QUESTION: How is it like to volunteer with a prof? Best way to approach them? What if you have never had class with them? Hours? I'd just like to know of other student's experiences before I start approaching profs.. Preferably science students .. Thanks!
I approached a prof in class about volunteering with her, talked to her fairly often after classes and had to e-mail a couple further times to get a volunteer spot secured (talked a bit about what skills I had and what courses I've taken). I bet you can still do it by e-mailing ahead of the term.
ReplyDeletebiology profs arent big on that, they'd rather have u as a work/study or 499 or NSERC USRA student.
ReplyDeleteI'm science (but psych) so this might not entirely apply to you if you're looking for bio profs or something. All of my volunteer RA experiences were with profs I never had class with. Psych profs (or their grad students) sometimes put up RA advertisements on the psych website. I'd just email them and ask about the advertisement and attach my resume/transcript.
ReplyDeleteAnother time, I just randomly emailed a prof whose research interested me. I talked a little about how their research interests related to mine and asked if we could schedule a time to talk in person. (and I attached my resume and transcript)
I also know a guy who did the same kind of thing as 1 and secured a position that way. Psych RA positions typically take up 6-10 hours per week. Most positions don't involve much contact with the actual prof unless you're an upper year student and you've been able to demonstrate that you have some really relevant skills.
I recently started volunteering with a prof, and it's been awesome. I've never had a class with him. I'm in Kin though.
ReplyDeleteI looked up his lab and research and e-mailed him explaining my background, why I like his research, asked if he has any room for a volunteer and if we could meet. We did just that and he allowed me to volunteer.
I just went to their office with my resume, transcript, and a knowledge of their research and talked to them. Gives them a chance to see you as a person rather than another random emailing them.
ReplyDeleteEvery prof has had students asking to work with them and has accepted some of them, so they know best what works and what doesn't for their lab. Just go and talk to the prof (in person). It helps if you've applied for a USRA, and of course you must have brushed up on the research in question.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to get a paid summer position as a research assistant after completing your first year of studies in sciences?
ReplyDelete