Cold email to a professor that shows you read their work
Professors get dozens of emails from students asking for research positions, and most start with "Dear Sir/Madam, I am very interested in your work." This prompt has your todo.is agent read the professor's lab page and recent papers, find a real connection to your skills, and write a short, specific email with one clear question, plus a checklist of what to attach.
The prompt
- Help me write a cold email to [PROFESSOR NAME] at [UNIVERSITY]. Read their faculty or lab page and their 2 or 3 most recent papers, and give me a short summary of each with links. I am [WHO YOU ARE: YEAR, PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY], and my relevant experience is [YOUR SKILLS OR PROJECTS]. I am asking about [WHAT YOU WANT]. Write an email under 180 words: a subject line that names the topic, one sentence on a specific paper and why it interests me, 2 sentences on what I can bring, and one clear question. Mention my CV is attached. No flattery, no "Dear Sir/Madam". Save it as a Gmail draft and do not send it.
What to change
- [PROFESSOR NAME]: E.g. "Prof. Hannah Okafor".
- [UNIVERSITY]: E.g. "University of Toronto". Add the lab name if you know it.
- [WHO YOU ARE: YEAR, PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY]: E.g. "third-year biology undergraduate at McGill".
- [YOUR SKILLS OR PROJECTS]: E.g. "two semesters of PCR and gel work, and Python for data analysis". Or attach your CV.
- [WHAT YOU WANT]: E.g. "a summer research assistant position", "PhD openings for fall 2027" or "a 20-minute chat about their work".
Example result
- Research notes (example)
- • Lab focus: how soil microbes help crops resist drought
- • Recent paper 1: root microbiome changes in wheat under water stress (lab website, publications page)
- • Recent paper 2: a new low-cost method to sequence soil samples in the field
- • Lab page note: "We welcome undergraduates for summer projects; email with CV and transcript"
- The email
- Subject: Summer research in your soil microbiome lab
- Dear Professor Okafor,
- I am a third-year biology student at McGill. I read your recent paper on root microbiome changes in wheat under water stress, and I was struck by how quickly the community shifted after only two weeks of drought.
- Over the past two semesters I have done PCR, gel electrophoresis and DNA extraction in Dr Lin's plant lab, and I use Python to clean and plot sequencing data. I would love to help with sample processing or data analysis in your group.
- Do you have room for a summer research assistant in 2027? I have attached my CV and transcript.
- Thank you for your time,
- Sam Rivera
- BSc Biology, McGill University
- Attach
- • CV (1 to 2 pages) with lab techniques listed
- • Unofficial transcript, if the lab page asks for it
- Tips specific to academia
- • Read the lab page. Many say exactly how to apply, or that they are not taking students
- • For PhDs, ask whether they expect to take new students next year and mention funding you could apply for
- • Follow up once after 10 to 14 days if you hear nothing
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in the professor, university, who you are and what you are asking for.
- Paste it into todo.is and attach your CV. Your agent reads the professor's recent work.
- You get paper summaries with links and a short email draft.
- Read at least one paper yourself before sending, then ask your agent for a polite follow-up to send in two weeks.
Tips for a better result
- Personalize every email. Sending the same text to 30 professors is easy for them to spot.
- Mention one specific detail from a paper, not just its title.
- Send in term time on a weekday morning, and avoid exam weeks and big conference dates.
- Ask your agent to "find 8 professors at Canadian universities working on soil microbiomes, with lab links" before you write.
cold email to a professor: FAQ
- How do I email a professor I do not know? Use their title and name, say who you are in one line, mention a specific piece of their work, explain what you can offer and ask one clear question. Keep it short.
- How long should a cold email to a professor be? Around 150 to 200 words. Professors read many emails, so short and specific works best.
- What if the professor does not reply? Send one polite follow-up after 10 to 14 days. If there is still no reply, move on; silence is common and rarely personal.
- Should I attach my CV? Yes, as a PDF, and mention it in the email. Add a transcript if the lab page asks for one.
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