Guide/02 Grades 9–11
Research in High School & Cold-Emailing Professors
How high school students actually get research positions, including how to cold-email professors (with a template), how many to send, and what to do once you're in.
Chapter 10 of 864 min readUpdated October 1, 2026 Preview
Most high school students who do real research didn't get it through a program. They asked. Specifically, they emailed a lot of professors, politely and specifically, until one said yes.
This chapter is a step-by-step guide to cold-emailing professors: who to contact, what to read first, exactly what to write, how many to send, how to follow up, and how to make the most of a position once you get one...
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What’s in this chapter
- 1What "research" in high school can look like
- 2Step 1: Know what you're interested in
- 3Step 2: Find the right people
- 4Step 3: Read their work (briefly)
- 5Step 4: Write a short, specific email
- 6Step 5: Send many, and follow up once
- 7Step 6: If someone says yes
- 8Other routes into research
- 9How to write about research