Aim: How can we respond to professors when they respond to us? What if they do not respond?
HW Mentors #6-10 are due tomorrow (Friday) Summary in own words, lab research interests printout from website and 2 printed abstracts. You can add them to your log.
When a professor responds to your , why do you want to respond? If they want to meet, you want to confirm and tell them you are interested If it’s a no, you want to be polite. If professor does not respond, we want to nudge them to think about us again.
Professor wants to meet Thank you for your response. I would be so excited to meet with you. If they give you a day and time to meet, confirm that you are available and that you will be there. If they do not give you a date, ask when it would be a good time to meet. Give them the days and times you are available.
Prof wants to meet Ask for the exact address of the lab or office, and the room number. In case I am stopped by security, could I have a phone number where I could contact you? Tone-positive, grateful, excited, polite and professional.
Negative response from prof Simple response Thank you for your response. I understand that you are very busy/ your lab is full/you are on sabbatical and that you cannot have me in your lab. However, I am still very interested in (your topic). If you know of any other professors who might be interested in working with a student, feel free to forward my information to them. Good luck with your research (I wish the lab good luck).
Negative response Positive tone Understanding Maybe you will make another connection
No response from professor days after sending initial , we will send a reminder My name is _______ and I am a student at Bx Sci. I sent you an on (date) about possibly volunteering in your lab on a research project. I just wanted to check that you received it.
No response I understand if you are not able to work with me. Since I am still very interested in (this topic) if you know of other professors who might be interested in working with a student, please feel free to forward my information to them. Good luck with your research.