I am a current junior and am hoping to get some sort of research internship at local universities. What extra attachments would I include in this email? Should I just send out an email first and then send a CV or should I send from the start?
What maximizes my chances of getting a research internship?
Thank you
Are you cold emailing or do you know the professors you’re contacting?
In your email, include a CV with emphasis on coursework and any relevant laboratory experience you have. If you have special science, math or CS skills, include those. (e.g. have you done NMR spectroscopy in your AP chem class? Have you done genetic manipulation of bacteria in your AP bio class? Have you conducted a animal survey in your AP ecology class? Do you have experience in caring for laboratory animals like mice or rats?) List the names of two or three of your science/math/CS teachers who are willing to vouch for you, together with their contact info (phone numbers, email, etc). If you have held a paying job, include that along with name of your supervisor and their contact information. If you have been a regular, long time volunteer with an organization, list that along with your supervisor and their contact info.
Make sure you have permission from your references to list their names and contact info.
I would say your chances of getting a research internship are pretty small unless you’re applying for research programs that are specifically for high school students. Many university professors won’t take high school students because they have no shortage of college student volunteers and high schoolers typically lack both the academic background and hands on experience needed for summer research positions.
There are some summer research programs just for high school students–try googling “summer science internships + high school + your location”. NIH, Stanford, JHU, Air Force Research Labs, several of the National Laboratories, MIT/Harvard, some states, etc all run summer laboratory programs for science students.
What would maximize your chances? Living near a major metropolitan area that is home to major universities or research institutes, having AP coursework in chem, bio, math, and/or CS, previous laboratory research experience, previous employment, having excellent grades. Having a parent who is a research scientist or a university/college professor/staff member helps.
P.S. as for the when to start making contact—
if you’re applying to a formal program, observe all deadlines listed.
If you’re cold contacting professors at nearby college or university–wait until after mid-January. Possibly as late as March to early April. because the profs may not have a summer schedule set up yet.
@WayOutWestMom Thank you for your advice! I’ll make sure to include those things in my emails. I am aware that the chances are slim, but I figured I’ll try and see what happens.
Be sure to talk to your HS science teachers–and maybe your career guidance counselor-- about your hopes to get involved in a research program. They may have some suggestions for programs or people to contact.
D1 spent 3 months shaving mice bellies, infecting the mice w/ hepatitis/herpes/hanta virus then sacrificing (killing) mice in an infectious disease lab at the local medical school during her senior year of HS—an internship the science dept/career guidance dept a her HS helped to arrange.
@bigred01 here are some points.
Formal Programs:
They are good and useful when you apply to colleges or special programs. But very hard to get unless you are active and have done some prior internship or similar informal thing in prior summers or involved in any science or math fairs. Also mostly they target for local school kids (because of the logistics for out of state students and expense involved).
Another head wind is most of them need LOR and that is getting very hard especially if you are in a big public school and adds stress to counselors and teachers. They give preference / time to senior for the regular college app. Most of the program application process runs almost like college app starting from Dec/Jan with multiple LORs, transcripts etc.
Informal Programs:
Before you send mail, first spend some time on few targeted university near your home. School’s web site will have lot of information, not only each department sites, each department have many labs and they have their own web sites, and even some profs provide details on their current research etc., If some thing interests and if you have done some background to connect, it will be easier when you send the email.
Some students mentioned it took many cold emails (30-50) and some got response even in 5-10 emails. It takes time few months to get any response. As WOWM suggested, send email little late.
It does not matter what program because it is any day better than sitting at home. It helps to learn some new things in life (beyond academics), work in a team, listen, learn. Also it may help to get a LOR when you apply to college if you did a outstanding job, interview discussion point etc.,