Some postdoc applicants still struggle with writing email to professor for postdoc positions or asking them for hosting their grant/fellowship applications, even though they have experience effectively contacting academics. Postdoc candidates must use the official application forms designated to a position or fellowship because postdoc positions are categorized as academic job positions rather than academic degrees. It means that each postdoc position is treated individually, unlike the master’s and doctoral programs. To increase the likelihood that a professor will read your email, a compelling subject line is essential when requesting postdoctoral positions or postdoctoral grant hosting. Your next task is to succinctly and effectively introduce yourself, your research background, and your future research goals.
Do You Need to Email to Professors for Postdoc Positions?
Yes and No! It depends on your purpose of contact. Contacting postdoc supervisors (as a host) is necessary if you plan to apply for postdoctoral fellowships. Here, you must include a supervisor as a host in your grant application. Another scenario is applying for positions posted by universities and research centers on behalf of research supervisors (i.e., assistant, associate, and full professors). These types of postdoc positions are funded by research grants won by professors. In this case, reaching out to the supervisors offering the position is highly recommended, though not mandatory, because building a professional relationship early on can make your application stand out from other candidates.
How to Email to Professor for Postdoc: Subject Line and Body
With a few minor variations, the general guidelines for email format are the same when you email professor for PhD supervision. Supervisors should be enticed to open your email and look over your research profiles (such as Google Scholar or Scopus) and academic resume by the subject line. We advise adding a keyword associated with your research to the phrase “postdoc position in“. An email’s body should succinctly introduce you and your purpose for contacting the postdoc supervisor. An organized email shows that you are a professional and raises the possibility that it will be answered favorably.
Keep in mind that professors get similar emails, so it’s important to stand out with a targeted and customized message. Your GPAs and the language proficiency tests you took prior to your PhD are no longer relevant when applying for postdoctoral positions, grants, or fellowships, unlike the PhD supervisor outreach. Always include your research proposal, one or two of your high-impact papers, and your CV in the email. With its data-driven, automated resume builder designed specifically for academic settings, Applyindex offers a more individualized approach. See the article “How Applyindex tools work for applicants” for additional details.
Email to Professor for Postdoc: Sample Templates
To help you approach potential postdoc supervisors (also known as postdoc bosses or postdoctoral grant hosts), we provide three email to professor for postdoc samples below. These examples demonstrate how to express your interest in joining a group, introduce yourself effectively, and highlight your background and research achievements. For many applicants, it is advisable to reach out early, as securing a positive response from a supervisor can significantly strengthen your postdoc application. This strategy is particularly important when seeking a host for a fellowship, where a well-crafted email to professor for postdoc can determine whether your proposal advances (For example, Professor Stevens at Oxford filter 900+ out of almost 1000 applicants before they can apply for fellowships in the UK).
How to approach professors for postdoc Email Samples
Email to Professor for Postdoc: Sample 1
The following postdoc email sample shows how to contact professors for postdoc vacancies. A postdoc applicant located in Netherlands sent this email to an associate professor in the Chemistry Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Subject: Available postdoc position in biomaterials
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX,
I am writing you to find out if you have an available postdoc position in your lab. My name is XXXXX XXXXX, and I hold a PhD in organic chemistry from XXXXX University, Netherlands. Over the last three years, I have been working on my PhD project on [thesis title or topic]. I find a strong bond between my experiences and expertise and your field of research. My hands-on training and experience in [research area 1] and [research area 2] make me confident that I can learn efficiently in your lab and contribute to establishing new techniques.
I am highly interested in your work on responsive materials for treating diabetes mellitus [two of their recent papers are mentioned here]. My attached CV further highlights my experiences and accomplishments. I would be grateful if we could meet online, so I can further explain my research plans to you.
Kind regards,
Full Name
Email to Professor for Postdoc: Sample 2
Below is a successful email to professors for postdoc position securing. A postdoc applicant from Australia emailed a professor in the School of Chemistry at UNSW Sydney. They had met at an international conference, and the professor knows the applicant’s main PhD supervisor.
Subject: Postdoc researcher in polymer chemistry
Dear Professor XXXXXXX,
I am a postdoc researcher in India. My name is XXXX XXXXXXX. I did my PhD and first-year postdoc in [professor name]’s group at the University of Melbourne. I have excellent experience in [technique 1] and [technique 2] in polymer chemistry. Currently, I am working on a biochemistry project, i.e., [project title], trying to synthesize polymer inside living cells using XXXX polymerization.
Moreover, I have published 20+ papers since my master’s studies, and my h-index is XX. I would like to join your high-quality group as a leading research group worldwide. I am looking for a postdoc position in [country name]. Thus, I wonder if you have any available positions in your top research group. Thank you for your time in advance.
If you would like to have a look, my research profiles are: Google Scholar and Scopus.
Best regards,
Full Name
How to approach professors for postdoc Email Samples
Below is a sample postdoctoral fellowship email addressed to a professor in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, UK, requesting their support as a host for a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship application.
Subject: Host for Marie Curie Postdoc Fellowship Application
Dear Professor XXXXXXX,
My name is XXXXXXX XXXXXXX. I completed my PhD and first postdoctoral position at the University of XXXXXXX, Germany, under the supervision of Professor XXXXXXX XXXXXXX, focusing on various [research area] techniques (e.g., blood-catalyzed, photo-mediated, and enzyme-catalyzed) and cancer treatment. I then continued as a postdoctoral researcher at XXXXXXX University, the USA, working on XXXXXXX, XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX, and XXXXXXX XXXXXX techniques.
I have developed strong expertise in [research skill 1] and [research skill 2] in cancer treatment and have published 12 papers (h-index: 9), including one in Nature Nanotechnology. I am preparing an application for the Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, focusing on shape memory polymers (SMPs) for controlled drug release in cancer therapy. I would be truly honored if you could host my fellowship application at Cambridge and support my research within your esteemed group, given its leading contributions to nanomaterials, drug delivery, and cancer treatment. Would you be open to supporting my fellowship application as a host?
For additional information, please feel free to review my attached CV, research proposal, and my paper published in Nature Nanotechnology.
Sincerely Yours,
Full Name
Conclusion on Email to Professor for Postdoc
Crafting an effective email to professor for postdoc positions is a vital step in advancing your academic career. Your email should be unique, regardless of whether you apply for fellowships, advertised postdoc positions, or just trying to establish a relationship with possible postdoc supervisors. Your outreach is more effective if it has a compelling subject line, a succinct introduction, and well-structured information about your research accomplishments and future objectives. Postdoc inquiries should emphasize publications, a research proposal (if relevant), and noteworthy contributions rather than GPAs or language test scores, in contrast to PhD emails. You can improve your chances of finding a host and a fruitful research partnership by composing a customized and polished email to professors for postdoc opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to send an email to professor for postdoc applications?
Yes, especially if you are applying for fellowships that require a host. For advertised positions, emailing supervisors is recommended but not mandatory.
What should I include in an email to professors for postdoc opportunities?
Include a clear subject line, a brief introduction, your research background, a strong publication record, a research proposal if relevant, and your CV.
How do I make my email to professor for postdoc stand out?
Customize your message by referencing their work, highlight your key publications and research skills, and keep the email structured and professional.
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