. From my experience, they find calls annoying. It’s better to meet them face to face. I know, it’s annoying. But suck it up and wait. Keep in mind, a research position doesn’t define who you are.