Identifying a Mentor
NOTE: Students are not allowed to volunteer in UNM SOM labs due to liability risks. They must be registered for academic credit (tuition and fee charges) or on a payroll contract (work-study or direct contract).
SOMREO does not provide matching services for interested students and potential mentors. We expect student's to take the initiative to set up their research experiences.
We do want to share some strategies that will make that process easier. Review the information below and identify faculty and research topics in which you may be interested. Then, send an email to that mentor to begin a dialogue.
Your email should be very brief and concise, and should cover some or all of the following topics:
- Who you are and what you are interested in (interested in participating in the UREBS program, for which term, etc.)
- Your educational background (currently a junior in the Biology department)
- A summary of any research you have done or at least what research topics interest you (just a couple of sentences)
- Why you're interested in the particular faculty/mentor's research
- You may want to read one or two of the mentor's publications for background
- What your research/career goals are, if you have thought about specific goals
- How or why your goals tie into the mentor's research
- Provide your contact information and what you would like to be the next step (set up a time to discuss)
Then ask the mentor if they would like to discuss the possibility of having you in the lab. At this point, it is not necessary to send a resume or CV, the mentor will ask for it if needed.
Remember, this is a business communication and should be professional. Address the email to "Dr. X" and be sure to use proper grammar and formatting. Faculty members get a lot of email, so don't be upset if you don't get an immediate response. If you haven't heard back with a week or so, send a polite reminder that you had sent a previous email asking to be considered for a research experience in their lab.
SOMREO staff members are available on a limited basis to help you with this process. Please send us an email if you would like additional information.
Finding a Mentor
UREBS program does not provide matching services for interested students and potential mentors. We expect the student's to take the initiative to set up their research experiences.
Research Divisions:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology and Physiology
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
- Neurosciences
- Pathology
- Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Additional research opportunities are available through the UNM Health Sciences Center Signature Research Programs.