(Note: While this guide was primarily written for premed students looking to prepare a research assistant cover letter, the advice also applies to students who aren’t premed.)
Becoming a strong candidate for medical school is no easy task. A high GPA and strong MCAT scores just aren’t enough to guarantee your acceptance over other highly qualified applicants.
So, you’ve decided to gain research experience to strengthen the Work and Activities section of your application—smart choice. It’s practically a medical school requirement at this point, and applicants with at least one year of research experience are more likely to be considered by noteworthy programs.
You’ve searched your university’s science department websites and found a page listing various research opportunities. After reading a few lab descriptions, one completely captivated your attention.
This lab focuses on the area of medicine you’re hoping to specialize in. And, as a research assistant, you’d have the opportunity to contribute to important scientific breakthroughs. Plus, the lead researcher (aka, principal investigator, or PI) has a strong reputation in the medical and scientific fields. You know a medical school letter of recommendation from him would boost your applications.
You’re excited to apply for the research assistant position. You’ve already begun picturing yourself in the lab, engrossed in the work. You sit down to write the perfect cover letter for the perfect research position. But you freeze. The blank page stares back at you. Where do you start?
How do you write a cover letter for a research position? What should a research assistant cover letter include? What can you say to prove you’d be an exceptional research assistant?
And, here’s another concern: How do you write the best research assistant cover letter when you have no experience? You know you’ll be competing with classmates and even upperclassmen ahead of you. What will make the researcher choose you?
First of all, know this: No one likes writing cover letters. Whether you’re an undergraduate student applying for a research position or a seasoned doctor applying to be chief of surgery. It’s not easy for anyone to summarize their experience, potential, and passion into a single page. But it’s far from impossible. There is a strategy for writing the best research assistant cover letter.
Keep reading to find out how you can maximize your chances of securing that coveted undergraduate research position.
No one gets hired based on a cover letter. But your research assistant cover letter may be the difference between meeting the researcher face-to-face to discuss your fit for the position and having your application tossed in the recycle bin.
Dozens of students might apply for a single undergraduate research position, but the principal investigator will only interview a handful. So how do you capture the PI’s attention and convince him that you belong in that select group?
You must demonstrate that you’re the best applicant—in other words, you’re the applicant most able to complete the work and exceed expectations.
This may be an intimidating concept, particularly if you have no research assistant experience and you’re competing with others who do. But don’t worry—you’re about to learn the secret to cover letters that not everyone takes the time to learn.
What makes you different from other undergraduate students? What makes you more suited to the research position? What are your unique selling points?
As a science-minded person, marketing might not be your forte, and that’s perfectly fine. But it’s vital to the process of writing a cover letter. So what types of details should you market?
You can make statements about having experience relevant to the research assistant position, but it won’t mean anything to the principal investigator without evidence. You’ll want to use details, numbers, and results to prove all the claims in your cover letter.
For instance, instead of Sydney writing vaguely, “I have experience with brain mapping,” she should be more specific. “For a class project, I used EEG equipment to map the brain activity of two classmates while they completed memory tests. We analyzed the resulting data to compare their short term and working memory abilities.”
The second statement provides more information about the depth of her experience and her capabilities. It also offers a conversation starter for the PI when he interviews Sydney for the entry-level research assistant position.
One more example. Sydney could write, “I have a passion to cure neurological disorders.” But it would be more effective to prove her passion. “I’ve further developed my passion for curing neurological disorders by volunteering as a learning aide at a dementia care facility.”
Read through the listing closely. Highlight or jot down important phrases. You can present yourself as the perfect undergraduate for the research position by echoing the key language used by the researcher.
For instance, “Dr. Carton’s research is centered on neural circuitry, specifically how it leads to understanding the neurobiology of learning and memory.” If you have experience with or an interest in these subjects, you can feature it prominently in your cover letter.
Job descriptions usually include too many keywords or job duties for you to address—it’s a cover letter, not a novel. Select three or four phrases to focus on, based on a balance between what roles seem most important and where you have the strongest experience or interest.
Here’s an example. Many research assistant job postings mention “the ability to work independently” as a requirement. Maybe you have a lot of experience and strength in that area. But you wouldn’t want to focus your cover letter exclusively on your skill at working independently, not at the cost of demonstrating your research and scientific abilities.
Make sure you include evidence of your knowledge or experience in these three areas:
Reach out to people with research experience to ensure you’re focusing on the right qualifications. This could be a close professor, your TA, or a current undergraduate research assistant. Here’s one way you might seek advice from your professor via email:
Dear Professor Manette,
I hope your week is going well. I’ve decided to apply for the undergraduate research assistant position under Dr. Carton. I’m excited by his research on neural circuit function, which aligns closely with my interest in neurological disorders.
I’m seeking your advice on writing the cover letter for the research position. I want to communicate my fit and excitement for the role sufficiently to Dr. Carton.
Having worked with undergraduate research assistants yourself, what would you say are the most valuable characteristics or skills for a research assistant to possess?
Thank you in advance for any input or advice you can offer.
Use the feedback you receive to confirm or adjust the areas you intend to focus on in your undergraduate research assistant cover letter.
If your university doesn’t advertise undergraduate research assistant positions, you’ll have to do a little extra digging to find research opportunities.
First, check to see if your science department has a web page describing faculty research interests (the Stanford University Department of Biology Research Areas website is an example). Take the time to explore professors’ previous and current research projects. You should read their recent publications and watch videos of their lectures, if possible.
Please note: all university websites are not created equal. Some might provide links to the professors’ research sites, making your exploration easy. Or you might find a mere list of faculty research topics with no descriptions or current updates, leaving you to search Google for better info. If an internet search isn’t proving fruitful, ask a department staff member (e.g. student advisor or lab coordinator) for a more detailed run-down of the professors’ current research projects.
Next, select four or five professors whose work most excites you to contact with your research assistant request. Remember to tailor each cover letter specifically to the research project you’re applying to join. The best undergraduate research assistant cover letters are highly specific to the lab and researcher, not generic.
You should type your research assistant cover letter in the body of your email, and attach your resume as a pdf document.
Use a clear subject line to grab the PI’s attention and persuade him to open your email rather than send it to the trash. Remember, this professor hasn’t posted an open research assistant position, so he’s not expecting to receive applications. Here are a few examples of email subject lines you might consider:
If you want to secure a research assistant position during the academic year, you should email your cover letter to principal investigators mid-summer, before the fall semester starts. Professors at this time are typically finishing their summer research while looking ahead and planning for the impending academic year. You have the perfect opportunity to become part of their research plans.
If you’ve missed that window and it’s already the middle of the fall semester, you have two options. First, you can reach out and inquire about becoming a research assistant for the spring semester. You might get lucky if a current research assistant is stepping down or graduating mid-year. Otherwise, your second option is to wait until the spring semester and ask to join the summer research team.
Wait a week—but no longer—before following up with a principal investigator. Make your follow-up email very brief. Send it as a reply to your original email containing your cover letter and your attached resume, so the professor can easily review your initial research assistant request. Here’s an appropriate way to follow up via email:
Subject: Following up about assisting your neural circuit research
I wanted to quickly follow up on the possibility of joining your team as a research assistant. I know you’re busy, and I hope that as your research assistant I could take some work off your hands.
Please see my original email to review my qualifications and the passion I have for your work examining how neural circuit function contributes to neurological disorders. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss how I can contribute to your research further.
It’s appropriate to send one follow-up email, but do not continue to pester the principal investigator if you still don’t receive a reply. At that point, widen your search and find other PI’s to approach with your research assistant application.
Your research assistant cover letter should be one page, single- or 1.5-spaced and contain 4–5 paragraphs. Each paragraph will have a specific purpose. Here’s an outline showing the best format for research assistant cover letters.
You want to break up the middle section into multiple paragraphs for the ease of the researcher reading your cover letter. One long paragraph is more tiresome (and more confusing) to read than two or three short paragraphs, each one addressing a specific area—skills, experience, or passion.
Remember: the researcher may be reviewing dozens of applications for a single research assistant position. Your cover letter needs to be direct and concise. This is formal communication, so use Times New Roman, 12-pt font and one-inch margins on your page. Submit your cover letter as a PDF document to avoid any formatting changes when the researcher downloads it.
It can be frustrating when you seem to need experience for even entry-level research assistant positions. But, researchers will be willing to overlook a lack of official research experience if you can demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to be an exceptional research assistant.
The trick is to translate other work and experience to relate to the research position. Here are several ways through which you can effectively do that:
Address the salutation to the principal investigator. Using “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam” suggests you didn’t take the time to identify the researcher leading the project. If the researcher’s name isn’t included in the research assistant job posting, call or email a department staff member to find it.
Show excitement and confidence in your introduction. Start out your cover letter strong by expressing your interest and showing a bit of your personality. Alluding to your experience and knowledge of the research area will pique the researcher’s interest and keep him reading to determine if you’re a good fit for the research assistant position.
Craft a focused, detailed body of your cover letter addressing the research position specifics. Spend 2–3 paragraphs connecting your knowledge and experience with the job duties and qualifications. This is your chance to prove you will excel as his research assistant and persuade him to bring you in for an interview.
In Sydney’s cover letter below, she uses two paragraphs of the body to demonstrate her expertise in the primary tasks of the research assistant position. Brain sectioning, brain mapping, analyzing data, and scientific writing are duties listed in the job description. Notice how she goes into detail to prove her experience, rather than merely state it.
Sydney uses the final paragraph in the body of her cover letter to reveal her unique perspective on the research area and her passion for this area of science. She even references one of the principal investigator’s previous research publications, which proves she has a true interest in the work done at his lab.
A quick note about language. Avoid using “very” or “really” to describe your level of experience or interest. They’re filler words that weaken the impact of your cover letter. Instead, use stronger descriptors and action words. For example, “I find your research inspiring” or “captivating” instead of “very interesting.”
Remember: you want to come across as professional, but not stiff or robotic. Imagine you’re in office hours with a revered professor for the first time. When you speak, you’d still sound like you, just a more put-together version of yourself. That’s what you’re aiming for.
Close your cover letter confidently with a reference to receiving an interview invitation. Reiterate that you’re fit for the research assistant position, that you will add value to the team. You don’t want to sound pushy or arrogant by directly asking for an interview. But indicate your interest and suggest that it will be well worth the researcher’s time.
In this example, Sydney is replying to the following job posting for a research assistant.
“Dr. Carton’s research focuses on how neural circuitry affects perception, cognition, and behavior, which plays an important role in understanding the mechanistic basis of neurological disorders. The research centers on the study of neural circuit organization and function. Undergraduate research assistants are needed to complete work including brain sectioning and immunostaining, brain mapping, slice imaging, and data analysis. After training, research assistants are expected to conduct independent projects that require them to collect and analyze data, summarize it into scientific writing, and present the data to the team. In the past, some research assistants have been included as co-authors on Dr. Carton’s formal publications.”
Here’s an example of an excellent cover letter for an undergraduate research assistant that you can use as a template.
Subject: Research Assistant Application for Sydney Darnay
Sydney Darnay
500 Tellson’s Way
Palm Desert, CA 12345
sydney.darnay@ucps.edu
(555) 433-2211
February 10, 2021
Dr. Alexander Carton
Professor of Neurobiology, University of California - Palm Springs
1000 Greek Street
Palm Springs, CA 12345
alexander.carton@ucps.edu
I am excited to submit my application to be considered for the research assistant position on your Neuroscience Research team. As a Neurobiology major, I have gained the knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to your research on neural circuit organization and function. My skills, combined with a fervent interest in your research on the mechanistic basis of neurological disorders, make me an excellent fit for this role.
In my Neurobiology Lab, I sectioned the brain tissues of a rabbit and a sheep, earning a perfect score for following the correct protocol. For an Advanced Neurobiology project, I used EEG equipment to map the brain activity of two classmates while they completed memory tests. We analyzed the resulting data to compare their short term and working memory abilities. I took the initiative to gain more experience analyzing data by using PyMVPA software for neural decoding with the guidance of my faculty mentor.
Last year I discovered my skills in scientific writing. My professor selected my piece on molecular genetics to use as an example for future students. I have continued improving my skills by meeting regularly with a tutor at the Writing Center and am confident that I would be an excellent co-author in one of your formal publications.
Prior to freshman year, I shadowed a neurologist specializing in work with Alzheimer’s patients. Observing her work gave me a unique perspective of neurological disorders, as well as a passion for finding cures. I have further developed that passion by volunteering as a learning aide at a dementia care facility, where I observe and record results of cognitive tests. I was captivated by your recent research on the relationship between neural circuit architecture and working memory, as well as the positive implications it holds for patients suffering from dementia. I hope for the opportunity to contribute to your future findings on cognition and memory.
I plan to devote my career—as you have—to increase our understanding of the brain and improve the lives of individuals with neurological disorders. Your lab perfectly aligns with my scientific and medical interests. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your research project with you and the contributions I can make as your research assistant.
In this letter, Sydney establishes her experience and knowledge, not to mention her familiarity with Dr. Carton’s work. On top of this, she comes across as polite, professional, and enthusiastic, while demonstrating that she can write well. All of this goes a long way towards demonstrating that she would be an excellent fit for the job.
There you have it! Everything you need to create a compelling research assistant cover letter that will captivate the researcher’s attention and secure you an interview.
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
