I'm hoping for some advice here. I've read posts about improperly worded and/or misinformed e-mails from students wanting to do graduate work with Sciencewomen or Female Science Professor but I can't recall reading anything about a post doc inquiry.
There are a few professors in the area I'll be moving near that I'd like to work with, however what I do now and what I'd like to do with them is not completely related. Since I feel pressed for time I'm curious how much I should know about their subject material before I send an e-mail. What if I never hear back from them, what if they don't want a post-doc or what if they don't want me? Should I spend a week reading all their manuscripts before the e-mail just to be shot down? Or can I do some quick searches, read abstracts, and get a basic understanding in a day or two and then I can learn more if they are interested.
Should my e-mail be basic such as,
Dr. Last Name,
I am interesting in the research you perform doing X and would like to discuss any opportunity you may have for a post-doctoral position. I would also be willing to collaborate on a proposal for this project. (and maybe something about how I found their research, if applicable)
I'm studying contaminants of perfectionism in my thesis adviser at Dissertation University working with Dr. Old Slow, and will be completing my Ph.D. this August. These are my skills that I think would be useful to your research.
Thank you for your time,
hopeful student
OR do I need to be more specific about project X
There was a women I wanted to e-mail last week but then I noticed that her current grad student has more publications than me :(
I would rather not solicit like this but I'm in between a lot of the major fellowship opportunities right now. Although most of the ads I see that I'm interested in are not near where I'll be living.
I got an e-mail last week about a fellowship opportunity but the deadline is June 6th, the day I'd like to turn in my dissertation. I'm not sure that in three weeks I can find a sponsor and come up with a 12 page proposal.
So even though I'd like to get some e-mails out there I think my best best is to try to find a part-time teaching gig for the fall so that I can also spend time finishing my publications from my dissertation and writing fellowship proposals.
But this is today, maybe tomorrow I'll be interesting in a consulting position again.
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8 comments:
I think that your basic email is appropriate because I would rather not wade through a terribly long introductory email. Perhaps viewing your inquiry as a cover letter of sorts may help you with the form. Good luck!
And I'd attached my CV to the e-mail.
I think shorter is better than longer, but you should make a case for how you fit with their research.
This is basically what I did to get my corrent position, wrote an email expressing my interest and how I thought I'd fit in with their research. Mentioned I'd be willing to submit for whatever funding they suggested. Attached my CV, and also asked that they let me know if they were interested in dicussing any opportunites.
I met with my current mentor at a conference that was coming up shortly after I contacter her. You could offer to set up a phone call or visit when you're in new town.
I think most people would write you back even if it was to say they weren't interested/in a position to take a post doc right now.
Good luck.
Since I am not in a position to give advice on the matter, I am just here to wish you luck!
Your email looks good. The key things I was told was to indicate that you were willing to apply for funding (but I note you mention that you are between fellowship opportunities) and spell out how you think your background could benefit potential PI's lab. I'd briefly highlight a couple of your big achievements such as publications that might be interesting to them or similar.
Make sure your CV is a small attachement file because PIs get many many applications this way. Your email should cover sufficient information about you to convince them that it is worth their time to open the CV file.
If it is not a similar field to your PhD, perhaps your advisor or committee members may know one of these people and could also write
an email of introduction.
As you want to move into a slightly different area, I think you must be prepared to spell out what you will bring to the research field. (Dr Brazen Hussy at 'What The Hell Is Wrong With You' did similar so if you check through her archives there is a wonderful tale of persistance about how she got her current position).
I think your letter looks good. I'd read some abstracts just to get a feel for what the professor's lab works on, but I don't think reading all their papers is necessary at this stage.
Also, don't be discouraged by the fact that one of the professor's grad students has more publications than you do. If you're really interested in that lab, I'd apply anyway. Maybe that grad student stumbled onto a really productive project. Or maybe s/he's some kind of superstar. Either way, it doesn't mean you wouldn't have a chance at a postdoc position.
Just found your blog- I like it. :o) I'm definitely a little late on this one, but I took the approach that proper doc mentions. Sometimes labs don't need you to do exactly what they do, as long as your interests are complimentary, so I don't think you need to go into a lot of detail about project X (unless that's the way your field goes, not sure what you're in).
Make sure to emphasize what you view as your most important accomplishments. This will set you apart. Just be confident. :o) It doesn't matter what the grad students in that lab have already accomplished.
Hello, I do not agree with the previous commentator - not so simple
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