The student path
Six steps from “I’m curious about research” to working with a mentor or finishing your own project. Finish each one before starting the next.
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Find a question
Pick a field and one question you actually care about.
Done when you can say your question in one sentence.
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Read
Read 3 papers in that area. Start with the abstract, then the figures, then the methods.
Done when you’ve written a short summary of each paper.
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Build a list
Find 15 researchers whose recent work matches your question. Assistant professors, postdocs and grad students say yes more often.
Done when your list names one specific paper for each person.
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Write
Draft a short, personal email for each person. Name one paper of theirs and say one true thing about it. Have another student review it.
Done when every email is under 150 words and makes one ask.
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Send and follow up
Send a few a day, no more than 5. Follow up once after a week, then stop. A no is final.
Done when all 15 are sent and tracked.
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Start
Join a mentor, or start an independent project on public data. Most cold emails get no answer, even good ones, so both doors count.
Done when you’ve sent your first weekly update.
You don’t need to start out “smart.” Hard work is enough.