Once you have found a lab you are interested in, reach out to the faculty member. When you contact a professor about research opportunities (preferably by email), be succinct and formal in your message: Dear Professor Smith, I am a junior Microbiology major. I read about your research interest in lipid signaling and its role in biofilm formation on your webpage and found it very interesting. If you have any openings in you lab for next semester, I would like to meet with you to discuss the possibility of doing undergraduate research in your lab. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Interested Student Also, it is generally a good idea to include a copy of your resume in your email. The professor may or may not want it, but it is better to include it so they don’t have to ask. Faculty web pages often list recent publications by the faculty member. If possible, read some of these papers before your interview with the professor. This will give you a better idea of the type of research done by that person and create a favorable impression when you meet with the professor. Finding a lab does require you to be proactive. Occasionally, open lab positions are posted via the listserv, but most students will have look for a lab and email the faculty on their own. You should expect to send out a number of emails before you find a lab since spots are limited.
