Faculty members have spent many years conducting research, and are well-placed to guide you as you begin exploring research possibilities. To learn more about faculty members’ research, you can attend classes, research publications, attend symposia and lectures, browse websites, frequent office hours. The Core Curriculum is another wonderful opportunity to engage with faculty and learn more about their research.
When you reach out to a faculty member whose research interests match your own, remember to be professional in your communication. If you are e-mailing a faculty member, your e-mail should be brief, formal (including a proper salutation), and grammatically correct. Most faculty welcome the opportunity to speak with students about research in their field, and working with experienced researchers is a critical and enriching component of any research project.
If you have questions about how to connect with a faculty member, if you feel unsure about how to identify a possible faculty mentor, or if you're working on a cold e-mail or preparing for a meeting, and feel unsure about next steps, feel free to reach out to URF for advising! We have zoom walk-in advising daily, 12pm-1pm, or you can schedule a 30 minute advising appointment. Information about advising can be found here. You can also e-mail us at ugrad-urf@columbia.edu. Finally, if you'd like to speak with a Near Peer Advisor about their experience connecting with faculty, check out their advising hours here!