> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.solids.group/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.solids.group/prospective-students/reaching-out-about-research.md). # Reaching Out About Research This page gives advice for students who want to contact a professor about joining a research group as an undergraduate researcher or graduate research assistant. ## Before You Email Narrow your list to a few faculty members whose research genuinely interests you. This takes time: read websites, browse recent publications, and identify the faculty member's main research interests, applications, and methods. Do not send form emails. Faculty can usually identify them quickly, and they rarely stand out. ## Writing the Email Use professional writing and courtesy. Keep the message brief, specific, and direct. Good emails usually include: * A concise statement of who you are * Why you are interested in that specific research group * What kind of work interests you: theory, computation, experiment, application area, methods, or tools * Your goals for the research position * Your CV, transcript if appropriate, and other useful application materials Avoid: * Flattery * Long generic introductions * Claims that you deeply understand papers you have only skimmed * Questions that are already answered on the faculty member's website * Messages focused only on how the appointment would benefit you ## Reading Publications Use publications to learn what the group does, not to show off. Browse recent papers, abstracts, and figures to understand research directions. It is fine if you do not understand everything; academic papers often take years of background to fully digest. ## Be Specific Before reaching out, be able to answer: * Are you interested in theory, computation, experiment, or a combination? * Do you want hands-on work, abstract modeling, code development, data analysis, or something else? * Are your interests consistent with the group's actual work? * Are you seeking undergraduate experience, a PhD position, a postdoc, or another role? Research appointments should be mutually beneficial to the student and the faculty member. A focused message makes that fit easier to evaluate. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://wiki.solids.group/prospective-students/reaching-out-about-research.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.