In this part, introduce yourself briefly, your college plans (ex: major, minor), and any research background you have (not needed to secure a position in most labs), and why you are interested in research in general.

In this part, discuss why you are interested in the lab's research and what have you learned about what the lab does. What excites you most about this type of research specifically? 

You can also mention a recent publication or discovery from the lab that caught your attention as a way to show the potential mentor that you have initiative and genuine interest in their research group.

In this part, mention that you are looking to get involved in a research project. We recommend you NOT specifically ask for a position in your first communication. You can also potentially mention acquiring certain lab skills or technical experience that the research group uses as a means of furthering your own biology research skillset.

In this part, requesting to talk or meet for further discussion is appropriate. Making sure you are considerate of the P.I.'s time and are flexible with your schedule is also helpful in locking down a research role sooner than later.

In this part, thank the P.I. for their time and indicate your hope for a follow-up communication. If all goes well, you may have an interview lined up soon!

Dear Dr. Smith,

My name is Serena Sample and I am a rising sophomore in the college of Arts and Sciences. I plan on majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Psychology and have long-term plans to attend medical school. 

I am very excited and intrigued by your research focus on developing vaccines for new and emerging infectious diseases, including your recent discovery of a new peptide agonist in increasing viral vaccine effectiveness. I have been fascinated with vaccine development ever since the COVID-19 pandemic and have been trying to read a new scientific article covering vaccines every few weeks.  

Now that I have finished a successful first year of college, I very much would like to immerse myself in a longitudinal research experience as I feel like that will be a transformative experience in my scientific journey here at WashU. 

I would highly value the chance to talk to you further about my interests and your work in the vaccine field. Could I make an appointment with you or stop by your office hours sometime?  

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Serena Sample 

Dear Dr. Sah,

Hope you are doing well. 

My name is Vincent. I am a rising sophomore studying Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at WashU. This year, I learned about the fundamentals of biology through the foundational course, Biol 2960 and I specifically enjoyed learning about metabolism through analyzing the mechanisms behind aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration.

Next semester, I hope to apply what I’ve learned and expand my existing knowledge base through gaining practical experience in a lab. I hope to become comfortable with the scientific techniques used in carrying out experiments and improve my ability to parse and analyze published research papers. 

When looking for labs to work in, I was looking for labs that focused on problems related to metabolic processes. I found the subject of your research to be interesting. I am curious to learn about how electrophysiology, genetic techniques, and calcium ion imaging have all allowed you to gain unique insights into metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. I am also a fan of the solution-oriented approach you have taken to analyzing these ion channels in curtailing cardiovascular disease, which has consistently been the leading cause of death in the US. 

If possible, I would love to help you work on a long-term project in your lab beginning this fall. I have attached my resumé to this email, but if there is additional information that I have not included that you would like, I would be happy to provide it to you. 

I look forward to talking to you soon.   

Sincerely,

Vincent Sample

Dear Dr. Science,

I hope you are doing well. My name is Petri Dish and I am a first-year undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis. I am a biology major on the neuroscience track, and I came across your research page while looking at research labs involved in my study of interest.

Although there were many labs in this field, I was interested in your lab's focus on targeting the epigenetics of glioblastoma stem cells through several methods, especially biochemistry. I am currently taking an oncology-focused two-year program focused on the biology/hallmarks of cancer which has also pushed me to pursue this lab. 

The variety of techniques in treating glioblastoma in the history of publications released by your lab is something that I would like to partake in. I would love to talk to you more about what goes into studying glioblastoma and possible undergraduate opportunities in your lab. Thank you for your consideration. 

Sincerely,

Petri Dish 

Dear Dr. Gene, 

My name is Star Struck, and I am a second-year student studying biology here at WashU. I am writing to express my interest in learning more about your research and working in your laboratory.  After recently completing a research internship at the NIH, I am eager to explore new topics and utilize my knowledge in an academic setting. 

I am intrigued by your work investigating DNA damage repair pathways and targeted cancer therapies. This summer, I utilized a transgenic mouse model to explore synthetic lethality between two helicases of the RecQ family, analyzing levels of DNA damage markers in murine small intestines. This experience not only revealed my passions for studying genomic integrity and histology, but also intersects with your lab’s research. I would appreciate the opportunity to continue studying these topics while learning from your expertise. 

Please reference my attached CV to learn more about my qualifications. Feel free to contact me by phone at XXX-XXX-XXXX or by email (starstruck@wustl.edu). Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Star Struck