Once you’ve ensured you meet the prerequisites for NEUR 4908, it’s time to start actively searching for potential supervisors, as the application requires you to have already met with up to three of them. If you haven’t yet made connections through volunteer positions or internships, you can use the presentation given in your 3rd year neuroscience class as a benchmark. Definitely start reaching out before the fall examination period because December is a short month at school and trying to secure meetings with professors in January could prove difficult and unrealistic in terms of meeting the application deadline.
The active supervisor search can be broken down into six steps.
Engage in some independent exploration to discover what kind of research is being done by the Department of Neuroscience’s core and affiliated faculty and adjunct professors. You’re encouraged to take advantage of the “world at your fingertips” by searching online for publications and descriptions of research programs, in order to gain knowledge of their research before initiating contact.
Network! If you don’t feel you’ve been able to get a feel for the current research on your own, talk to your colleagues. Teaching assistants (TA’s) in neuroscience courses are a great resource because they are typically graduate students doing research in neuroscience labs and are therefore aware of what’s happening. You can also approach TA’s of other courses to see what research is taking place outside of the Department of Neuroscience, because as long as your thesis is related to neuroscience, it can be supervised by someone external to the Department.
Connect with up to three eligible researchers to discuss potential supervision. Because you now know what kind of research they are doing, be sure to speak to it, your interest in it and why you’d like them to supervise you for NEUR 4908. You can use the template available here to assist in drafting a professional email, the goal of which is to secure a face-to-face meeting to further discuss potential supervision.
If you don’t receive a reply in approximately five business days, we recommend you gently follow up via email or in-person during office hours. This follow up would entail re-expressing your interest and excitement in applying to their lab and discussion of potential projects and supervision. Professors are generally always busy so be respectful of their time, and if after a gentle follow-up you still do not hear back, move on to the next potential supervisor. Don’t be afraid to shop around – in fact, you are highly encouraged to because the application form requires you to name up to three potential supervisors.
Meet with potential supervisors and do your best to make an impression! Supervisors ultimately choose which students will join their lab, so it’s important to be yourself, but you must also make an effort to stand out.
It is your responsibility (not to mention advantageous) for you to maintain an ongoing relationship with your potential supervisors between the first point of contact, which typically occurs in mid-September, and when the Department meets to review applications in early February. If you only have one conversation early in the school year, there will be a large gap in time and professors might not remember who you are and why you wanted to work with them.
If you are confused about what you’ve read on our website, and need clarification, book and appointment with the Undergraduate Administrator.