How can I write an Email to Professor?

[yicong2011]

Recently, I am reading a paper from Ezra T Newman (in Pittsburg); I want to Email him to ask him a question about his paper.

Unfortunately, I am an undergraduate have no such experiences. How should I write? Is there any templete?

 

[mrmiller1]

Unless you're very familiar with the professor then you should address him formally. Use "Dr. Newman" as his name. Always assume they have a PhD and address as "Dr. Last Name" unless they have their masters, in which case "Professor Last Name" is sufficient. Some PhD's will be ok with with calling them Professor but others might be offended, so default to Dr.

For example...

Dr. Newman,

I recently read your aticle on ... and was interested about ...

Thanks,
Your full name

 

[Choppy]

There's no real trick to it. Be formal and polite.

Most journals that I'm familiar with require you to include an email address for correspondence in the article and this is exactly what the purpose is for.

I get the occasional email from students interested in work I've published and I'm happy to answer them - even if I don't answer right away due to time constraints.

 

[carlgrace]

Unless you're very familiar with the professor then you should address him formally. Use "Dr. Newman" as his name. Always assume they have a PhD and address as "Dr. Last Name" unless they have their masters, in which case "Professor Last Name" is sufficient. Some PhD's will be ok with with calling them Professor but others might be offended, so default to Dr.

For example...

Dr. Newman,

I recently read your aticle on ... and was interested about ...

Thanks,
Your full name

This is excellent advice and you should follow it. I've been thrilled to get email from interested undergraduates the few times it has happened, and I suspect Dr. Newman would be as well. So go ahead and write to him!

 

[eri]

May I suggest before you write to him, you ask your question of a professor in your dept who works in that field. You don't want to ask him to waste his time explaining something you easily could have looked up yourself.

 

[yicong2011]

May I suggest before you write to him, you ask your question of a professor in your dept who works in that field. You don't want to ask him to waste his time explaining something you easily could have looked up yourself.

I want to ask Newman about his magic derivation from Schwarzschild Metric to Kerr Metric, and from R-N metric to Kerr-Newman Metric.

I don't think anyone in my department knows about it...

 

[yenchin]

I want to ask Newman about his magic derivation from Schwarzschild Metric to Kerr Metric, and from R-N metric to Kerr-Newman Metric.

I don't think anyone in my department knows about it...

Is there no one working on relativity in your department? They may be able to give you some help even if they don't know the details. You then try to work out as much details as you can, and *then* you can email the author to clarify the part you are not clear with. In that case he can answer more specifically.

 

[yenchin]

Anyway... couldn't resist this:

 

[Leveret]

Is there no one working on relativity in your department? They may be able to give you some help even if they don't know the details. You then try to work out as much details as you can, and *then* you can email the author to clarify the part you are not clear with. In that case he can answer more specifically.

Or they might have contacts who are more involved in the field, and be willing to ask on your behalf (although if they don't offer, don't suggest it). That might be true of any physics professor at your school, actually.

 

[hitmeoff]

I agree with most everyone here, just email the guy and use common sense.

The guy spent a lot time, effort and possibly money earning his doctorate. SO address him by Dr or Professor. Be polite, be coherent. Outside of that, just be honest with your questions. Chances are, if you are reading a published research article and you are an undergrad, a lot of stuff went over your head. Thats ok. Don't feel like you will ask a stupid question, it's cool enough that an undergrad will take the time to read and challenge himself with something that would typically be above his level.

Again, just be polite, and coherent. You'll be fine.

 

[Borek]

I want to ask Newman about his magic derivation from Schwarzschild Metric to Kerr Metric, and from R-N metric to Kerr-Newman Metric.

You can ask your question even here, at PhysicsForums, it is always possible someone will be able to help or at least point you in the right direction

That's not to stop you from contacting the author directly, but the better you are prepared, the better questions you can ask, the higher the chances you will be treated seriously and will get a good answer.

 

[mal4mac]

Unless you're very familiar with the professor then you should address him formally. Use "Dr. Newman" as his name. Always assume they have a PhD and address as "Dr. Last Name" unless they have their masters, in which case "Professor Last Name" is sufficient. Some PhD's will be ok with with calling them Professor but others might be offended, so default to Dr...

Careful if you are trying to apply this advice to other countries than the USA.

In the UK, "Professor" is the highest academic title you can get. Addressing a UK MSc student this way would be like calling a Whitehouse staffer "Mr President"...

Check the paper, or Google him! If you still can't find a title, then use "Dr". If he is a UK Professor then I doubt he will be upset, at most he will reply with "Professor..." in his signature, to give you a hint...

All in all, default to Dr is great advice for the UK as well as the USA... I'd hazard using it for other European countries, though (again) check on the web. Germany tends to be very formal. Any thoughts on the best designation there for someone really senior? I have vague memories of long titles like "Herr Professor Dr" being used... I just did a Google search on that... try it... a real can of worms...