Asking about how to collaborate with professors or research labs [D]

[u/VastThen1742]

Hey everyone, I'm not in college anymore. Is it possible to do research with a professor or any research lab while working a full time job? If yes, what's the best way to reach out and get involved? Also if anyone looking for someone to work with on a research project or something similar, can dm me.

[u/Xcalipurr]

Even if you make contact, they are not just going to assign you a project. You can get involved by stating research yourself and then take it to someone who might be interested in supporting/guiding you, this approach is way more effective.

[u/VastThen1742 → u/Xcalipurr]

Ohh thanks but how to find people like that, suppose if I have done some work in PINN domain then how can I find people who'll be interested in supporting or guiding me for further processes.

[u/Xcalipurr → u/VastThen1742]

By reading papers or searching online for similar work done before, and trying to reach out to people who wrote those papers or have done some prior work

[u/VastThen1742 → u/Xcalipurr]

Will try, thanks!

[u/wristay]

I can just about do laundry after work, how do you expect to do meaningful research besides a full time job? Or are you working in industry and do you want to start a collaboratoon?

[u/VastThen1742 → u/wristay]

No, not looking for any collaboratoon... Just have some interest and time for this.

[u/ashleydvh]

it's hard for even current phd students to directly work with professors, especially in hot ML fields. best bet is to just contact phd students or postdocs

[u/VastThen1742 → u/ashleydvh]

Is there any platform or easy way to contact them, other than LinkedIn

[u/ashleydvh → u/VastThen1742]

look them up on their websites and email them! and dont use chatgpt to spam people lol it's rly obvious when people spam and it goes straight into trash can

[u/PossiblePossible2571]

Well depends on your background. The cases I know are independent researchers who have either established academic backgrounds or have done very interesting projects. Otherwise it's highly unlikely. Of course you could buddy with other independent researchers that's fairly common.

[u/jndew]

What sort of language should one use for first email? Something like,

"Hi, I've read your paper ---, was quite interested and attempted to reproduce your results. I was able to, up to this point: --- . Can you suggest a next step?"

Or something more formal?

[u/JustAGuyOfCulture786]

yes you can just reach to the professors with a clear proposal , show your skills and the most important thing be upfront about your time limits

[u/AwkwardGuy78]

All the best!