Finding a Research Mentor

How to Find a Research Mentor 

We recommend using one or more of the following resources to identify potential research mentors: 

• Classes: Are you taking a course you really enjoy? Talk to the faculty member who is teaching it about research opportunities. 
• Websites: Look at the CRSS webpage and review the profiles of the different faculty in the department. 
• Talk with your CRSS faculty mentor. 
• Ask other students in your program. 

Reaching Out to a Potential Research Mentor 

Once you have identified a faculty member you might want to work with, you will need to set up a meeting to discuss the possibility of doing research with this individual. In your initial email (from your UGA email address) keep it short and concise, but be sure to include the following: 

• A subject line related to the topic (Possible Undergraduate Research Opportunities in Your Lab/Group) 
• Greeting (Good morning/afternoon Professor_____ or Dr. ______) 
• Your name, major, year in college and any pertinent coursework you have completed 
• Why you are contacting them (I am interested in doing a faculty mentored research project during the Fall 2025 semester) 
• The part of their research you are interested in and would like to discuss with them 
• Your availability to meet (M-F, 8AM-5PM) over the next 2 weeks 
• Attach a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or resume 

Give them some time to read and respond to your email but be sure to follow up with them if it has been a week or two. 

Meeting with a Possible Research Mentor 

Once you have made an appointment with a possible research mentor, make sure to be on time and take a copy of your CV or resume with you. During your meeting, consider covering some of the following: 

• Ask the faculty member questions, for example: 
  • What research does your lab do and why or how?
  • Have you mentored undergraduate students in the past? If yes, could you tell me more about the projects they worked on? 
• Discuss your goals, for example: I would like to learn more about a topic, a particular research method, instrumentation, going to graduate school, etc. 
• Discuss the time you have available to work on a research project, for example: ~10 hours a week, with open blocks in my schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon-5PM.