- Why do you want to do research?
- What are your career goals? How can this research experience and the mentor– trainee relationship help you achieve them?
- What would success in this research experience look like to you?
- How many hours per week and at what times/days do you expect to work on your mentor’s research?
- Assuming a good fit, how long do you expect to work with this research group?
- What, if any, specific technical or communication skills do you expect to learn from the research experience?
- How do you learn best (written or verbal instructions, watch and repeat, etc.). What can your mentor do to help you learn the needed skills? What can you do before you start so you are successful?
- Once you are trained in basic techniques, would you prefer to continue to work closely with others (e.g. on a team project), or independently?
- Once you have learned the needed techniques and procedures, do you prefer that your mentor watch what you do, or do you prefer a hands off approach to being supervised?
Taken from: Branchaw, J. L., Butz, A. R., & Smith, A. R. Entering Research (2nd ed.). New York: Macmillan, 2020
How to find opportunities
Search the UIowa Website
Go to uiowa.edu. See the search bar at the top? Type a few key words about work that interests you ("diabetes research" or "3D design research"). Skim through what comes up, making sure to see if any news articles mention researcher names.
Watch Handshake
Handshake is run by the Pomerantz Career Center. It allows faculty members to advertise student-employee openings. These can range from research assistant positions, where you will be trained to do research, to technician roles where you will be doing basic "lab" maintenance. Make sure the duties align with your interests.
Visit the OUR Webpage
Check our page "Open Research Positions" and check in regularly to see what is available.
Sign up for OUR's Mailing List. OUR sends out a weekly newsletter with open research positions and other opportunities. (There is also a link at the bottom of this page!)
Stop by OUR's office. We are here to help! Feel free to stop in or contact us for any assistance that you may need. Located in 6 Gilmore Hall!
Contact the researcher(s) you most want to work with. Email is usually best, but students occasionally visit with faculty during office hours or after class (if the researcher is an instructor for a student's course).
Send an email.
Emails should be short (~5 sentences at most) and direct. Include the following information:
- Your year and major
- Your research interest interests
- What caught your eye about their work (be specific)
- A request to meet.
Here is an example:
Dear Dr./Ms./Mr.,
I am a (your year) (your major) major at the UI. I am interested in learning more about research in (area of interest - Psychology, Genetics, 3D design, Museums, etc). Your research on (specific aspect of their work that caught your eye) looks like something I might be interested in. Would you have time to meet with me to talk a bit more about your work and the possibilities of getting involved in research in your area?
Sincerely/Thank you,
Your name
Follow Up.
No response after a week? Researchers are busy, and your email may have been inadvertently overlooked or lost. Hit "Reply All" and send a brief note, indicating that you are making sure your original email was seen and that you are very interested in talking to them. We recommend no more than two follow-up emails. Be patient when it comes to waiting for a reply.
Step 4: Meet the Mentor
Did your heart stop for a moment when you read the email accepting your request to talk? Are you feeling a bit uncertain about the next steps?
Don't worry. Most students get nervous going in to meet a potential research mentor. Keep these things in mind, and you'll do great.
- Bring a resume. They may not ask for one, but if they do, you'll look very prepared.
- Keep calm. Unless you've both solidified that it is an interview, think of this as a chance to geek out a bit and learn about a really fun topic.
- Be excited. Yes, still keep calm and don't freak out. But it is okay to show your excitement. Researchers want students in their lab who are motivated and interested in the topic.
- Dress comfortably. You are your best you in comfortable clothes. If it is an interview, dress up a bit more. Otherwise, casual clothes that are clean and well kept are perfect.
- Follow up. After your meeting, send a "Thank You" email, regardless of the outcome.
Closing the Conversation
Don't be surprised if the conversation takes longer than you anticipated, but leave room for the conversation to end at the time you had agreed on. Two ways to close:
Your work is fascinating. I would love to do something like this. How would I go about getting involved in your group or in a group similar to yours?
Your work is amazing. I've been thinking that it would be interesting to do something along the line of _______. Do you know of anyone on campus who does something like that?
Addressing Compensation
Refer to "Compensation for your Research" page for more information. When discussing potential research involvement, be up-front if if financial compensation is vital for you. If there are no funds to financially compensate you, are they willing to support you in finding funds?
Step 5: Make it count
Have a research position lined up? Find out about financial compensation, transcript recognition, and course credit at "Compensation for Your Research". Learn what you can do to make the most of your experience at "What next?".
OUR and our campus partners provide workshops, events, and other resources to help you gain benefits and skills outside of your research setting. Find more by viewing or subscribing to our newsletter, "OUR Updates".
Off-campus research experiences are available nation-wide and internationally. Browse options: "Summer Experiences".
Be aware of how your involvement fits into your broader education and goals. It is likely that this will come up in interviews or applications for graduate school and employment opportunities.