Switching groups, how to email new prof?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around how to effectively communicate with a new professor after deciding to leave a previous research group. Participants explore the nuances of crafting an email to express interest in working with the new professor while addressing the transition from the old group.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about how to inform the new professor that they are no longer working with the previous professor, questioning the relevance of this information.
  • Another participant suggests that a direct meeting may be more effective than an email, emphasizing the importance of personal interaction in this context.
  • A different participant raises the possibility that the new professor may already have enough students, suggesting that understanding the needs of the research group could strengthen the case for joining.
  • One participant notes that they had previously expressed interest in working with the new professor and received reading material, indicating a level of encouragement from the professor.
  • Several participants recommend using the ongoing reading and calculations as a basis for requesting a meeting and discussing the possibility of starting earlier than planned.
  • There is a shared sentiment about the anxiety of composing emails to professors, with one participant humorously acknowledging the time spent on crafting such messages.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of direct communication but have differing views on how to approach the email and the potential challenges of securing a position with the new professor.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the new professor's availability and willingness to take on additional students, as well as the appropriateness of mentioning the transition from the previous group.

bluechic92
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Suppose one was working for a Professor. Then you mutually decide that it's not a good fit. The professor has been helpful in terms of suggestions for other people to work with and you found another professor who has given you some reading material earlier.

How do I email the new professor if I can officially work with them? This professor is under the impression that I am working with the old professor, and I am wondering if it's relevant to mention that I am no longer? I have been doing the reading, but only started to more rigorously once I officially left the old group.

I feel like I am thinking through this too much, but I don't want to write an email that seems negative in any ways since nothing has been negative so far. I am more worried about wordings.

Thanks so much!
 
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I would suggest sending an email to request a meeting time to discuss this or just set one up directly or via his secretary.

We often try to do too much with email making it easier to get rejected and since this is important to you then you should do it right with a direct meeting. It will also give you a chance to read his/her reaction and to see what you can do get on his/her team.
 
jedishrfu said:
I would suggest sending an email to request a meeting time to discuss this or just set one up directly or via his secretary.

We often try to do too much with email making it easier to get rejected and since this is important to you then you should do it right with a direct meeting. It will also give you a chance to read his/her reaction and to see what you can do get on his/her team.

Thanks so much for the reply! Yes, you are completely right. This is important to do face to face other than via email. Should I email the prof about working officially with them? I don't know how else to bring up a meeting, otherwise.
 
Thats a good question, but it brings up the spectre of the prof saying no he has enough students already.

Do you know any students in the group that you can talk to? Do you know what they are working on such that you can find a spot where you can augment the team with your skills?

If this fails then do you know enough about the project where you have some questions on their research that you could use to ask for the meeting and then use during the meeting to feel out the prof and possibly find a place for you.

As an example, you discover that they need to do a lot of computer simulation work but don't have the necessary programming skills to use the supercomputer but you do so you market yourself by saying it seems you have a need for this skill and I have this skill so I can help you...

Basically, you're trying to convince the prof to take you on and so to strengthen your case you might need to find where your skills can help the team move forward. It's just like how you would go after a job you really want to do, you find a way in and convince the gatekeeper that you can do it and they will benefit from it.

Its kind of like the idea behind Pres Kennedy's quote:
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country
 
jedishrfu said:
Thats a good question, but it brings up the spectre of the prof saying no he has enough students already.
jedishrfu said:
Do you know any students in the group that you can talk to? Do you know what they are working on such that you can find a spot where you can augment the team with your skills?

Thank you again for the reply and advice! I am beginning to realize that my situation is slightly different and I wasn't clear on that because I was in nervous state when I made this thread.

Actually, in our previous meeting I had mentioned that i was interested in working with him at the end of summer ( this was when I was supposed to finish with the other prof). That's why the prof gave me the reading material and he said to email him about any questions etc ( regarding the reading). I have to read+do calculations. The professor is aware of my skills and background too. He seemed very encouraging!

I just don't know how to bring up if I can start earlier than planned. I have been doing the work/reading, but now ,just recently, I have been more rigorous about it since I am no longer working with the other prof. Technically, he could change his mind and say no, but here's to hoping he doesn't.
 
Well if youve been doing the reading and calcs use that as a pretext for the meeting and say how interested you are and then ask if its possible to start now.
 
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jedishrfu said:
Well if youve been doing the reading and calcs use that as a pretext for the meeting and say how interested you are and then ask if its possible to start now.
Working on it!

I really hope I'm not the only one who spends a million hours writing an email for a prof. ( editing and everything).
 

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